Ruffing it on a road trip with your pet
Doggie destinations include beds, bowls, treats and pickup bags
“Good morning Lizzy, did you sleep well?” asks the concierge at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler as we set out for our morning walk. The bellman, bends down and greets her. “May I offer you a bag?” asks the doorman. What’s next — pick up service along with the bag?
Lizzy, my big, black and white dog, clearly loves the attention: her tail is wagging and she rolls over for a belly rub. We both love hotels.
Dogs and road trips go hand-inpaw. A decade ago, 19 per cent of dog owners took their pooches with them on road trips, and by 2014 that number almost doubled. And with more hotels treating pets like family members, more fur babies will likely be travelling with their owners.
Lizzy is a member of the Furrmont Club, Fairmont’s dog-friendly program, which means she gets her own plush dog bed, bowls, treats and dog towels for paw scrubs after a walk. We sidled up to the bar (a cocktail and a bowl of Evian water) and our server brought over a day bed—for Princess L.
Hotels do have a few ground rules. For instance, you can’t leave a dog alone in your room. “When we go to the Four Seasons dining room, I inform the bellman that Chewy (a naughty boxer) is going to the car,” says my friend Darlene. “They bring my car to the driveway and keep an eye on him and give treats.”
However, with the amenities offered, most canines would probably opt for room service. Here they can chow down on homemade cookies stacked in a porcelain bowl while sipping sparkling water on an overstuffed cushion by the fireplace.
Before deciding on a doggie destination, keep in mind that some hotels or motels charge a service fee per dog (typically from $25-$50 per night) or pet damage deposit that you may never get back if your pooch left a few stray hairs behind or couldn’t wait to get outdoors. That budget hotel could wind up costing more than an upscale property. One pet blogger complained that, buried in fine print, a cheap motel wanted to charge $200 per night for her miniature poodle.
Some hotels discriminate by not accepting dogs over a certain size (think breed).
Not so across the border at Kimpton Hotels. They have raised the bar, both in pet policy and amenities. All dogs are welcome — no matter shape or size — at no charge. Kimpton’s Hotel Monaco in Seattle welcomes pooch with food and water bowls, a pet bed placed in your room, a bottle of spring water and treats, and disposable pickup bags. They can also arrange pet-sitting and dog walking.
Maybe camping is more your budget and style. Years ago, before pet-friendly hotels were rampant, I rented an RV and drove to the Okanagan with my two Jack Russell terriers. It was summertime so I reserved a camping spot that turned out to be a few tufts of grass and I had to keep the dogs leashed at all times.
They hated camping but they’d likely love glamping in a yurt or a revamped train caboose. Like Airbnb for pets, Glamping Hub has a section for pet owners: www.pets. glampinghub.com. (Also check out Bringfido.com, which lists pet-friendly accommodations.)
Before crossing the Canada-U.S. border, be sure to bring proof that your dog was vaccinated against rabies—at least 30 days before entering the U.S—by a licensed veterinarian.