Pets are family for many of us. They walk with us, they play and go on adventures with us, sometimes they even eat and sleep with us. So when it comes time to go on the road and travel with them, we want to make sure the hotel we stay in is pet friendly.
However, sometimes even the best laid plans go awry, and the only hotel that is available might not be dog friendly. So what does one do? According to a new survey from pet friendly booking site ‘Trips with Pets’, 34% of pet parents have at some point snuck their furry friend into accommodations during their travels.
Aside from the lodging not being pet friendly, other reasons for the sneak-ins include; their pet was too big, the accommodation did not accept their type of pet, and the pet fee was too much extra for their pet.
Meanwhile, when it comes to planning pet travel online, more than 90% of the pet parents polled indicated that they go online to browse the offerings of various pet-friendly accommodations. However, 10% of respondents prefer to call their “tried and true” pet-friendly hotel chain rather than book online.
The research also showed that not all pet-friendly accommodations are created equal and pet parents are well aware of this. The majority, or 78%, of pet parents reported that they actually compare pet amenities offered by accommodations when selecting where to stay.
On the top of the list of preferred amenities is pet concierge services. This may sound fancy, but what pet parents are looking for is a list of recommended pet services, pet-friendly businesses, and things to do.
Other preferred pet amenities that are important include: pet potty area (30%), pet welcome gift (25%), and pet sitting (9%).
It seems that pet travelers are willing to pay for these special amenities. More than 90% of the survey respondents would pay extra to accommodate their pets, with most willing to pay up to $50 per night and some actually willing to pay over $50 extra per night for their pets.
Trips with Pets’ data also found that 88% of respondents have stayed at a pet-friendly accommodation at least once in the past 2 years. And pet travelers aren’t afraid to venture far from home. Over 68% travel anywhere from 100 to 500 miles from home.
“America’s love affair with their pets is evident in their habits and preferences when it comes to traveling with their furry and four-legged family members,” the site stated.
Approximately 67% of American households now have at least one furry family member, which is the highest level in recorded history. Most, or 78%, of them are hitting the road and skies each year with their fur babies!
“Their mounting numbers and financial muscle is destined to continue to raise the bar when it comes to pet travel,” Trips with Pets stated.
For more tips on how to find a pet friendly hotel, click here.