show up at a hotel with your pet ~ Travel and Leisure

Pet owners these days are lucky because there are more pet-friendly hotels that they can choose from. Years ago, hotel executives have come to realize that potential customers could not go on vacations because they could not bring along their pets and they did not want to leave them behind. Because of this, the number of pet-friendly hotels has increased.

However, as with raising your pet, bringing one along with you to these pet-friendly hotels involves preparation and responsibility. You also have to remember that these types of hotels have different degrees of "pet-friendliness." So, don't just show up at a hotel with your pet, you have to call and check the hotel out before booking. Here's what you should do:

Ask for details about their pet policies.
Ask what specific types, sizes and even maximum number of pets you are allowed to bring (presuming you want to bring more than one pet.) This is important, because some hotels only allow dogs and some allow only one pet per room.
Ask if there are additional fees. A few hotels may not charge extra for pets but most will charge a one-time cleaning fee, per pet, per night or per stay.
Ask what types of rooms are available to guests with pets. Some hotels have only a limited number of rooms for pet owners. If you have specifications for a room, such as a Jacuzzi or other amenities, ask if these are available to pet owners like you.
Ask what services are available for pets. Some hotels offer food and water bowls, pet-sitting or dog-walking services.

If you have all the information that you need and you feel that the hotel meets your requirements for your pet/s, then go ahead and book a reservation. However, when you are at the hotel, you also have to remember some guidelines:

The most obvious one would be: your pet should be housetrained. He should not "do his business" anywhere he wants and he should not chew or scratch. He should be quiet (or will be quiet on command). He should not be running around the room and knocking everything over and breaking things.
Always keep your pet under control. Even if the hotel allows dogs to run without a leash, make sure he comes back when you call him. Pets usually become confused in unfamiliar surroundings.
Do not allow your pet to bother other guests or guest pets. There are people who are afraid of animals or just don't like pets. Don't allow your pet to jump on or rush at other hotel guests. Make sure that your pet doesn't lick or lean on other guests unless you're sure that the guests don't mind. You should also restrain your pet from approaching other guest pets because some animals do not like meeting other pets.
When pets are in unfamiliar territory, they may exhibit behaviour that they normally would not when they are in familiar surroundings. Some dogs tend to bark at everyone and everything in unfamiliar territories. That is why you should never leave your pet unattended.
Sometimes accidents happen even if your pet is well-behaved. Always take responsibility and pay for any damages that your pet may cause.
Always respect the pet policy of the hotel that you choose. If you do not like their rules, look for another hotel that has a pet policy that is suited to your needs.

We love our pets. But always bear in mind that if you want to have a fun vacation with them, make sure that you are aware of the hotel's pet policy beforehand and that you are willing to follow the rules. You wouldn't want to have any unpleasant surprises when you bring Fido or Fifi along.