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When Fido hits the road
These days, traveling with pets is becoming a more luxurious experience.
December 17, 2004: 11:42 AM EST
By Lara Magzan, CNN/Money staff writer

NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Can't bear the thought of looking at those sad eyes when leaving your pet at the kennel during vacation? You may not have to leave your four-legged friend behind.

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These days, more and more hotels are becoming pet-friendly and offering a range of services from basic to luxurious. Here are just a few that get four-paw ratings:

When checking into the Mandarin Oriental in New York City, you will be asked your dog's name and care preferences. The hotel offers turndown amenities and a 24-hour dog walking service.

"If our guest asks for steamed free-range organic chicken for their pet, we will get it," says spokeswoman Sonia Rendigs.

From culinary doggie-delights to an assortment of toys, pets at the SoHo Grand Hotel in New York are welcome to stay with no extra charge in one of their pet-designated rooms. After a great meal from the hotel's "doggie-menu," your pooch can even clean up with their own toothbrush and toothpaste.

After the Big Apple, head out to the Lake Placid Lodge, a lakeside mountain resort in the Adirondacks. Seventeen luxurious cabins on the water's edge await you, along with a basket of gourmet pet treats, a down bed, food and water bowls and a nightly turndown with a treat for an additional charge of $75 per night.

Furry guests have the freedom to wander through a vast wooded mountain property with miles of trails. For special occasions, an exclusive meal can be prepared for the pet of honor.

A hipster oasis, The James Hotel in Scottsdale, Ariz., is taking pet pampering seriously.

This new, luxury boutique hotel sprawls across seven acres. You and your pet can enjoy massages or just relax by the pool in a teak daybed from Bali.

Back at the room, food and water bowls await your pet. Ready for a nap? Just place the "Pets at Rest" sign on your door. Four-legged guests even get a free turndown amenity of Fiji water and a gourmet biscuit.

What about Vegas? Taking your pet to Las Vegas is no longer just a dream for pet owners, thanks to America Dog and Cat Hotel. This 11,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility offers private suites ranging from $69 to $130, where your pooch can relax in a custom-designed bed, watch color TV, listen to jazz music and enjoy room service.

"We have babies staying with us from Alaska, New York, California," says Christopher Easley, the hotel's manager, who is also the proud owner of a Dalmatian.

Flying across the pond

Some countries are less pet-friendly than others. As a result, your pet may be quarantined for a long period of time upon arrival. Even while traveling within the United States, your pet will end up in quarantine if you take it with you to Hawaii.

If you are thinking of going to Europe with your pet, you should contact the appropriate embassy or consulate in advance, as the details do vary from country to country.

Hot Dog Holidays can help you with selecting and booking a pet-friendly hotel or even a castle in France, Spain, Belgium, United Kingdom and other western European countries. They offer personal approach to your booking needs by assigning an agent to work with you in selecting a pet-friendly accommodation.

"When we started in 2001, the competition was non-existent in Europe," says Rody van Egmond, the founder of Hot Dog Holidays. "We found that there is growing demand for pet-friendly holidays."

In addition, airlines themselves have different regulations. For example, on American Airlines carry-on pets are not allowed on transatlantic, transpacific or Central/South American flights. But on Continental, you can even earn frequent-flyer miles through the airline's PetPass program.

For those wishing for more personalized treatment, charter service Companion Air is the answer. This is the first airline dedicated to flying pets and their owners in high-comfort. It was founded by Rick Roof, who came up with the idea because he was bothered by the thought of his beloved dog, Murphy, traveling in cargo.

On board Companion Air, the chief pilot is a veterinarian, cabin-crew members are compassionate pet lovers, and there are toys and treats a-plenty.

No matter what airline you fly on, you will be required to show a health certificate from your veterinarian within ten days of your departure and have all vaccinations up to date.

Pooch gear

Chances are, your local pet store has many travel-related products, from basic bags to portable bowls. But if you don't want to sacrifice high-design fashion for airline-approved function, here are some picks of the litter:

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Petote by Janet Lee has a long list of celebrity fans. These pet carriers are modeled after the hottest handbags from the runway and they range from $89 to $599. But as the owner, Janet Lee, points out, "the main objective for every bag is functionality and comfort for the dog."

The idea came about in 2002 when Janet adopted a dog and was searching for a stylish but functional pet carrier. Today, her chic pet carriers can be found in 350 stores nationwide.

PuchiBag owners DeEdyre Burks and Deann Zampleii combine canine comfort and fashion in 80 different styles of high-end handbags made to carry small dogs in, with prices ranging from $85 to $400. High demand for stylish pet products has kept this LA company in business for five years, with sales doubling every year.

"We have pretty much something for everyone; from backpacks to classics to fashion totes," says Deann Zampleii, co-owner. They also have two official licenses: PuchiBag for Barbie and Andy Warhol by PuchiBag. In January, they are adding the Campbell Soup design to their Andy Warhol PuchBag collection and Malibu Barbie to Mattel's collection.

PuchiBag has a long list of celebrity followers and their 'Pink Glitter' bag was featured in MGM's movie, Legally Blonde. The line can be purchased online or at one of 900 stores worldwide.  Top of page




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Most stock quote data provided by BATS. Market indices are shown in real time, except for the DJIA, which is delayed by two minutes. All times are ET. Disclaimer. Morningstar: © 2018 Morningstar, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Factset: FactSet Research Systems Inc. 2018. All rights reserved. Chicago Mercantile Association: Certain market data is the property of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved. Dow Jones: The Dow Jones branded indices are proprietary to and are calculated, distributed and marketed by DJI Opco, a subsidiary of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and have been licensed for use to S&P Opco, LLC and CNN. Standard & Poor's and S&P are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC and Dow Jones is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC. All content of the Dow Jones branded indices © S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC 2018 and/or its affiliates.