Ok, so you have decided to take your pet on this trip. I cannot stress enough the importance of pre-planning your vacation and stops along the way. In order to make your trip happy for you and your pet, frequent stops, water and snacks and exercise important. Have you ever found yourself in a strange place at the end of your day looking for a hotel? Well, with a pet that search can turn into a nightmare if you have not pre-planned your stay.

Here is a list of current Pet-Friendly hotels and their policies. These can change frequently, so remember to check with your travel agent or the hotel direct before you head off in the car!

General Rules for traveling with your pet:

Never leave your pet unattended in a hotel room! Maids and other service staff may not clean your room, or report you to the hotel front desk which can incur charges for damages to the room, not to mention, your pet is safer in his or her kennel!

When traveling with your pet and you stop for a rest or break, make sure your pet is on-leash! This is for their safety as well as the safety of others around him or her. Remember your pet will be in a new area and may be more hyper than usual.

Have your pet chipped! If your pet gets lost, the chances of recovery are much better. Also always have your name (not your pet's) and number on his or her tag.

Make frequent stops, limit food on travel days and let them have water to keep hydrated, never leave them in a car! Picnics are great with pets, rest stops are good places to exercise your pet while you have a snack!

Keep a record of your pets medicines and the number to your vet handy. You might need to take them to the doctor on the road, and if they need to consult you have it handy.

Top Ten Pet Hotels

La Quinta:

Pets Welcome. Cats and dogs 20-50 pounds are accepted guest rooms (unless prohibited by law). Some of the more than 350 La Quinta's offer special pet rooms. Housekeeping services for rooms with pets require pet owner be present or pet must be crated. No fees or deposits are required. Personal Note: My last stay at La Quinta was great with Marie. She had a place to walk, they provided a pet friendly room, and the charge was 10usd extra for her. 

Embassy Suites:

Generally will allow you to travel with your pets up to 30 pounds. A deposit of $100 is required, with $25 of it non-refundable. Has special pet packages that include toys and kibble. Personal Note: Marie loved the Embassy Suites. She strolled through the lobby and got her own bag of goodies. Marie loves goodies!

Days Inn and Suites:

Pets are a part of the family. That's why at Days Inn we make it easy for families traveling with their pets. With hundreds of Pet Friendly locations across the country, Days Inn is the perfect choice for both you and your pet. Pet Friendly policies vary by location. Personal Note: Very Pet Friendly! Days Inn's are my personal favorite when traveling with Marie. They did not charge extra for her, and she always had a good area to walk.

Red Roof Inns:

• One well-behaved family pet is permitted unless
  they are prohibited by state law or ordinance.
• Service animals are always welcome.
• Pets must be declared during guest registration.
• In consideration of all Red Roof guests, pets
  must never be left unattended in the guestroom.
• Personal Note: I saw a note in the last one I stayed at that if you did not declare your pet you would be charged 100usd for failure to declare.

Motel 6's:

One well-behaved pet per room is permitted unless prohibited by state law or ordinance. Service animals are always allowed.

Pets must be declared at check-in. In consideration of all Motel 6 guests, pets must be attended at all times. Pets should never be left alone in a room or automobile. Pets must be on a leash or properly carried outside guest rooms. Due to safety concerns for our employees and your pet, we will not clean a room with an unattended pet. Pet owners may be asked to vacate the property if their pet becomes a nuisance to other guests. Please be considerate of other guests when walking pets on the property and clean up after your pet.

Novotel's:

Novotel Hotels welcome a maximum of 2 animals (cats and dogs) per room and never require a fee. As always, service animals are exempt and always welcome. Personal Note: Marie enjoyed her stay at the Novotel. They had a good area for walking and she met several other pets during her stay.

Sheraton:

Individual Hotels may vary, but for the most part, dogs up to 60 lbs. are accepted. No other pets are permitted. Personal Note: Some Sheraton's are very pet friendly, some are not, call the hotel direct to find out the current policy.

Westin Hotels:

Most Westin's allow one dog, up to 40 pounds, to accompany guests in their guestrooms, in accordance with local health codes and hotel policies. Guests must sign a damage waiver and pay a $100.00 refundable pet deposit prior to bringing a pet into the hotel. The hotel reserves the right to charge for cleaning and/or excessive damage caused by a guest's dog. Guests are responsible for the conduct of their pet while on the resort grounds and must fully comply with hotel policies, including noise abatement, unattended pets, leash requirements, and pet-free zones. The resort does not permit any other pets not outlined in this standard. This policy does not apply to licensed service animals. The resort reserves the right to modify this policy at any time without notice. Personal Note: Marie loves Westins! The last one we stayed at had a fenced area for her to play in. She felt extremely pampered!

Holdiay Inn:

Most Holiday Inns now have pet-friendly rooms. They generally allow up to two dogs (of any size) for an additional fee of $25.00 per night per pet. Personal Note: The charge was worth it for Marie. She likes Holiday Inn's and the last one we stayed at allowed her by the pool on her leash. Marie always likes hotels that welcome her!

Planning for your pet to travel is just as important as planning for a child. Just like a child, they depend on us to take care of them. A little time and effort can make your travels a great experience for you and your pet.