Pets, To Go
By Lois Alter Mark

Forget the Louis Vuitton luggage, down flight pillows, and silk eyeshades. The hottest new travel accessory is something you might already have at home, and it’s softer and cozier than any cashmere travel blanket.

Celebrity jet setters like Paris Hilton are not the only ones who have discovered that the best accompaniment for those long nights in hotel rooms is their own beloved pet. According to a recent study, 62 percent of Americans have traveled with their pets, mostly dogs. And more than one-third of those who’ve traveled have stayed in a hotel or motel with them.

Although you might think traveling with your pet means having to accept a lower standard of lodging, it’s actually been the luxury hotels that have truly embraced the pet-friendly philosophy. Many upscale hoteliers are now providing their four-legged guests with the same top service their two-legged guests have come to expect.

“More and more hotels are rolling out the welcome mat for pets because they realize it’s good for business,” says Tara Kain, president of dogfriendly.com and author of two invaluable travel guides for dog owners. When Kain founded dogfriendly.com in 1998, very few places would accept her 50-plus-pound dog. Seven years and 100,000 miles of travel later, Kain says the world has expanded dramatically for her and her fellow pet lovers.

“Pets have become such an integral part of the family that the lodging industry realized there was a whole new market out there and has risen to meet that demand.”

In California alone, there are dozens of destinations that are ready to pamper you and your pooch.

The San Ysidro Ranch, in the hills of Santa Barbara, is considered one of the most legendary hideaways of the rich and famous, as well as one of the most romantic destinations in the world.” Surprisingly, it’s also one of the pet-friendliest. The hotel has welcomed dogs of all sizes, from toy poodles to Bernese mountain dogs, in its signature cottages, lavishing them with chew toys and treats as well as a special room-service menu.

Seventeen miles of active hiking trails in the Santa Ynez Mountains offer beautiful scenery for you and fascinating sniffs of magnolias and orange blossoms for your dog. After a long, satisfying walk through the countryside, treat yourself to one of the Ranch’s famous spa treatments, while your privileged pup naps contentedly in its own hotel-provided bed.

Further up the coast, Carmel-by-the-Sea’s Cypress Inn is a pet — and pet owner’s — paradise with beautifully appointed rooms, some large enough to house even two Newfoundlands. Co-owned by dog lover and animal rights activist Doris Day, it’s no wonder the Inn often hosts as many animals as human guests. (At Christmas, 27 out of 33 rooms included at least one pet.) There’s always a bowl full of complimentary treats at the front desk, and turndown service at night includes biscuits for the dogs and chocolates for their owners.

“We had a guest drive down from San Francisco one Christmas, unaware of our pet policy, and when she saw all the animals here, she immediately turned around to get her cat so he wouldn’t be alone for the holiday,” remembers general manager Hollace Thompson. “That’s a six-hour round trip, but she was so happy when she realized they could be together.”

Considered one of the most pet-friendly cities in the country, Carmel-by-the-Sea boasts a gorgeous beach where you and your dog can both romp unleashed. Dogs can also enjoy Carmel Walks, a highly acclaimed guided tour of the charming town, with their owners, share crumbs from afternoon tea in the hotel lobby, or lie under the tables of some of Carmel’s top restaurants. At PortaBella, waiters will even bring your dog water in a champagne bucket.

If you decide to head out on your own, be sure to leave your pooped pooch with a pet sitter recommended by the Inn. For $10-$15 per hour, they’ll walk your dog, play with it, or just keep it company in your room.

The Stanford Inn in Mendocino is another top hotel that has been welcoming pets since its inception. “We love animals but we’re not silly about it,” says owner Jeff Stanford. “We just understand that animals are part of the family, and we’re respectful of them.”

Because the luxurious Inn is also a working organic farm nestled between the coastal forest and the ocean, outdoor activities abound for both dogs and their owners. You can take a jog along the cliffs or on Big River Beach, and then enjoy a delicious dinner at the Inn’s nationally acclaimed vegan restaurant.

If you’re ready for a weekend away but not up for a long drive with your pet (or if you have guests coming to visit from out of town and can’t take another pet in your house), head over the Coronado Bridge to one of the pet-friendliest hotels around. Living up to its “Loews Loves Pets” corporate philosophy, Loews Coronado Bay Resort features enough amenities to make both people and pets blissfully happy.

“People sleep better when they’re surrounded by their loved ones,” laughs general manager Kathleen Cochran. “They’re much more relaxed when their pets are with there with them.”

Repeat guests agree. “I never knew anything like this existed,” says Bonnie Popick, who frequently comes down from the Bay Area with her German Shepherd. “The doorman always greets us, we play on dog beach and sit in front of the fireplace at the piano bar. It’s a very fun time.”

For local residents, a night at the resort is an easy getaway for the whole family. “The whole staff catered to Ozzy, our Golden Retriever, and he was lavished with attention by other guests as well,” remembers Heidi Pappalardo. “We all felt so welcome and so comfortable, it was truly an amazing experience for all of us.”

Although Cochran credits the program with increasing business by about 20 percent, hotel employees admit that some of the best rewards of being pet-friendly are often more touchy-feely. As one manager says, “It’s wonderful to be thanked by our human guests, but nothing beats a wagging tail and a big, sloppy kiss.”