There was an article recently in one of the many dog-related magazines to which I subscribe, all about pet travel. Glossy, full-page photos of pet-friendly hotels were scattered throughout; hotel rooms came equipped with hand-crafted doggie dishes, and there were even menus from room service especially for your canine companion. Which all sounds great, but... Here's the thing: Spending the night in one of these hotels was just slightly less than the gross national product of Namibia. Which is why I'm such a great fan of Motel 6 - the very same one that will "leave the light on for ya."
Motel 6 boasts that it is the "original pet-friendly motel.". During cross-country treks with my two monsters, Adia and Killian, I've been able to affordably and comfortably spend the night at Motel 6's from Nevada to New Hampshire. They truly do make traveling with pets that much simpler, with no added expense. If you are planning on staying in a Motel 6 - or any pet-friendly hotel/motel, for that matter - here are some tips to keep things running smoothly.
(1) Call ahead! The official policy of Motel 6 is that they will accept one well-behaved dog per room (as long as it is not in violation of local breed-specific legislation), however by calling ahead and giving some specs on my pups, they okay'd me having two in the room. And my guys aren't small - Killian is about eighty pounds, and Adie is forty-five.
(2) Be a considerate pet owner. That means cleaning up after your guys during walks, not leaving your pooches unattended in the room for excessive periods of time (particularly if they're barkers!), and bringing along a crate if your dogs are not well house-trained or are excessive chewers.
(3) Bring toys and treats. Once you're in the room, make sure to have some chewy treats handy for your guys, to keep them from chowing down on the furniture. A stuffed Kong, nyla-bone, or other heavy-duty toy should keep everyone happy and mellow while you recharge before hitting the road once more.
Follow these few simple tips, and you'll be on your way to having a great time exploring the globe with your furry friends.
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