Pack Your Bags, Fido! More Hotels Are Putting Out the Welcome Mat for Pets

Good news, pet lovers! There are more options than ever for you to travel with your furry friends. According to a recent American Veterinary Medical Association survey, six out of 10 pet owners regard their animals as family members. And I have it from a reliable source that most dogs feel the same way about their humans. Cats, on the other hand, will almost always view us as members of the staff. Meow!

So it's only reasonable to expect us to want to bring along every member of the family on vacation with us. More hotel chains than ever are putting out the welcome mat for dogs and cats. Chains including Motel 6, Loews, Residence Inn and Hampton Inn are pet friendly. La Quinta Inns and Kimpton Hotels don't even charge an extra deposit or room fee to keep your pets in the room. Make sure to call the hotel first though and inquire about their pet policy before booking a room online.

I recently had the pleasure of staying at the Vacation Village Resort in Hancock, MA (a town known for its great fall/winter outdoor activities such as skiing and hiking) and took full advantage of the pet-friendly buildings by bringing along my dog AND my cat. One happy family indeed! For more details, check them out at Vacation Village in The Berkshires.

USA Today recently published their list of "10 Best Readers' Choices for Pet-Friendly Hotels." The hotels were chosen by a panel of experts and then voted on by the public. Here's the list:

• El Portal Sedona Hotel, Sedona, Arizona
• Red Mountain Resort, St. George, Utah
• The Benjamin, New York City
• The Fairmont, Washington, D.C.
• Hotel Monaco, Alexandria, Virginia
• W Hotel Midtown, Atlanta
• Loews Coronado Bay Resort, San Diego
• The Little Nell, Aspen, Colorado
• The Loden, Vancouver, British Columbia
• Galleria Park Hotel, San Francisco

To check out even more places to stay with your pets, check out: PetFriendlyTravel.com; PetsWelcome.com; and, DogFriendly.com. Now all you have to do is to remember to bring along your toothbrush, some cat litter and plenty of dog treats. Bon voyage!