How To Find a Pet Hotel

Traveling can be difficult if you have pets. In the first place, not all airlines allow pets, even in the cargo hold. Secondly, some countries have strict regulations against animals being imported onto their soil without several weeks' quarantine. If this is the case, then you can have your pet lodge in a pet hotel.

Pet hotels are not that difficult to find if you know where to look. The important thing is being able to find a pet hotel in your city or town.

• Look online. The first place to look for pet hotels is a pet-oriented website or portal. Some examples are petfinder.com, and even Google Maps. The good thing about these resources is that they often show you a map and satellite imagery of the establishments that appear in the search results. This would help you find the pet hotel nearest or most accessible to you.

• Ask for referrals. Another thing you can do to easily find a pet hotel is to ask your veterinarian or pet store for local pet boarding services. You can also check with friends or relatives who own pets and often travel. They may have checked their pet into a hotel at one time or another.

Once you've found a potential pet hotel, the next thing to do is ask for pricing, amenities and other services.

• Lodging - What type of bed will your pet sleep in? What type of room? Will he have a room or kennel to himself? If you have several pets, are they able to accommodate these in one room together? These are some of the questions you might want to ask before checking your pet in.

• Spa services - Most pet hotels double as pet spas, which offer pampering treatments for your pet. Since the fact that you are away might add to the stresses your pet experiences, it's a good idea to treat him to these services once in a while. Pet hotels also offer grooming services. Take this chance to have your dog groomed.

• Recreation - As a pet owner, you know that your dog, cat or other pet needs exercise in order to keep in tip-top shape. A pet hotel should have regular activities for exercise. Some pet hotels have sprawling grounds where your dogs can run. And rooms for cats should have scratching posts.

• Online monitoring - Many pet hotels have Internet-enabled cameras installed in a pet's room. This way, owners can check in on their pets from anywhere in the world, as long as Internet access is available.

With pet hotels, traveling can be less stressful for both you and your pet. If you're the type of person who worries about leaving your pet with the neighbors, then investing a little extra in checking your pet into a pet hotel would be the next best thing to staying at home.