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While staying at a five-star hotel might be at the top of your dream vacation priority list, if you’re bringing your pet along, you might want to consider a vacation home instead. The same perks that make a hotel a tempting choice for you can add stress to your trip when bringing your furry best friend along. Here are a few ways vacation rentals can make your trip with your pet a memorable experience for both of you!

You Can Have a Yard

While your pet might enjoy tearing up and down a hotel hallway, the other guests and management may not find the same joy in it. Renting a vacation home with a yard means your best buddy can relax in the fresh air alongside you. Not only will it make it easier for them to relieve themselves, but they can have a vacation of their own, exploring new sights and smells and having some freedom to run and play.

You’ll Have More Privacy

Trying to time your day so that your pet isn’t in the room when hotel housekeeping comes by can be a real headache. Add to that the stress of trying to keep your pet quiet to respect the other hotel guests, and your vacation suddenly becomes a source of stress. The privacy of a vacation rental allows you to come and go as you please, confident that your pet can relax without anyone entering your accommodations without warning. If your pet is a bit noisy, it’s okay – there will be no one to be bothered except the local wildlife.

Feel at Home

While some hotels have incredibly comfortable accommodations for their human guests, it’s rare to find a hotel that is quite as comfortable for your pet. Vacation homes are spacious enough to allow your best buddy to spread out and even to bring their own bed! You can have enough space for your pet to have their feeding area separate from all the activity, and pets who are night owls won’t wake their humans who are enjoying a restful getaway.

Be More Relaxed

As a pet owner, you may have noticed that when you are stressed, your pet is stressed. When you are calm, your pet is calm. All of the stresses of keeping a pet in a hotel will manifest in both you and your pet missing out on the serene relaxation a getaway is meant to provide. Staying in a vacation home will allow you to take advantage of the luxurious accommodations that make you feel completely at ease, which will in turn help your pet relax and enjoy their vacation, too.

When booking your next accommodation, consider renting a vacation home rather than a hotel. You won’t be sorry!

You might have your packing list down to a science, but when you’re traveling with your pet, you’ll need a few extra things! Whether you’re taking your furry friend to the beach, the mountains, or to a city excursion, here are a few things to make sure to add to your bag for your best bud.

Safety Items for Travel

If you’re taking a road trip to your destination, make sure to keep your pet as well as yourself safe during your trip. In the event of a car accident, not only will your unsecured pet potentially get injured, but it could become a projectile and hurt human passengers as well. Loose pets can also become a hazard to the driver by climbing into your lap or causing a distraction. You can find pet seatbelts for just a few dollars, or put your pet in their crate and secure it with a seatbelt. Plan ahead to keep you and your pet safe during your drive. If you’re flying with your pet, check with your airline ahead of time to make sure your carrier is approved and safe for your animal.

Travel Food and Water Dishes

Most pet supply stores carry travel food and water dishes for pets in various sizes. These are often made of silicone and collapse flat for easy packing. This will keep your pet hydrated during your journey.

Identification

If you usually forego a collar for your pet, make sure you plan ahead to secure identification to your animal before traveling. If your pet gets away from you in an unfamiliar area, they might have a hard time finding you again. For that reason, it’s best to have a tag secured to their collar or harness with their name as well as your phone number. Be sure to leave your pet’s collar or harness on them at all times when you are away from home.

Medical Records

If your pet has any special needs regarding medication or physical limitations, consider getting a copy of their records from your veterinarian before traveling. That way, if you have an unforeseen incident while far from home, you’ll be able to provide a vet or emergency service all the information they need.

Necessities

Don’t forget your furry best friend’s necessities! Make sure you have plenty of the food they are used to, waste bags or litter, something for them to chew, and any necessary grooming equipment. The last thing you want to do is have to run around looking for a pet store on vacation because you forgot something your pet has to have.

Cleaning Supplies

If you’re renting accommodations, plan ahead by bringing paper towels, carpet cleaner, or any other items you may need to clean up after your pet.

Taking your pet along on vacation can be intimidating. Traveling to your destination, sorting out where you’ll stay, and figuring out where your four-legged friend is allowed is quite a task. In fact, it can be so daunting that you might opt to leave your pet at home.

While that’s the right choice for some, if your idea of a dream vacation includes your fur-covered best friend, we want to help you! Making a pet-friendly itinerary to include your family pet isn’t as hard as it may seem. Here are a few tips to help you as you begin!

Know Before You Go

When traveling with a pet, the itinerary starts before you hit the road! You’ll want to make sure your best bud gets a full check-up from your veterinarian, and get them up-to-date on all their vaccinations. Make sure you’re following your vet’s recommendations as far as flea and tick prevention – the last thing you want is a car or bedroom full of pests! Before you travel, look up vets, including emergency pet care, at your destination.

Decide What Travel Will Look Like

Will you drive to fly to your destination? If you fly, make sure to look up your airline’s pet policies before booking anything. The last thing you want is to realize that your pet won’t be able to join you, or that it will be prohibitively expensive to bring them along.

If you are driving, you’ll want to consider how your companion will travel in comfort and safety. A crate is a great way for pets to travel in the car, but you’ll want to make sure to get them accustomed to it before you hit the road.

Your road trip with your pet should include rest stops for them to stretch their legs and relieve themselves. A quick running game outside can keep your pet happily sleeping for the next few hours in your vehicle. You will also want to plan how you’ll eat on the road – leaving your pet in a hot car while you enjoy a leisurely meal in a restaurant is a no-go. Think about going picnic style, or stopping at places with outdoor dining where your friend can join you for a stretch in the sun.

Be Strategic About Your Plans

If you have an athletic pet that can’t get enough of swimming, hiking, and running, your itinerary will look very different than if you have a pet that wants to snooze on the couch all day. Many destinations, such as national parks, offer plenty of wonderful activities your pet can join you on. When you’ve got plans for the day that don’t include your pet, be sure to either work breaks into your day to spend some time with your furry friend or look up local pet walkers or pet-sitters that can keep your buddy company while you’re out on an adventure.