Road trip season may last well into fall this year, so if you are looking to hit the road with the whole family – pets included! – I’ve gathered tips, guidance, and some pet-friendly hotels to make you into a well-heeled pet-friendly travel advisor.
Before booking that pet-friendly trip, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) recommends travelers make sure their pet:
Is comfortable and physically able to travel
Has up-to-date ID tags and microchip
Has a portable kennel to stay in if you need to leave them in the accommodations unattended?
Pet Travel Checklist
Packing for a pet is a bit different than packing for yourself! Here are a few items the AVMA wants to make sure are on every pet’s packing list.
The basics like a collar, leash, portable kennel/crate, bed, blankets, toys, food and water bowls and any medications they’re taking
Your vet’s contact info and a list of vets and emergency vet hospitals along your route and near your destination
Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (health certificate) and acclimation certificate, if needed by the state you’re visiting
Up-to-date ID info, plus a recent photo of your pet and Up-to-date medical records
First-aid kit for your pet
Pet Friendly Hotels
Universal™ Resort Hotels
Hard Rock Hotel at Universal™ Orlando
Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal™ Orlando
Loews Royal Pacific Resort at Universal™ Orlando
Loews Sapphire Falls Resort at Universal™ Orlando
Walt Disney World® Resort
As of 2017, four Walt Disney World® Resort properties are welcoming guests and their dogs, with a maximum of two dogs per room. Each pet-friendly guestroom at these four locations has easy access to pet walkways. At check-in, guests with dogs will also receive "Pluto's Welcome Mat," which includes a mat, bowls, a pet ID tag, disposable bags, puppy pads and dog-walking maps, as well as a special "Do Not Disturb" tag indicating a dog is inside.
Disney's® new pet-friendly resorts and their fees per guestroom:
Disney's Art of Animation Resort®: $50 per night
Disney's Port Orleans Riverside Resort®: $50 per night
Disney's Yacht Club Resort®: $75 per night
Cabins at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground®: $50 per night
Additionally, the Four Seasons® Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World® continues to welcome pets. Extras include a "Pampered Pets" room-service menu. Plus, pets 17 pounds and under incur no additional fees.
Anaheim Area Pet Friendly Hotels
Anaheim Hotel
Anaheim Majestic
Hyatt Regency Orange County
Sheraton Park Hotel® at the Anaheim Resort
Staybridge Suites Anaheim At The Park