Do you travel with pets? How?

[presley]

Seems like many of us would like to travel with our pets and we can't do that with our timeshares. From other threads, I can see I am not alone in thinking of RVing as an option to travel with pets. However, pets aren't supposed to be left alone in the RV and many places to visit or dine during the day or evening won't allow pets. Does that mean that most people won't go out and explore while traveling?

I've looked at pet friendly hotels in the past and never used them because I keep very busy during my travels and my dogs would still have to board somewhere. I've checked for daily dog camps in several cities, but they all require dogs to have a visit/evaluation before they are accepted. That's hard if I have to drive a few hours to get there just to see if I could use it for a future trip. I always think I could day camp them while I am out doing stuff and they would stay with me overnight, but again, getting that initial visit out of the way is difficult.

We have a local campground we visit frequently and it is every type of pet friendly. It's worked out great, but you can't leave your dog unattended. So, when there are group activities, we don't attend. We never use the pool area because dogs aren't allowed in that part. When they have group meals, we will still go there to buy, but we have our dogs with us and our food is wrapped up to go so we can eat where dogs are allowed. My husband thinks that would be fine at other campgrounds, too, but I think if I spent an entire day driving to go somewhere, I'd want to get out and experience the area.

Would like to hear how others travel with pets or how they imagine it will be like when they retire.

 

[dougp26364]

We travel with our dogs but, like children, they change how we do things. Plans are made more around what we can do when our dogs are with us than what we can't do. We also look at the destination as some are more dog friendly than others. Breckenridge CO, for instance, is a very dog friendly town with several restaurant that have dog friendly patio seating. We have a vacation in Branson at a dog friendly resort but, this will be more a relax-at-the-resort vacation as Branson doesn't have a ton of dog friendly tourist activities or restaurants.

Most will allow you to leave your dogs IF they're quite. We ALWAYS leave our cell phone # at the front desk if we leave and we never plan on being gone more than 2 hours. Most limit the amount of time you can be gone but they really don't monitor it. The resort were going to next states the dogs ca pnt be left alone at all.

Almost every resort charges a no refundable cleaning fee for pets. To us it's fine. It's cheaper than leaving the dogs at home and the dogs enjoy being with us. We're not as active when the dogs are with us and the activities are different but we're fine with that. If your not, then maybe leaving the pets at home is the best thing to do. Just like traveling with kids you have to give some things/activities up.

 

[Steve]

Four Seasons

One of the main reasons I own at Four Seasons is that they allow owners to bring their pets to their residence clubs. In fact, they don't just allow pets, they really like them. It has been fun to take my dogs there many times. My dogs have been able to stay alone in the villa while we are out during the day with no problems. The maintenance fees are very expensive, as is the $175 pet fee for each stay, but it is a great way to vacation with your dogs.

Steve

 

[GregGH]

Just to add to Steve's comments ... the 2 bbd condo at Four Seasons Aviara is $175 ( per stay ) ...if you are the studio it is $75 and the 1 bbd side is $100. If you stay longer in the same unit it is just the prices quoted ... so the longer you stay the pet fee ( used for extra cleaning ...hmmm ..should there be a kid fee too? ) is quite moderate.

We are BIG fans of staying at Drury Suites on the way there and back ...in fact their newer Plaza hotels ( Franklin Tn, San Antonio Tx, Phoenix, Indianapolis etc are very nice ... and the 'dog friendly no hassle' makes it even better.

Back to Aviara ... we schedule our daily maid service for a set time and can set up which one of us will 'grab the dog' and do something. Bear in mind we are there in Jan thru March so the temp is very dog friendly for times I take her for a ride and she waits int he car while I hit some golf balls, etc.

There is a typical stop in Las Vegas at Caesars and they look the other way on the 'official' weight limit ( why set limits ..set limits on personalities - mean and vicious dogs - of all weight limits need not apply ) impart to my wife's tier status. And if is fun to see door men turn into 9 year boy's with dog's. We also have stayed at other Harrah's properties but Caesars is a treat.

Overall we find this combination to work very well - vs - our friends who own a 2nd home somewhere. We just enjoy being with our dog ( and visa versa )

Greg

 

[moonstone]

We camp (RV) with friends who have 2 small dogs. Both dogs have been RV'ing since they were pups and are quite at home in the RV. They put the dogs' beds from home into the camper. When the dogs see things getting carried out to the camper they get very excited.

The first few times they left the dogs alone they just drove a few campsites away & got out of the truck to listen (-no barking from the dogs). They gradually left them alone for longer & longer periods. In August we were gone over 6 hrs & returned to find both dogs asleep on the couch! (we peaked in the window before opening the door) The A/C is left on if its really hot, otherwise all the windows are left open 3-4 inches (so the dogs cant fit out if they tried). Our friends biggest fear is leaving the A/C on for the dogs but having it or the power quit.

I think if the dog is accustomed to being left alone at home it would get used to being left alone in a camper. It may be another story leaving the dog alone in a strange place (timeshare) though.

~Diane

 

[MuranoJo]

We definitely don't bring our dog along to timeshare or hotel stays--she's a German Shorthair and needs to run. (Not to say she wouldn't do very well in a hotel as she's well behaved.) But we love to take her camping and prefer the 'primitive' campsites where we can let her run a bit, vs. being on a leash in a campground.

Couple of months ago, we were in a campground where you have to have dogs on leashes. The trailer next door must have had 12 or so little lap dogs and they rigged up a temporary enclosed area with a fence and the yapping drove half of the campground crazy. I have no idea why they were traveling with so many dogs, but perhaps they were a breeder taking them to shows or somewhere to sell.

 

[ride2slide]

Camping with dogs

We have 2 small Rat-chis, that, we take camping, in our 5th wheel. They are crate & litter box trained. We use the Petco brand paper cat litter pellets. It has worked out pretty good so far. When we go to the timeshares, we leave them at home in large covered 20x20 outdoor kennels. Since we live on a horse farm, we have someone here every day to feed and check the livestock. They also spend time playing with the dogs. If it is cold out, we board the dogs at their groomers.

 

[WinniWoman]

When our 2 Golden Retrievers were alive, we would leave them at home in our very large enclosed dog pen that was attached to our garage with a doggy door in it so they could go in and out. We had an automatic feeder and water dispenser. We hired a pet sitter to just come by and walk them and clean up the "poop" and make sure everything was ok, give them treats, etc.

Some people -if a road trip- take their dogs with them and board them nearby their timeshare so they can visit with them.

As much as I love animals, I think it's a hassle either way to take them. It restricts you- you still have to worry about leaving them in the timeshare while you are out and about- it is a new environment for them so they get anxious.Let's face it, it is like taking a small child in terms of the "work". That is why- sadly- I have not gotten any more dogs since those two died.

That said, I miss having dogs terribly!

Further Note: I have a makeshift birdbath and I buy bird seed now and feed the birds, chipmunks and squirrels. an occasional raccoon stops by as well as bear and and plenty of deer. I try to just consider them my pets now- although I can't really "pet" them. Real easy to take care of and don;t have to worry about them! LOL!

 

[nazclk]

Pets

I just checked into taking our Yorkie to Texas with us in November. We have to pay $250 round trip. It's just a carry on bag that goes under the seat. I almost would rather kennel the mut.

 

[lprstn]

My In-Laws travel with theirs. They have purchased a pull along trailer, have a truck with a nice back seat for their 2 small dogs. They stay at Walmart parking lots on the way to destinations and book at 'pet friendly' resorts. When they can't find a resort, they usually just find a boarding kennel that does daily drop off to leave their dogs. They have a system and it is working for them. Although they've only tried it out this summer, they plan on doing this for a year.

 

[ronparise]

We have dogs (just one dog now) ...so we dont travel, at least not together
Ive looked into an RV but for reasons others have outlined here, I dont see that as a solution.

I have a plan for when the dog we have dies, but if I had to guess we will have another puppy before too long, My wife and I have had dogs for as long as we have been together and for us a home without a dog is no home at all

Soour SW Florida home is outfitted like a resort with a pool and on a canal. Its just a short drive to the beach. And Im shopping for a small houseboat for sunset cruises and overnighters to Sanibel or Ft Myers. For longer trips I can take the Intercoastal across the State to Miami

 

[elaine]

this would be the one issue that might push me to buy a small travel traveler. Such a hard issue--as pets are esp. good for retirees with empty nests.

 

[11chiledog11]

We use www.bringfido.com when traveling with our dogs

We travel with our two cattle dogs quite a bit. It makes for a more cumbersome travel experience, but we often don't have preferred options. BringFido.com is an excellent source for pet friendly lodging, pet sitters, pet walkers, and other pet resources in unfamiliar places. We have found Embassy Suites, La Quinta, Comfort Inn, and many private hotels are very pet friendly, some with minimal pet fees.

 

[Passepartout]

Great dog-friendly hotel chain

We just had a very pleasant experience traveling over Thanksgiving weekend with our Lowchen. Kimpton Hotels https://www.kimptonhotels.com/ are 100% pet friendly. They DO restrict pets to one floor or so, so those with allergies needn't worry about being in a 'pet room'. There is no pet surcharge, and while breakfast is not included, a wine reception in the evening is- along with complementary wi-fi by registering your email addy. These fine hotels are in mostly urban areas, but it's nice to fine fairly upscale urban lodging that's pet-friendly.

Jim

 

[Glynda]

I have a very dear friend who loves our pups (two Shih Tzus, one 8 lbs, one 9 lbs.) as much as we do. I take them to her when we are going away. She is their second mommy and her pup is their best buddy. She doesn't work, needs a little help financially, so it works out well for her too. I never worry about them there.

Other times we travel with them in the back seat in their canvas crate. We either eat in the car of find a place with outdoor dining that allows pets. When we stay in pet friendly motel/hotels, they are always in the crate when we are not in the room with them. They're snoozy quiet dogs so there's not much to worry about when they are crated. Touring an attraction would be a problem as I won't leave them somewhere I am not familiar with ever again.

I tried a highly recommended day camp once and watched the live web cam. My pup kept being intimidated by another and was often up against the wall with her tail down shaking. Over the three hours I watched, one employee walked by once but no one stopped or played with them as was said they would. Then my dog disappeared. I could not find her. I looked, switched to the outside cam and still there was no sign of her. Back and forth between web cams I went. I started to panic. I kept looking and just before I started to grab the phone and call them I saw a flash of white tucked up under the outdoor plastic play set. It moved. She'd wedged herself in a tiny space under the molded steps. All the other dogs were inside. I watched about 15 more minutes to see if she'd leave or they'd find her before I couldn't stand it and jumped in the car and drove 40 minutes to get there and I've never left her anywhere like that since. Better to find the right someone to leave your pets with and enjoy your travels worry free.