You’ll find concierge service, gift baskets and gourmet treats, but they’re not for you. They’re for your pet. With more than 4,800 searches a month for pet-friendly vacations in the United States, hotels and vacation rentals are rolling out the red carpet for the furriest travelers to meet a growing demand for pet-friendly travel experiences.
Using data from Vrbo on pet-friendly accommodations in the 50 most populous cities in the United States, vacation experts from Family Destinations Guide uncovered the best destinations for travelers looking to bring along their four-legged friends. From beach towns to major cities, these U.S. cities are the best places to create lasting travel memories with your furriest travel companion.
Family Destinations Guide found that warm-weather cities in the south and southwest proved to be the most pet-friendly destinations for travelers in the United States. Cities in Texas, California and Florida largely swept the top spots, offering the most pet-friendly accommodations in the country:
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8. Los Angeles, California
11. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Lone Star State a hot spot for pet parents
Houston proved to be the most pet-friendly travel destination in the United States, offering an astonishing 478 pet-friendly accommodation listings on Vrbo alone. For locals, it’s no surprise. Visit Houston highlights pet-friendly spots on its website, including specific destinations, events and accommodations perfect for travelers bringing along their dogs.
Texas cities Dallas, San Antonio and Austin followed close behind on the list, with 470, 463, and 416 pet-friendly places to stay, respectively.
52% of pet owners only stay at accommodations that allow furry friends, and rental accommodations like Vrbo aren’t the only ones getting in on the pet-friendly travel trend. Hotels are taking note in a big way.
In the pet-obsessed Dallas-Fort Worth area, Hotel Drover offers a dedicated “Happy Tails Concierge” to help guests navigate the hotel’s ample pet-friendly amenities. From complimentary beds, bowls and leashes to arranging dog walking and grooming services to sharing recommendations on where to explore the area with a pet in tow, it’s a dream for any pet parent.
Throwing travelers a bone
Many hotels are changing their policies to attract travelers and their furry companions. In the country’s fifth most pet-friendly travel destination of Orlando, JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa extends an invite to cats and dogs under 40 pounds. They launched the program for the first time last year.
“We also know how important and fun it is for people to travel with their pets,” said Vibeke Sansone, director of sales and marketing for the resort, referencing recent trends toward pet-friendly travel.
The luxury property in Orlando’s upscale Bonnet Creek neighborhood welcomes furry family members with a toy, water bowl and waste bags, offering designated pet-friendly areas.
Big cities, big amenities
While warm-weather destinations around the country came out ahead as the most pet-friendly destinations for travelers, larger northern cities also hold their own. Chicago and New York made the top 10 list, with 440 and 439 pet-friendly accommodation listings on Vrbo alone.
Especially in the winter, accommodations are getting more creative to make colder climates more comfortable for traveling pets and pet parents. New York’s Crowne Plaza HY36 even offers a seasonal Coats For Canines program, making dog jackets available upon request at the front desk, a hit with travelers taking Fido along for Christmas in New York and beyond.
From dog parks to jet planes
If these pet amenities sound incredible, wait until you hear how luxury travelers are pampering their four-legged friends. After seeing an 86% uptick in the number of pet-related travel requests received over the last two years, VistaJet, a global private aviation company, introduced a VistaPet program for fliers.
The program includes training hostesses in pet vital signs, animal behavior and CPR procedures. Travelers can look forward to a special in-flight pet menu, handmade sleep mats and amenity kits complete with treats baked by Michelin-starred chef Michel Roux for The Dog House. Pet parents know to spare no expense to pamper their furriest family member.
Dog days of travel: 6 accessories for a trip with pups
Pack the travel bag with fun
SodaPup’s line of American-made, FDA-compliant treat dispensers, tug toys, frisbees, chewers and more is a great way to train a new dog and soothe for travel.
Hit the road with enrichment toys and accessories that feed pup’s spirit while soothing his soul. SodaPup offers a collection of American-made, FDA-compliant items, including natural rubber chew toys that double as treat dispensers. The corn on the cob treat dispenser ($11.99) helps focus a dog’s energy, calms anxiety and provides a puzzle as he figures out how to get to the food inside.
For power chewers, the mod bone ($10.99) has small holes that can be filled with peanut butter or other soft foods and lets your dog go to town, chewing as aggressively as he likes while discouraging problem chewing. An enrichment mat ($11.99) featuring a fun jigsaw pattern can also be spread with a soft treat to entertain, reduce anxiety and promote fresh breath. sodapup.com
The don’t-leave-home-without-it kit
Pack Animal Essentials’ natural pet travel kit ($39) for those little hiccups that seem to accompany any trip. Formulas include Tranquility Blend, Super Immune and Daily Digestion — a certified-organic combo of peppermint, fennel seed, chamomile and ginger root, for fresh breath and a healthy tummy.
Each all-natural herbal remedy can be served on little Wellness Bite treats, made with wholesome ingredients and designed to absorb up to 20 drops of the tincture formulas. Each kit includes three 1-oz formula bottles and the Wellness Bites and comes in a hemp-gusseted zipper bag. animalessentials.com
Snuggly sleep
Bring along PupShow’s orthopedic cuddler bed (from $54.95), a puffy, fluffy new favorite spot for him to snooze. Running from small to extra-extra-large, the beds are made from human-grade materials and designed to ease joint pain. These cuddle cups are also proven to ease anxiety, creating a sense of security that will have pups nodding off almost as soon as they make their nest – thanks to the construction of the bed’s center. It is made of multiple pieces a puppy can happily rearrange or dig into to find his most comfortable position. The bed has a protective and waterproof (and washable) foam cover (no zipper) with a non-skid, rubberized bottom. pup-show.com
Travel like a (furry) king
Pups travel in comfort and style with Bark n Bag’s fashionable and eco-friendly CheckerBarc pet carrier ($80/small; $85/medium) in hand-loomed cotton canvas. Featuring locking zipperheads and ventilating mesh on two sides, the carrier has a machine-washable polar fleece liner, plus top and side entries and roomy pockets. It is a comfortable carry with padded handle wrap and shoulder strap. Bonus: it fits under most airline seats. barknbag.com
Unleash your dog’s style
From Wolfgang Man & Beast’s aptly named GreatEscape collection are a collar, leash and comfort harness (from $19.99) featuring outdoor-themed patterns that inspire trotting off into the great unknown. These machine-washable dog accessories are designed to work together to give the human and the human’sBFF a sense of security while also giving Fido a style upgrade. wolfgangusa.com
A spa treatment in hand
Pamper your pooch with the award-winning HandsOn Gloves’ all-in-one shedding, bathing and grooming mitts ($24.99). Not only do these nylon gloves with their non-abrasive rubber nodules quickly clean up pup after a day at the park, beach or trails, but they also let you give him a gentle, relaxing rub-down. The gloves come in multiple sizes and wear comfortably, with scrubbing nodules on the palms and fingers and a secure hook-and-loop fastener. They stimulate circulation and distribute natural oils for a healthy skin and coat. handsongloves.com
