Aug 10, 2009 7:39 pm US/Eastern
Pet-Friendly Vacation Options Becoming The Norm
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
Going on vacation, and don't know what to do with your family's furry, four-legged friend?
Travel experts say it's easier than ever to take your pet with you on your summer travels.
Barbara Owensby considers her dogs a part of the family, so she tries to take them everywhere she goes.
"We've taken them to places like Asheville and Key West, Florida," Owensby said.
This summer, Owensby might be surprised to find out that there are a growing number of options catering to pet owners.
"We see people not only being pet-friendly, but putting together packages with pet spas or pet-sitters," Susan Smith, of pettravel.com, said.
In fact, there are now more than 25,000 pet-friendly hotels, spas, and inns worldwide.
One San Jose Holiday Inn has a pet-friendly deal starting at $89 a night. Various cruise lines, like Cunard, have unleashed a number of new amenities to pamper an accompanying pet, like complimentary toys and gourmet food.
This summer, the first-ever pet-only airline, Pet Airways, took off. Almost like a kennel in the sky, the company flies pets to a number of cities across the US. But if the ticket price – about $400 – is too steep, you can find other deals.
Southwest, for example, started a program called P.A.W.S., allowing customers to bring a small cat or dog in the cabin for just $75 each way. Flying your pet cargo is still the cheapest way to go, but not always an option in warmer weather.
"If the temperature on the tarmac is over 84 degrees, there is no carrier that will put a pet in cargo – it's simply too risky," Smith says.
If you're thinking about heading overseas with your pet, many European cities are very pet friendly, even allowing animals to travel with you on trains and buses – but be prepared.
"Pets must go see a veterinarian within 10 days of travel, to certify they are free of ticks and parasites and any communicable diseases," Smith says.
There are also a growing number of pet-friendly summer house rentals, especially along the Jersey Shore.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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