You may be an animal lover and have a pet, and consider that pet as your family member. You are very much aware of your pet’s requirement. However, while travelling you cannot think of leaving the pet behind unlike the old days. Now a days, there are many hotels and motels which allow the keep pet with you are on a vacation. Therefore, there are certain things to keep in your mind before booking a hotel.
Make a reservation
You should not wait until you check-in to let the hotel to know that you have a pet. Go through the rules and confirm the pet policy before you make a reservation. Pet policies are likely to vary greatly from hotel to hotel. Hotels which allow pets are likely to have size limits or restrict the number of pets you can have in your room. They may even have a list of unwelcome breeds. There are some hotels which include pets in the regular room rate, while others may charge separately for them. This could be a daily fee or a flat fee which will covers your entire stay.
Choose the right room
You should request a room on the ground floor as it is best for you for several reasons. You will, no doubt, have lots of gear to tote, so avoiding stairs means less schlepping and it would be a shorter trip to the door when it is potty time for your pet. And if your pet is not used to an elevator then the up and down ride can cause stress
Where the pets stays
Pet friendly motels have small cages where your pet will stay. If your pet is crate-trained then he will find it very comfortable to live in. If your pet is not trained then it might be anxious and find it hard to accustom to the new place. Before you book you should take a tour of the facility and ensure that it is neat, odorless and well organized. If you do not want your pet to stay in a small cage then you should find a facility that offers upscale boarding. Such facility usually has a small room with pet beds and toys which will give your pet the impression that it is still at home. If your pet has arthritis then you should ensure that the room is large enough for him to walk around.
Walking the pet
There are hotels which allow the pet to walk twice a day for just a few minutes at a time. Before you book a hotel, you must ensure that you understand the number of times that you are allowed to walk the pet. If you want your pet to get more exercises then you should ask if there is a fenced area where the pet can roam a bit.
Eating
There are hotels which cook pet foods, the food may not be the regular food for your pet. Since a change in diet can lead to stress resulting to diarrhea and vomiting, it is wise that you carry your own food for your pet. You may even note that many pets do not eat well when boarding. Therefore, you should always carry healthy food that will make the hotel food more palatable. In order to protect your pet, you should always let the boarding facility know the food that your pet can and cannot eat.
Create a comfortable space
Many hotels require that you crate your pet if you go out and leave him behind. A crate keeps your pet safe from getting into trouble in the hotel room. Unless someone opens the door, even by accident and there would not be an opportunity for him to dash out of the room. If your pet is not used to a crate then play some fun games at home before your trip with the crate you will be using, and practice leaving your dog in the crate for short periods of time in the security of his own home. It would be wise to hang the “Do Not Disturb” tag on the door for added insurance that no one will knock or open the door to your room and startle or upset your pet.
Play it safe
If you are just grabbing a cup of coffee in the lobby or going to the hotel bar for one beer then it would be smart to leave your phone number with the front desk in case your pet gets upset and noisy. Crying, barking and howling are not only annoying to other hotel guests but also it is the sign of your pet being stressed.
Mind your mess
In a hotel, muddy paws and shedding coat are not so cool. Therefore, you should take a sheet or blanket from home to toss on the bed to help keep the spread clean and do the same for any upholstered furniture your dog might climb on. You should not forget to keep the outside neat as well. You will, no doubt, be taking your dog out to potty on hotel grounds. You must be sure to have plenty of bags for picking up poop, and find an appropriate receptacle in which you can deposit it.
Chew this, not that
While travelling, you must be sure that you are taking the toys or other stuffs that your pet is used to otherwise he can rip apart and choke on, such as a rawhide or breakable treat in the hotel. Familiar toys is likely to make your pet feel like home into the hotel. You should also be sure to keep items that you do not want your pet to chew out of his reach. Extra pet food and treats, kits full of toiletries and medications, trash cans and human travel snacks can be tempting to your pet.
When the Pet Gets Sick
It is quite common for pets to get sick. The cool thing is that many good hotels regularly monitor them to ensure that they are well. You should note that it is your responsibility to take care of the veterinary bills in the event your pet gets sick.
Well, these are few things you should consider and expect from a hotel when you are travelling with your pet.