This post was sponsored by Extended Stay America.
Last November we adopted a dog, Lola, from our local animal shelter. Of course, being the dog-loving family that we are, we’ve been spoiling her. She’s always getting treats or new toys. We even travel with her.
Thing is, we never traveled with a dog before. Not ever.
We ended up making silly mistakes, like – forgetting Lola’s food and water bowl and forgetting her toys!
5 Tips for Traveling with Dogs
Bring along a doggy “diaper” bag. Fill it with baby wipes, (you never know what your dog might step in) and waste disposal bags. Don’t forget to pack your dog’s favorite toys. Maybe throw in an extra leash and collar, you know, in case your 3 yr old decides to hide the leash and you never find it.
Measure out the amount of dog food you need, pack in ziplock bags. Also, don’t forget to pack the bowls for food and water. And grab an extra bottle of water that’s just for your dog.
If possible feed your dog a few hours before leaving. This way your dog (hopefully) won’t get car sick.
Don’t let your dog sit in the front. Apparently, it’s dangerous. My dog is too big to sit up front with us, and I’d be covered in white dog hair worse than I already am on a day to day basis. Lola rides in the cargo area aka the trunk of the van. We use the stow and go for our bags so she gets the trunk all to herself.
Walk your dog prior to leaving. Making sure your dog gets exercise before a long trip will help your dog rest on the ride.
Watch your dog closely. Whether you’re staying at a pet friendly hotel or with family, keep a good eye on your pet. You don’t want them getting out and wondering around alone in a new city. And keep the collar and tags on at all times. Just in case!
For our first trip with Lola we stayed at Extended Stay America in Corpus Christi.
There are so many things we loved about this hotel, the customer service, the rooms, the cleanliness…but the fact that they are pet friendly tops it off!
I loved our room, having a full kitchen, desk area, living room and separate bedroom was great.
The kids also loved how spacious it was. And they loved the free wi-fi.
There was plenty of space outside to walk Lola. She doesn’t look too happy in the pic above because she really wanted to chase after a few cats nearby!
What I like about Extended Stay America is the family friendly environment.
The rooms are spacious and the full kitchens are truly perfect for families. Last time we stayed I made egg roll in a bowl which has been a staple for quick dinners now.
If you plan on cooking in your room just ask the front desk for the kitchen amenities. You’ll get silverware, plates, bowls, pots and pans and a toaster. You can even ask for a coffee maker if you want to brew your own coffee.
Breakfast is grab and go. Which is easy enough for busy mornings. You’ll find muffins, oatmeal and coffee and a variety of granola bars.
I honestly found it a bit tricky when traveling with Lola.
When we leave her at home I know she’ll be fine. But I didn’t know about leaving her alone in the hotel room. Would she bark endlessly and annoy the neighbors or cry?
We could have tried leaving her in the room and letting the front desk know we were stepping out. That way if any complaints came through we could run back the to room.
Anyway, Lola ended up going with us pretty much everywhere.
We drove to Port Aransas (our absolute favorite place in Texas!) and had lunch at Drop Anchor, a dog-friendly restaurant.
The rest of the day we spent at the beach. It was raining a little but that didn’t stop my kids from playing on the shore.
We found out pretty quickly that Lola is not a beach lover like we are. She didn’t care for the sand or the ocean water. She wanted nothing to do with the beach which is why I have no pictures of her!
Lola is more of a homebody (like me) and preferred the comfort of the hotel room. Just look at her smile!
Planning on traveling soon?
Check out Extended Stay America, they have over 600 hotels with designated pet-friendly rooms.
ps. If you have tips for traveling with dogs let me know in the comments!
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Crystal, Lola is a beauty! We adopted a yellow lab named Lexi. She won our hearts from the start and we had many wonderful years with her. She passed away two years ago at a ripe old age – I miss her still ♥
Sinea
Ducks n a Row @SineaPies recently posted…Enter to Win $500 and Learn How To Make The Most of Your Healthcare Benefits in the UnitedHealthcare Giveaway
Awww! I can’t imagine losing a pet. My sister has a lab named Chico and we love him, he’s one of the smartest dogs I know!
Awesome tips! The doggy “diaper” bag is a great idea 🙂
Thanks, it’s so much easier for me to keep all her things in one place!
In 2009, I had to drive my car from the East Coast to the West Coast- with my Yorkie (RIP, Sir!). You can’t imagine how difficult it was to plan that trip because I had never driven across the country, and especially not with an animal!! We had to plan each day carefully, and our biggest issue was finding a hotel that would allow my Yorkie to stay, too. I wish I had known about Extended Stay, it would have made travel a lot easier!! It could have also saved me money on food- we ate out the whole trip and by the time I got to WA, I was so over it. (Did I mention I was about 7 months pregnant at the time, too?) What an adventure!
Pam recently posted…Getting Kids to Listen Without Losing It
Pam, wow! That sounds like quite an adventure! My sister and I once drove from LA to San Antonio with 3 boys and a dog. Every time we stopped for gas the dog would jump into the driver seat and wouldn’t move!
Lola is so pretty. I didn’t know that dogs were allowed at extended stay. I loved your tips. My friend just got a pup, I’m going to share this with her.
Nikki Crump recently posted…Protecting Your Social Media Space (For The Highly Sensitive Mom)
Thank you Nikki! We love Extended Stay America because of how dog friendly they are!
I had a yellow lab named Buffy that passed away she was 14 and that was the hardest thing I had to go through ever so I know how it feels loosing someone part of the family.
Aww Grace, I can’t imagine.
Thank you so much for the tips. The doggy diaper bag is a great idea. Then everything is in one place. We just bought an RV and took our dog “Brandie” with us for the first time. She’s a small dog, a Bishon. She did great. We were gone for two weeks. One part of our trip was pretty much rain for 4 days and walking Brandie was not fun. She went to the bathroom no problem but when we got back she looked like a drowned rat. Thank goodness I had a lot of e tea towels to dry her off each time. The hardest thing for us was not being able to let her off the leash and run due to the congested areas we were in. My friend has three dogs and was walking them an leashes on one of her trips and three big dogs from a house near by ran over and grabbed one of her dogs and killed it. It was horrifying. The loose dog owner was very concern and took his dog that did the attacking and had it put down and also paid for the vet bills for her dogs. You never know when stray or loose dogs will come running over so please be alert to your surroundings! Thanks again for the tips! Happy traveling! ?
Hi Sarah, I bet your Brandie is a cutie! I want a small dog once we move. Thanks for the warning about loose dogs, you’re right, you just never know!
I have a Golden Retriever. She usually travels well, but, the times she gets restless I give her OTC Benedryl. I only give her one and makes her slightly drowsy. Works like a charm. However, don’t think this is a good idea for smaller dogs. My Chihuahua sits on my lap if someone else drives.
Traveling with your dog is a great thing, but you need to clean your car perfect after each such drive!
Thank you for good story
Roman recently posted…Best Truck Tires For Towing The 5th Wheel Travel Trailer
You’re right! My dog sheds like crazy! Part of the reason she goes in the cargo area.
Do you have any suggestions, how to clean the car from dog’s wool?
Roman recently posted…What Is The Best Water Based Tire Shine and Dressing Product on the Market in 2017? Spray And Gel Review.
Hi Roman, my son and husband usually clean out my van but there is always dog hair left behind. This is what I found when I searched the web https://www.hotdogcollars.com/blog/10-tricks-to-get-dog-hair-out-of-your-car/#.WMfsyxLyuCU
Hope that helps both of us!
Lola is so pretty. I didn’t know that dogs were allowed at extended stay. I loved your tips.
Great tips for travelling with dogs!
I was just planning a long distance trip with my dog, Bush, so these tips have come in at the right time
I find it helpful when you suggested that a pet owner should pack their pets’ food and water bowl when heading on a trip with them. Aside from these tips, they should also visit a local veterinary service to get them checked at least a month before the trip. Doing this will help them get the proper medication weeks before in order to keep them healthy throughout the vacation.
My dog gets car sick when going in my car so can you tell me how to prevent my dog from stop car sick?
Kimhak recently posted…Top 13 Best Wood Burning Backpacking Stoves in 2019
Good tips overall. I would like to add that before taking your pet on a road trip you must make them accustom to traveling by car otherwise they might not be comfortable throughout the journey. Also before journey, get the thorough checkup of the pet done by an experienced vet to ensure that pets are fit to take that journey.
Aca Baranton recently posted…Managing your Pet’s Thunderstorm and Noise Phobias
I’m planning to travel with my English Bulldog, Winnie on road-trip to Flagstaff Arizona soon and came across your post! Great tips, do you have any experience with pet friendly Airbnb’s? https://www.doggycheckin.com/
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Hi CRYSTAL,
Love to see Lola. She seems such a dear. I would love to enjoy a trip like yours.
Ahsan recently posted…The Best Dog Care Training Collar Reviews in 2021
Recently got back from a road trip with my Labrador retriever and i wish i saw this before i trip . Thanks for sharing this amazing content.
Deji nova recently posted…How much sleep do Corgis need?
we have so many dog bowls in the back of the cars! I’m sure people laugh and don’t understand when they see our dog covered in stuffed animals on our road trips!
Madhu Ghosh recently posted…Top 7 Benefits of Having a Pet
Thanks for sharing your experience travelling with your pup. I love taking mine places, and it’s so nice when you can find a hotel that is pet friendly AND truly enjoys having pets. Some are just okay sure have a dog, but then eh… they aren’t embracing about it. Anyway, great tips – some I didn’t know!
Marcie Hardy recently posted…How to Choose Dog Insurance
Though pets become part of family. But i can never imagine taking any pet with me as I can not mange myself.