Pet-Friendly Hotels Leave No Paw Unpampered

As hotels and resorts compete to provide guests with ever more luxurious amenities, a growing number are realizing that they've been neglecting a certain subset of their clientele: the kind with four legs -- or feathers, or scales.

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Some 29 million, or 14%, of U.S. adults brought the family pet with them on at least one trip in the past three years, according to the Travel Industry Association.

Most travel with a dog (78%), while a few hardy souls traveled with cats (15%). A few folks even travel with birds, ferrets, rabbits or fish. As the number of non-human guests is substantial, luxury hotels are catering to these animal guests in ways that many people won't experience at more budget-friendly accommodations.

Since most pet people travel with their dogs, it stands to reason that the most pet-friendly hotels are prepared to cater to canines. 

The Wyndham in Orange County, Calif., provides the broad outlines of what you and your dog can expect when you're traveling deluxely. When you book their "Paws and Claws" package, a "Pet Care Manager" will get in touch with you three days before you arrive to find out what exactly Fido will require for his stay.

Waiting in the room on check-in will be your choice of dog snacks (rawhide chews, Milk-Bone treats, dog cookies) a plush pet bed (which will be turned down at the same time the people-bed is turned down each night), a directory of pet-sitting services and maps for great dog walks, plus pooper-scooper bags and lint brushes.