Pet Friendly Hotels

[Sheila & Finnley]

Hello my Doodle friends,

I just came back from a weekend trip to Maine, and I had to share.

Don't know how many of you travel with your Doodles, and stay at hotels. I never have stayed at a hotel with Finnley before. Finnley travels with us most everywhere, but when I am going to be gone over night, She usually gets her own overnight at the doggy lodge.

For this trip however, I decided to seek out a pet friendly hotel, for us all to share the weekend. After researching a few places, the one I picked was close to where my son was living, and seemed to have some very good feedback from people with pets that have stayed there.

So, I made my call to the Hampton Inn, in Saco Maine and reserved our room.

I was extremely nervous when we arrived. I have to admit, I am a tad bit quirky... eccentric (?) when it comes to staying at a hotel. I bring my own pillows, and towels... you get it!

Anyway, I didn't know what I would be getting myself into, going to a place that actually allowed me to bring my dog. Felt a bit overwhelmed, kind of like Howie Mandel trying to avoid a handshake !! (fist bump)

We arrived, and the front desk clerk was so nice while she explained everything. She even gave us some very nice poop bags, which we didn't need, but I like the way they looked, so I certainly didn't turn them down.

We got our card key and headed up to the room. I opened the door while holding my breath, and WOW !! It was one of the nicest rooms I have ever been in ! So clean with...  get this, puffy, fluffy WHITE duvet covers on the beds. I was so thrilled, and actually felt a comfort level that I don't usually feel in hotels.

Finnley was a bit nervous the first night. She could hear people going up and down the halls, but she was really good. I slept very well, and that is something I do not usually do in a hotel.

Everyone was happy, and we all had a good experience at the Hampton Inn in Saco Maine. So if you are traveling with the Doodle, check out a Pet Friendly hotel. You might be as pleasantly surprised as I was !!

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Sheila -- Glad to hear you had a great experience on your first doodle hotel overnight.  We travel quite frequently with our girls so we have checked out quite a few different hotels.  My favorite thus far has been the LaQuinta.  (We've had a few bad ones) but for the most part they are really pet friendly.  One thing that I always do is ask for a room at the end of the hallway so that we don't have people walking past all night long as our girls will bark sometimes.  I also try and get a low floor in case there is an overnight potty break needed.

[Sheila & Finnley]

Thanks Sheri. The next time I go on an overnight trip, Finnley will be right there with us. Hopefully all future hotels will be as great as this one was!

[Lynda Kamrath]

I'm glad you had such a good experience.  We have stayed many times in hotels with our dogs because we normally take them everywhere with us.  Taking them out for a night walk can be a challenge, but we all learn pretty quickly what the routine is.  If we need to go somewhere (like a dinner party at a restaurant), we get a sitter to come to the room and stay with the dogs.  They have never been left alone in a hotel for obvious reasons.  Our new little dog does not like traveling so much because he gets car sick, but the doodles always loved to go anywhere.  Most hotels are very happy to meet the doodles and we have never had a problem.  Enjoy, a new world has opened for you.

[Sheila & Finnley]

Oh, sorry to hear your newest baby gets car sick. Hopefully he will outgrow it.....  SOON!  :D I am just glad I took the plunge, and didn't wait any longer. She is 2 now, so she has many more fun travel years to go with us!

[Lori, Daphne, Lucy & Pippa]

Great information! Thank Sheila! I also travel with my own pillow, electric blanket and the one most people think is crazy...toilet paper. I like my own, not the kind where you have to use half a roll to get what I can get in a few squares...Lol!

[Sheila & Finnley]

Lori, I am SOOO glad that you bring stuff along. I do the TP as well, but didn't want name everything in my post! Ha, ha, ha. 

[Lori, Daphne, Lucy & Pippa]

Haha..sorry to let the secret out! I know my friends and relatives I sometimes travel with all make fun of me!

[Sheila & Finnley]

Let them make fun Lori. As long as you are more comfortable, then you get the last laugh!

[Carol and Banjo]

Oh, you two are pips!    LOL!     TP, never crossed my mind....but I do get the other items.     We've been lucky and not so lucky in different hotels with Banjo.    There can be many variations even within the same chain of hotels.      Glad you had a pleasant experience Sheila and Finnley!

[Marni and Hanna]

Glad to hear you had a good experience!  We drag Hanna with us everywhere too. We have also had decent luck with LaQuinta hotels.  If possible we try to get a room with one king rather than 2 doubles, as the little bit of extra floor space seems to help Hanna (all of us) feel less claustrophobic.  We also bring along a black flat sheet to throw on the bed so Hanna can come up on the bed and we don't get the nice covers dirty (or in some places the scary covers don't get Hanna dirty ; )  ) Maybe you will be ready for some shopping with Finnley next-- Hanna has been in so many dressing rooms and stores Ive lost count!  Good luck on many new adventures to come !

[Sheila & Finnley]

Shopping with Finnley would not be a good idea. Although, I have never seen any dog friendly stores except for Tractor Supply, an PetSmart. Not any big choices around here! LOL

[Valarie]

We also have had good luck with La Quinta.  Although the last time we stayed our neighbors must have left their little dog alone and he/she was not happy about it.  Bark, bark, bark but we went out for a while and when we returned everything had settled down.  We have stayed at La Quinta many times and it is always clean and pleasant.