BEND, Ore. (CNN/Money) - Some pet owners will go to great lengths to bring their furry (or feathered, or scaly) friends on vacation with them, whether it means sneaking their 70-pound Labrador in through the back door of a motel or stuffing Fluffy into an oversized duffel bag.

But these petty criminals can rest easy the next time they plan a trip. More hotels are not only opening their doors to non-human guests, they're giving them the royal treatment.

At the Hotel Vintage Plaza in Portland, Ore., dogs receive "welcome treats," their own bottle of spring water, a raw hide chew, and complimentary pet sitting and dog walking during their stay. Pet guests of the Hotel Monaco in New Orleans are pampered with a VIP pet tag, a pet bed and access to the hotel's on-call veterinarian. The Loews hotel group, meanwhile, provides its guests with pet room service menus and "puppy pagers" to notify owners of any problems while they're away from their rooms.

"In the past only small exclusive hotels like the Jerome in Aspen [Colo.] accepted pets," said Dennis Marzella, senior vice president of research for Yesawich Pepperdine & Brown, an advertising and public relations firm specializing in the travel industry. "Now it seems that lodging companies are beginning to rethink their policies."

Many hotels, it seems, are realizing that some of their best customers consider their pets when making travel plans. According to a survey conducted by Marzella's firm last year, more than half of all leisure travelers own a pet. Of that group, more than 20 percent say they avoid travel because they can't take their pets along.

"We've tried to understand the intensity of pet owners and encourage our managers to be creative with each property's pet policy," said Steve Pinetti, senior vice president of sales and marketing for the *Kimpton Group, which operates 35 pet-friendly boutique hotels, including the Hotel Monaco chain. "By allowing guests to bring their pet along, we think we can help reduce some of the stress of traveling."

No doubt, taking your pet with you on vacation has its perks. For one, it can be less expensive than hiring a pet sitter or paying for a kennel. But before you book Brutus a first-class ticket to Hawaii, you'll want to consider your pet's best interests. It may be more hassle than fun if the trip includes a long flight or if your pet will be cooped up in a hotel room while you're out sightseeing.

Sniffing out accommodations

Web sites like *Petswelcome.com and *Petsonthego.com are extremely helpful for planning a trip with your pet. These sites not only have searchable databases with thousands of listings, but also give the skinny on airlines' pet policies, contact information for pet sitters, and tips for making the trip a success.

When searching for a hotel, remember that not all "pet-friendly" hotels allow any pet in any room. Many have weight or breed restrictions or have a limited number of pet-permitted rooms. Many put pets and their owners in smoking rooms to keep their non-smoking rooms free of all allergens. Others prohibit guests from leaving a pet in the room unattended, which isn't a problem if you're just staying for the night but can be a real drag if you're planning to go out during the day and would rather leave your pet behind.

Finally, there can be extra costs attached to canine and feline guests. Some hotels charge $10 to $15 cleaning fees or ask for an extra deposit. "There are places that will even charge $25-to-$100 nonrefundable fees," said Chris Kingsley, president of *Petswelcome.com. "You need to ask about all of these caveats before you book a room."

Once you arrive, you'll want to make sure that you and your pet are on your best behavior. Keep your pet on a leash or in a carrier and be considerate of other guests, who may be allergic or afraid, or may just not like animals. Try to minimize the extra cleaning by keeping food and water in the bathroom or putting it on a mat. Keep furry pets off the bed and other furniture or, at the very least, bring a blanket to help minimize the dirt or hair.

More important, if you're leaving your pet in your room alone, it's a good idea to give housekeeping a heads-up before anyone arrives to clean or turn down the bed. Put the do-not-disturb sign on your door and arrange to have the room cleaned when your pet is crated or out for a walk.

Frequent flier biscuits

With the exception of Southwest, most of the major airlines take animal passengers for a fee of anywhere from about $75 to $300 each way. But the price of putting your pet on the plane may be the least of your concerns.

If your pet is small enough to fit in a carrier under the seat in front of you, you may be able to bring it into the passenger area of the plane. Airlines typically limit the number of pets they'll take in the main cabin, so you'll want to book early. Just remember to check the airline's policy carefully before you do, as every airline has its own rules regarding weight limits and the size of your pet carrier.

Larger pets will have to be crated, checked in and flown in the cargo area of the plane. Although the area is pressurized and temperatures are generally close to those of the passenger area, third-class travel can take its toll.

To protect your pet, airlines impose a number of restrictions regarding what animals can fly and when. Airlines will generally not accept puppies, extra-large dogs, or breeds that are prone to breathing problems. They have strict requirements for the kind of crate an animal rides in and how it's labeled. Finally, if temperatures rise or fall to extreme levels, they reserve the right to ground your animal.

Finally, before taking your pet on an airplane, read the Departments of Transportation's Guidelines to Transporting Animals.

When booking a flight, you'll want to keep all of these limitations in mind and consult with your vet before putting your animal on a plane for the first time. Always try to book nonstop flights and avoid making plans to hot places in the summer or cold destinations in the winter.

If you're thinking of flying outside of the country or to Hawaii, keep in mind that many countries require certain vaccinations and even quarantine animals upon arrival.

By land or by sea

You should check on the individual policies of your rental car company, but renting a car should not be a problem with a pet. Still, you'll want to take extra care to keep the rental in good shape. If your cat mistakes the back seat for a scratching post or, worse, its litter box, you'll be liable for the same extra costs as with any customer who does not return the car in good condition.

If you plan to travel by train, bus or cruise ship with your pet, you're probably out of luck. Amtrak does not permit animals, other than trained service animals, on board. Greyhound and most other bus lines also enforce a no-pet policy.

*(For more information, please visit the Pet Links page on this site to link on  to Petswelcome.com, Petsonthego.com, Kimptongroup.com, and the Department of Transportation's animal transport guidlines.)

Source:  June 5, 2002:  5:42 pm EDT, By: Sarah Max, CNN/Money Staff Writer

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