Looking to get away but can’t bear to leave Fido at home? Instead of finding a kennel for your canine loved one, pamper your pooch and take him or her with you! Many resorts and hotels are beginning to recognize how special pets are to their patrons and now surpass the en vogue title of just being “pet friendly.” These vacation spots will leave both you and your four-legged friends rejuvenated and sitting in luxury’s opulent lap.
SEATTLE
The Alexis Hotel in Seattle, Washington, is the perfect getaway for the art buff. Located at the hub of the arts scene in the city, guests can take their pets on a short stroll to Seattle’s famous Pike Place Market where you can saunter along the waterfront and the historic Pioneer Square, all near the West End neighborhood of this lively city. The hotel will also help arrange pet sitting services while you’re out exploring the neighborhood’s boutiques, museums and eateries. Upon checkin, your pooch receives a designer pet bed, a doggie dish filled with distilled water, and complimentary pet treats. If you’re more inclined to order room service than dining out, The Alexis provides a menu for both humans and dogs. Special grooming services are also available for your furry companions. alexishotel.com
CRESTED BUTTE
If you prefer the outdoorsy vacation spot, The Ruby of Crested Butte, Colorado, offers a plethora of activities throughout the year. Rated as one of Colorado’s best bed and breakfasts, this mountain getaway is situated just one block from hiking and biking trails, which you can roam with your pup in the summer, and is nearby many summer festivals like the Crested Butte Music Festival and the Caddis Cup Fly Fishing Tournament. Pamper your dog with one of The Ruby’s special pet services like a Doggie Rub a-Dub-Dub spa treatment, or their Ruby Rover Romp – a session of supervised outdoor play. Want to remember Lassie’s vacation forever? Let The Ruby of Crested Butte’s in-house artist, Sarah Hausdoeeffer, paint a custom dog portrait as a souvenir. therubyofcrestedbutte.com
SCOTTSDALE
Fire Sky Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona, provides a top-of-the-line spa vacation for you and your pet. Their Jurlique spa offers an in-room couple’s massage for you and your canine. Guests can choose the massage style of their choice for up to 90 minutes, while your pooch also gets pampered by your side. The menu of pet spa treatments includes a specialized massage tailored to the easily stimulated, jet lagged or older dog, plus a Pooch Smooch facial and a Pretty Pup Body Treatment. Jurlique’s spa philosophy is that all guests, human or animal, leave with “restored energy and healing from within.” In addition to spa treatments, guests can entertain their furry friends with the Bone Appetite package, complete with a pet-friendly DVD (Babe, Lady and the Tramp or Dr. Doolittle), a chew toy and gourmet treats. fireskyresort.com
BEVERLY HILLS
Perhaps your idea of luxury is Rodeo Drive. Then head down to the world-famous Beverly Hills Hotel, where celebrity pups the likes of Paris Hilton’s Tinkerbell and Britney Spears’s Bit Bit, live the high life. Through their Canine Connoisseur program, pets receive a custom-designed doggie treat from the bakery shop, decorated with your dog’s name handwritten on it. Along with signature Beverly Hills Hotel pink tennis balls for your pooch to play with, this vacation destination is ideal for the pet and owner who want to unwind after a long day of strolling along Sunset Boulevard, brushing shoulders with the stars, and shopping at Los Angeles’s finest retail hot spots. beverlyhillshotel.com
PARIS
Jetsetters looking to travel with their pets abroad will find Le Meurice in Paris, France, to be a haven of European luxury. A pet-friendly hotel since the early 1900s, Le Meurice provides a personalized doggie bowl with your pet’s name upon check-in, as well as a complimentary pet basket and a pet name tag. Dog groomers are onsite and can be reserved to take Fifi on a walk through the Tuileries Garden nearby. Salvador Dali is just one of the many guests who have enjoyed their time at the legendary Le Meurice with their precious pet. lemeurice.com
Wherever you decide to holiday with your dog this summer, make sure to ask about cleaning deposits upon booking your reservations. Some hotels and resorts also have age, weight and vaccination requirements that need to be met before your arrival, and to ensure that every dog has its day!
