July/August 2007
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Smart Traveler:
Gone with the Dogs (and Cats)
By Linda Burbank Photo by Pete Cade/Getty Images
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With the wind in his fur, Fido enjoys a vacation, too. |
Ready to hit the road with your pet? First, a little training.
 bout ten million U.S. travelers take their four-legged darlings on vacation every year. But traveling with pets is anything but a walk in the park. Owners must dig through a thicket of conflicting rules and regulations to make sure their furry friends will be welcome—and safe—throughout their journey. Here's how to avoid chasing your tail.
Fly with fido. All major U.S. airlines, except Southwest, will let you carry small pets at least eight weeks old in the passenger cabin for $50 and up each way. Pets must be in approved carriers (such as Sherpa or the multi-function Celltei) that fit underneath the seat in front of you, and they're usually counted as your one carry-on item. Some carriers impose a 15- or 20-pound weight limit. Larger pets must go in the hold with baggage; fees vary. Some airlines won't accept checked pets at all and many airlines won't transport them during warm spells or cold snaps. There are additional restrictions for snub-nosed dogs or cats, who have more trouble breathing in certain conditions. Check the nitty gritty directly with the airline. Reserve in advance: The number of animals per flight is limited. Paperwork requirements vary by state, but you must usually carry a health certificate signed by your vet, plus proof of a current rabies vaccination.
Hit the road. In the car, dogs and cats should wear seat belts too. Attach the belt to the harness or the kennel. It's illegal in some states, including Massachusetts, to let a dog ride in the back of a pickup truck. Never leave a pet inside a car in warm weather, even in the shade with the windows cracked open. It's against the law in many states, including California.
Take a cat nap. While the number of pet-friendly hotels is on the rise, policies vary by property. AAA publishes Traveling with Your Pet, an annual directory of more than 13,000 diamond-rated hotels and campgrounds that allow pets, plus an overview of their policies ($18). Pet travel is going upscale: Of AAA's 93 five-
diamond hotels, 57 allow pets. Pooches visiting the Hilton Whistler Resort and Spa get a swag bag of treats and grooming items. Kimpton's Hotel Monaco in Portland even offers pet massages and pet psychic consultations. Don't rely on details from a toll-free reservations number; instead, speak with the hotel directly. Hotels may roll out the red carpet with no restrictions, or you might have to pay an extra cleaning fee or leave a damage deposit at check-in. Some hotels relegate pets to smoking rooms, or will only allow those under a certain weight. Barking hounds may get the boot, and some hotels won't let you leave your pet unattended.
Go for a walk. Parks and beaches are top spots for canine excursions. But pets don't have free rein: At most national parks, pets are only allowed in designated zones such as parking lots and campgrounds. Hiking trails and beaches are sometimes off limits entirely. One notable exception is Grand Canyon National Park, where leashed pets are allowed on some South Rim trails. And at North Carolina's Cape Hatteras National Seashore, dogs on a six-foot leash are allowed on most of the beach year-round. National forests and state parks often have less stringent rules. A few, such as Wisconsin's Governor Dodge State Park, have special dog-swim beaches.
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