PAW Pet-friendly Accommodations Worldwide www.luxurypaw.com the only online luxury pet-friendly hotel booking engine
Archive for January 14, 2009
January 14, 2009 at 9:37 am · Filed under Uncategorized
I love this product line and so does Beau!! Aroma Paws is an All Natural, Chemical Free line of grooming products for dogs. Their goal is to provide Eco-Friendly Grooming Essentials using earth derived ingredients, essential oils & botanical extracts to benefit animals and the world they live in. Their core belief is that you can have a product that is beneficial to the dog (helps maintain a beautiful coat and itch free skin), beneficial to the earth (eco-friendly, chemical free & all natural ingredients), and beneficial to the animal lover (amazing aromas that eliminate unpleasant dog odor).
Enter Coupon Code LUXPAW to receive 15% Off your online order at www.aromapaws.com
Aroma Paws
Good for Earth…Good for Your pet!
Go to PAW to reserve your next gorgeous, pet-friendly hotel room!
January 14, 2009 at 9:28 am · Filed under Uncategorized
I’ve done a fair amount of traveling alone all over the world and I can tell you it is a decidedly different experience when you travel with a dog! Usually, it’s a lot more fun and dogs are universally such conversation starters that you meet so many more people as you stroll through new and exciting places.
I’ve discovered that really, the trick to traveling with your dog, like most anything else, is planning and anticipating every possible scenario…which can be mind numbing! Well, you don’t have to do that, Beau and I have experienced most of them and we’re happy to give you the ‘Cliff Notes’ you’ll need for a smooth, fun, safe trip whether it be heading home for the holidays or the vacation of your dreams!
Top 5 MUST haves for a Smooth Trip:
1. Clean up baggies; so many more of them than you think you could possibly ever use! When you are packing for your trip, put a little bio-degradable baggie into the pocket of every pair of pants, every jacket, sweater, vest, and yes, even bathrobe that you pack. Tie a dispenser to your purse, put one in the glove compartment of the car. There isn’t much worse than not having a baggie when you need one and you can be assured that the one time you don’t have one…some one will be watching!
2. Your pets favorite toy and treat. It’s helpful to provide as much structure and recognizable routine as possible when you are on the road and their favorite toys will comfort them in the unusual surroundings.
3. Food. It’s so much fun now that many hotels offer pet-room service menus! “Smothered Comfort”, (a pot roast-ish dish for pets) and frozen dog yogurt for dessert all sound very appealing. Be careful though, these foods can be tremendously rich and cause upset for your pup. Always bring plenty of your dogs normal kibble or food and try to utilize the creative efforts of the kitchen as a supplemental treat. I pre-bag Beaus kibble in zip lock baggies and that way it’s easy to grab however many I need for the number of nights at each hotel.
4. Bottled water;two or three small bottles are easy to stash in the car or in my purse and they come in handy every time! For instance, when on a hot day you’re waiting for AAA to arrive for roadside assistance, or when you head out for a ‘quick walk’ and end up on the other end of town because it’s such a gorgeous day and there are so many new and interesting things to see. You’ll be happy, he’ll be happy if you always have a little bottled water on hand.
5. A safety harness for the car. Especially when you are driving in an unfamiliar area and you aren’t exactly sure where you’re going or which direction is the right one a harness/seat belt for the dog is a must! Imagine how much more horrible and scary an accident would be if you were suddenly in the car with a 65 pound projectile, or when the rescue worker came to assist you, the dog wouldn’t let him near you or worse jumped out of the car and got hit or caused another accident. Restrain the dog while you’re driving, it’s just the smart thing to do.
Those are our tried and true suggestions to help make your trip safe and enjoyable. The Doggles are not a ‘Must Have’ but if your pup likes to put his head out the window like Beau does, it really does protect their eyes from street debris and dust, (that’s what I tell myself, but the truth is they’re just so darn cute!).
Go to PAW to reserve your next gorgeous, pet-friendly hotel room!
January 14, 2009 at 9:25 am · Filed under Uncategorized
If you are looking for luxurious, pet-friendly digs in L.A. the Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows on Wilshire Boulevard in Santa Monica is spectacular! Comprised of several private bungalows surrounding a common green and two high rise buildings, the bungalows are the Fairmonts signature offering and they are delightful. Each with a private patio, some with ocean views, a short stroll to the swimming pool and restaurant; the Fairmont Miramar provides an enclave of calm with the highest level of amenities for both guest and pet guests alike. Beau felt quite spoiled by the gift box of treats from Three Dog Bakery, the pet bed, food and water bowls, the additional treat at turndown time, but mostly by the way housekeeping had spelled out his name in the bathtub with sponges!!
Go to PAW to reserve your next gorgeous, pet-friendly hotel room!
January 14, 2009 at 9:17 am · Filed under PAW;Pet-friendly Accommodations Worldwide, Pet travel
“Dog walks into a hotel, and the concierge says …”?
This is no joke for the thousands of people who love to travel in style, but don’t want to leave behind their precious pets.
Janine Franceschi and her two-year-old Irish Setter, Beau, decided to help out their people-and-pet brethren by starting a website: luxurypaw.com.
“I’ve traveled all my life, all around the world, and it has always been difficult to find four-star hotels that would take dogs,” Franceschi said at a recent press conference at the downtown St. Louis Westin. She was wrapping up a six-month road trip during which she stayed at 50 pet friendly hotels.
“And then when you’d find a hotel that indicated it was pet-friendly, you’d get there and discover that they had weight restrictions and only will accept the (lap) dogs.”
Wade Thompson, sales and marketing manager for the local Westin, said accepting pets is simply good business.
“People who want to travel with pets usually like to travel in style and don’t want to leave their pets at home,” Thompson said, adding that the hotel provides a brochure that lists veterinarians, dog walkers and sitters, pet supply shops and grooming parlors.
Franceschi noted that along with the Westin, the Hilton, Kempton, Loew’s and W hotel chains are noted for their pet accommodations.
Her website now lists about 250 hotels and resorts that are pet-friendly. The website also includes specific information on hotels’ restrictions, services provided and amenities. (Yes, hotels offer bowls, mats, bottled water, plastic gloves and disposable bags, doggie treats and even pricier snacks from room service.)
Franceschi said her work, however, has just begun. “I’ll have about 1,000 (hotels) on the site by the time it’s done, and that’s just in the United States.”
jholleman@post-dispatch.com — 314-340-8254
Go to PAW to reserve your next gorgeous, pet-friendly hotel room!
January 14, 2009 at 9:10 am · Filed under Uncategorized
By BEN SWAN
It’s the special touches that make a hotel not simply accepting of pets, but truly pet-friendly. Just ask Beau, the excitable Irish setter who’s just finished traveling more than 13,000 miles through 30 states, checking out 50 luxury pet-friendly hotels. Or better yet, ask his owner, Janine Franceschi, the chauffeur: “The bare minimum is a food and water bowl and a treat. It’s the first thing he looks for when he checks in.” The amenities were up to par at the Inn of the Anasazi, where Franceschi and Beau stayed for a few nights last month while on their way to Dallas and other destinations. Two bowls on a mat with a bottle of Fiji water and a couple of biscuits: the canine equivalent of paradise. But that’s not always the case, and that’s why Franceschi created PAW — Pet-friendly Accommodations Worldwide – - a Web site devoted to finding luxury hotels with the best pet amenities. “It all started because I love, love, love to travel,” Franceschi said during people and canine hors d’oeuvres on the inn’s outside patio, all the time cuddling her busy setter. “And I didn’t want to leave him — he’s such a cheeky dog.” Franceschi got the travel bug when her son went off to college. One day she woke up and decided she needed dog, and not just any dog, but an Irish setter, a breed she had when she was a child. Once Beau came into her life, Franceschi said, she had trouble locating luxury pet-friendly hotels. Web sites devoted to traveling with pets were difficult to navigate and often incomplete. Many of the sites represented low- to moderate-level hotels that offered good deals but not the best accommodations. “That’s not my idea of a vacation,” she said. “So I started looking, and there wasn’t one place where you could find luxury accommodations, so that’s how it started.” The Web site, www.luxurypaw.com, now features more than 1,800 hotels, where potential guests can figure out what types of pet amenities are offered along with additional fees or weight restrictions. Searches can be made by country, city, number and weight. Franceschi also writes a blog about her traveling experiences and offers other tips on traveling with pets. She eventually hopes to turn the information into a published guide. Such a book would be handy for Carol Pava, a Santa Fe resident who loves to travel with her 70-pound dog, an Akita/German shepherd/heeler mix. At that size, she’s found many hotels close the door on her companion. “A lot of places say they won’t take larger dogs,” she said. “They want dogs under 20 pounds, those yappers.” While traveling with her canine companion, Pava said, she and her husband have discovered wonderful parks in places they would least expect to find them, like Fresno, Calif. Her secret is taking a look at an area’s phone book and heading for green-shaded areas on the simple maps included in the directory. Exploring pet amenities in various cities was another aspect of Franceschi’s whirlwind tour. While it would be easy to ask the concierge to provide a pet walker or sitter, Franceschi said, she’s found great pet-walking areas in almost every hotel she’s visited. She includes them on her Web site.
“I’ve really tried hard not to leave him in the room,” she said. “I’ve traveled all over the world by myself, but it’s completely different with a dog. They are such an icebreaker; people will want to talk to you about the dog or talk to the dog or even pet him.”
Many guests are often stunned to see a dog at a hotel, she said, and tell her they’ve boarded their dog for the trip. “People just don’t know or they don’t think about it,” she said. “And they think they have to choose, and that really was my whole message: You don’t have to choose between the level of amenity, but people are conditioned that way.”
The Inn of the Anasazi anticipates having one or two canines accompanying hotel guests a week, said Anasazi Restaurant chef Oliver Ridgeway. Ridgeway and his sous chef created a special cake for Beau and his canine party guests along with the restaurant’s signature dog biscuits.
“We are a dog-friendly hotel and we offer dog amenities,” he said. “We don’t say no. If someone wants something for a dog, we organize it. We’re very open.”
Ridgeway said his sous chef came up with the idea for a canine cake that morning. The two added ground beef to a simple cake mix with no sugar and frosted it with a mixture of yogurt and chicken broth. The dogs approved.
While guests must sign a damage waiver when animals accompany them, Ridgeway said, there usually are no problems. “If a guest brings a pet, they are going to be well-behaved. I can only imagine what my dogs would do.”
Ridgeway said he recently adopted two puppies, German shepherd- heeler sisters.
Canines are increasingly accepted at many places, Franceschi said, although noting each city is different. Beau could accompany her to most stores in New York City, but not in Chicago. And dogs aren’t allowed in most restaurants, she said, but are often allowed on the dining area patio.
“Beau’s eaten in some very good places,” she said, including Bouchon in Napa Valley, Calif., a sister restaurant of The French Laundry.
Now back at her home base on Nantucket Island, Franceschi said she’s working on a Top 10 list of pet-friendly hotels from her tour. The Inn of the Anasazi will make the list, she said.
Sometimes a hotel’s execution of a pet amenity is more important than the amenity itself, Franceschi said. “If we check in and I have Beau in one hand and a bag in the other and the valet is behind me offering a pet amenity, I want to throw something at them. It needs to be set up in the room.”
At the end of her tour, Franceschi said, she was feeling a bit jaded when she arrived at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel and Bungalows in Santa Monica, Calif. She quickly noted the amenities: beautiful room, check; food and water bowls, check; pet bed, check; treat and toy, check.
“It wasn’t until I walked into the gorgeous marble bathroom that I had noticed housekeeping had spelled out ‘Welcome Beau’ in little 2-inch-tall, pastel-colored sponges along the rim of the soaking tub,” she said. “It was fantastic. We’ve seen a lot, but nobody’s ever done that.”
(c) 2009 The Santa Fe New Mexican. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.
Go to PAW to reserve your next gorgeous, pet-friendly hotel room!
January 14, 2009 at 2:32 am · Filed under Uncategorized
Let’s see, last we blogged we had just left Keswick, VA and we headed to Charleston, SC. We stayed in Charleston for 8 days, which other than NY is the longest stretch in any one place so far. Beau and I stayed in four pet-friendly hotels, each very different from one another. One was surprisingly excellent, (The Sheraton North Charlotte), one that had lots of hoopla and press that was adequate and didn’t live up to the hype, (I only use my power for good not evil ;0), one that was charming, (Wentworth Mansion) and one that was absolute perfection, (The Woodlands Inn & Resort in Summerville, SC)!
I liked Charleston, it was a great walking town, lots to do and see, plenty of pet-friendly shopping on King Street although, finding pet-friendly dining was a challenge. You know how I love a challenge…Poogans Porch on Queen Street was wonderful and pet-friendly on the porch and the patio and my other discovery was 39 Rue de Jean, a little french bistro with patio dining that is pet friendly et c’est magnifique!! I think Beaus favorite part was the rickshaw bike ride we took home after dinner, he loved that, ears blowing in the wind…it was quite a scene!
Go to PAW to reserve your next gorgeous, pet-friendly hotel room!
January 14, 2009 at 2:29 am · Filed under Uncategorized
The slogan for Virginia tourism is ‘Virginia is for lovers’. . . but it could easily be “Virginia is for Dog Lovers!” Beau and I had a wonderful time in Virginia. We visited two very different areas; Richmond and Keswick. Richmond is a small, busy city and Keswick is Thomas Jefferson Country, home to Monticello (pet-frienldy on the grounds, but not in the buildings) rolling horse fields, golf courses, white picket fences, and the most amazing pecan pie!
The picture above is of Beau and I checking in to the Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, VA. You could tell that every single member of the staff at this hotel LOVED their job! Everyone was so lovely and genuine, it was a very nice atmosphere. Beau was welcome everywhere except the dining areas and the pool. He was even welcome in the business center and the salon, (guess where I spent the majority of my time…sooo not the salon!!)
The hotel itself was a masterpiece of Beaux Arts or (Beau arts as it were 
) architecture featuring a magnificent stained-glass rotunda. It was spectacular and reminded me very much of the Pestana Palce in Portugal or The Brown Palace Hotel in Denver, CO. . . Quite magnificent. You can read all about the hotel on the PAW hotel feature page by selecting The Jefferson Hotel in Richmond and review our activities suggestions on the Richmond Canine Concierge pages.
When our stay at the Jefferson was regrettably over, we then drove an hour and a half or so and arrived in Kewsick, VA home of Keswick Hall. As I drove along the wooded two lane country road I passed a sign that read, “Walton Mountain Museum”. It suddenly occurred to me the only things I knew, (or thought I knew) about Virginia came from John Denver and the Waltons. In retrospect, not such bad sources…the scenery of Keswick, VA was eerily reminiscent of, (I want to say Walnut Grove, but I think I’m mixing my 70′s tv shows) Waltons Mountain, all green and lush. And, John knew what he was talking about when he said, ‘Life is old there, older than the trees, younger than the mountains, blowing like a breeze’…spot on John!!
Keswick was sublime and peaceful. We stayed at a property that is part Orient Express hotel and part private golf club. The only place that Beau was not allowed on the entire property was the interior dining room. He was allowed at the Palmer Grill patio dining area which overlooked beautiful manicured golf links, (which Beau galloped through for hours on end later that evening). The chef at Keswick Hall is a magician, because the pecan pie tartlett he created was magical! Absolutely divine, as my friend Dorothy would say.
Go to PAW to reserve your next gorgeous, pet-friendly hotel room!
January 14, 2009 at 2:28 am · Filed under Uncategorized
Who knew that DC stood for “Doggie Capital”? Washington DC is quite fond of their pets and welcome you to bring yours along when you visit! Washington is a very large, sprawling city with multiple areas that you won’t want to miss. Not as much of a ‘walking city’ as say New York or Boston, so take advantage of taxi’s to get you from one area to the other and make the most of your time in each distinctive neighborhood! Take a day and stroll along the National Mall with the Jefferson Monument on one end and the Capitol building on the other. Pets are allowed on the Mall and right up to the perimeter of the monuments but not inside the monuments or any of the buildings, but on a beautiful day it is a walk that is filled with majestic architectural eye candy! Behind the Capitol is the Capitol Hill neighborhood. This neighborhood is a lovely residential area with two parks worth mentioning; Lincoln Park at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and 11th Street and a small park at the corner of E Street and 6th and a handful of great restaurants that offer outside patio dining after you’ve walked up an appetite! A fenced in dog run is hard to come by though in DC and we never actually found one (and believe me we looked). We did find a gorgeous park with tennis and basketball courts, playgrounds, and baseball fields at the corner of 26th Street and O Street, just on the cusp of Georgetown, so this is a great place to stop before you stroll around Georgetown for the afternoon. My idea of a perfect Sunday afternoon in Georgetown includes brunch at the Peacock Cafe with its pet-friendly outdoor patio dining, some great window shopping, (and actual shopping) in the fantastic shops along Wisconsin Avenue, (the Gap, Banana Republic, Barnes & Noble, Restoration Hardware, and some fun and funky designer shops too), and then either a haircut or facial, (or why not both?) at the pet-friendly Aveda Salon…..ahhhh, perfection! On the way out of town make sure to stop at the Georgetown Pet Boutique and say hello to Darien and his gorgeous pup and pick up any pet supplies, gifts, or treats you may need. Dupont Circle is another great area for walking, people watching, shopping, and dining. Washington is home to some of the finest museums in the world, unfortunately they do not allow pets so be sure if visiting the Smithsonian or any of the magnificent monuments or museums is on your list of things to do in Washington that your hotel is one that allows your pet to be left unattended in your room. As you can see, Washington (Dog Capital) DC offers the pet-owning traveler many, many areas, options, and activities from which to choose!
Go to PAW to reserve your next gorgeous, pet-friendly hotel room!
January 14, 2009 at 2:22 am · Filed under Uncategorized
We are so lucky to have generous family members that have a summer place in the Hamptons. We’ve never been there before and thoroughly enjoyed our stay over the Labor Day Weekend! (Thank you Annie & James xoxo!!) The beautiful, pristine beaches reminded us of being home on Nantucket and Beau had a great frolic in the waves! PAW has a few luxury Inns listed on the hotels search page in the Hamptons, but most tend to be pet-friendly off season, (which is also a wonderful time to visit, the weather is still gorgeous into October and the quiet/sleepy vibe is very peaceful!).
When you are in the Hamptons, if you happen to be there on a Saturday (any Saturday, all year ’round) visit Hamptons Hound in Bridgehampton from 4-7 for their ‘Yappy Hour”. It’s a fun social gathering for pets and their people complete with puppy ‘yapatizers’ and wine for the humans. See the Canine Concierge NY pages for detailed phone and address information for Hamptons Hound.
Go to PAW to reserve your next gorgeous, pet-friendly hotel room!
January 14, 2009 at 2:11 am · Filed under PAW;Pet-friendly Accommodations Worldwide, Pet travel, Uncategorized
Everyone knows that the “big dogs” of business, finance, fashion, and life live and work in Manhattan. I have forever been told that New York Cityis a dog loving city…but with a preference for small dogs. Well let us be the first to tell you New York City is a Big Dog City! Beau was hardly the minority at 65 pounds and he was welcome almost everywhere we went!
The first two nights we stayed at The Westin – NY Times Square in an absolutely JAW dropping, drool inspiring room, (me, not Beau) with a sunset view over the Hudson River on one side and the Empire State Building on the other through the virtually floor to ceiling windows! Simply, spectacular! Upon entering the room Beau found the Heavenly Pet Bed and a box of Milk Bones (which made him very happy)!
The second two nights we were fortunate enough to get a room at the Algonquin Hotel. The Algonquin felt like a sophisticated Victorian ‘gentlemens’ club’ of old. Dark, warm woods, beautifully detailed mosaic tiled floors in the lobby, and a calm and elegance that permeated the entire building. The Algonquin is not only a pet-friendly hotel, they also have a pet cat, Matilda in residence. Matilda sits upon her fancy cat bed in the lobby and oversees all of the daily activities…she is in charge..no doubt about it!
Every where we went, from the dog run on 72nd and Riverside, to the escorted dog-friendly tour provided by NY Dog Tours, to the Apple Store in the Meatpacking District, we saw large dogs! They were everywhere! Come to think of it I don’t think I saw one dog in a purse for the entire 7 days that we were in the city.
Beau and I visited many of the shops, restaurants and activities we have listed on the New York Canine Concierge page and if we had to pick a favorite in each category it would be the following:
Restaurants: CASUAL: Without a doubt it would be Fetch on the Upper East Side. Every member of the staff from the bus person to the owner made a point to say hello and talk to Beau as we dined on the sidewalk. The food was fantastic and the atmosphere was just plain fun! FOR FINE DINING it would have to be Pastis in the Meatpacking District. Pastis is a New York staple and graciously accepts leashed pets in their Parisian sidewalk cafe! The waiter immediately brought Beau a bowl of water, without being asked and checked to see if he needed anything several times throughout the meal, (which by the way, was delicious…get the steak frites!)
Activities: Our favorite activity was the escorted NY Dog Tours tour. Run by the same people who run NY Chocolate Tours, our guide Bert was informative, funny, and genuinely interested in imparting his knowledge of the city. We took the Battery Park/Financial District Tour which took us along the river and afforded us a view of Lady Liberty seldom seen. Under $30 for two hours it would be a value if you weren’t able to bring your dog, but because you can bring your dog it is a spectacular way to learn about the city!
The thing I enjoyed most about being in New York City with Beau was watching the people who were walking toward us on the sidewalks. From a distance I could see them see Beau for the first time and watch the huge smile that would spread across their face. They would catch Beau’s eye and the two of them I swear, would have a ‘moment’. There is a certain nostalgia that Irish Setters bring to people; everyone had an Irish Setter in the 70′s and without fail, people will say to me, “Boy an Irish Setter, you don’t see those anymore!, He’s beautiful!” I am under the impression that Beau and I are on this cross country tour to promote PAW;Pet-friendly Accommodations Worldwide. I think Beau is on a cross country mission to single handedly bring back the Irish Setter!
Go to PAW to reserve your next gorgeous, pet-friendly hotel room!
Next entries »