Are you going to be taking a trip with your cat or dog soon? You may know how to book air travel and ground transportation with pets, but there are some issues that you might run into when inquiring regarding hotels and motels. Not all lodging options accept pets -- in fact, very few do. Before you move forward, you may need to ask a few questions.
Always Ask the Specifics
There are a few things that you need to know about even pet-friendly hotels and motels.
- Are any breeds restricted? Dog breeds such as American Pit Bull Terriers and German Shepherd Dogs are often not allowed for insurance reasons.
- Is there a size cap? Many hotels and motels will not allow animals over a certain size, leaving those with large dogs out of luck.
- How many pets can I bring? If you have three cats, you might be out of luck. Many hotels and motels only allow a single pet or two, even with additional fees.
- Is there a pet fee? Many hotels and motels require that an additional fee be tacked on. But don't hesitate to negotiate and ask for the fee to be waived -- if you are a repeat customer, they may just do it.
Concentrate on the Motels
While motels may not be as luxurious as hotels, they are better for pets for two reasons: motels are more likely to accept pets and there are fewer expensive items for your pets to break, should they get a little feisty. It's also a lot easier to load a pet into a motel because you can move directly into the room.
Test Your Animals Beforehand
Does your dog have separation anxiety? Does your cat yowl? You may not even know the answer to these questions if you haven't observed your pet with you not around. Set up a cheap webcam (with sound, naturally) to observe your pet. Otherwise you could end up being kicked out of your hotel or motel for sounds that you didn't even know would occur.
Don't forget that dogs and cats that are considered service animals are not considered pets. Any hotel or motel should be able to accommodate an animal that helps you medically. You don't even need documentation; under the ADA, they can only ask you what the animal does and whether it's a service animal.
