There were so many things I wanted to see and do when we got to Florida. I really couldn't wait to see how the dogs would enjoy playing on a dog friendly Florida beach.
One of the things I was looking forward to most was staying at a particular pet friendly hotel. I had been dreaming about visiting the dog friendly Kimpton Hotel in Vero Beach, Florida since I discovered it 4 years ago! This boutique hotel chain is a big step above the norm for dog friendly hotels. For one thing, they don't specify "small dogs only" like most of the higher end dog friendly hotels do. It's located right on the beach and is quite luxurious. It was gonna be Perfect!! Or so I thought.
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| Stunning view of the pool area, and the ocean to the left, from our hotel room balcony. |
Sure, the room and the view from our balcony were spectacular....
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| Our room was terrific, I loved the layout and how spacious it was |
Sure, the spacious room and bathroom were pretty much to die for, especially for a hotel that allows dogs!
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| You could open a panel from the bathtub and see straight out to the balcony! |
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| The frameless glass shower was wonderful, our bathroom felt like a spa |
Sure we all loved our balcony. We spent lots of time on the balcony with the dogs when it wasn't too sunny out there...
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| Icy and Phoebe relaxing on the balcony of our hotel room |
So... what's the problem, you ask? In my mind, there are two kinds of dog friendly hotels. Those that are truly dog welcoming hotels and those that are mostly dog tolerant hotels. The former are those pet friendly hotels that truly GET IT. They understand that my pets are family and part of my vacation fun. The latter are hotels that allow dogs and other pets but they don't really do much to make pets feel welcome. Instead, they impose lots of high pet fees, restrictions, and rules.
For me, a truly dog welcoming hotel is a necessity. If a hotel doesn't welcome my dogs, I might as well leave them home! They are my furry family members and I love to vacation with them. My ideal vacation with my dogs includes pet welcoming hotels and dog friendly activities. If there's nothing for them to do or be included in, I might as well leave them at the PetSmart Hotel, where they can play in doggie day camp and have fun with other dogs.
My dogs don't want to be left alone in a hotel room with nothing to do but stare out the bars of their crate - who would want that for their pets?! Although this Kimpton Hotel was gorgeous and great for us, it wasn't much of a treat for Icy and Phoebe. Here's why:
Immediately upon checking in I was handed a Pet Policy to sign stating that my dogs were basically Not Allowed anywhere in the hotel except in our room. It stated that if we left the room, our dogs had to be crated . I do not crate my dogs at home and leave the house so I'm not going to do it in a hotel. They are super well behaved. If they weren't I wouldn't bring them to a seaside hotel.
My dogs were not welcome on either of their restaurant's outdoor patios. The patios were quite spacious, so Why Not?! I was very disappointed, that is not very dog welcoming.
The only flooring throughout our room was tile, which is cold. Being a Siberian Husky, that's great for Icy, but not for my little warmth-sucker, Phoebe. They didn't provide a pet bed in the room and one wasn't offered. After we got to our room I saw how cold it was and that Phoebe was uncomfortable. I called the front desk to ask for a dog bed. They brought us a pet bed that clearly hadn't been cleaned. There was hair all over it and dirt was lodged in the edges of the bed. I had to shake it out and use a lint brush on it myself.
For me, a truly dog welcoming hotel is a necessity. If a hotel doesn't welcome my dogs, I might as well leave them home! They are my furry family members and I love to vacation with them. My ideal vacation with my dogs includes pet welcoming hotels and dog friendly activities. If there's nothing for them to do or be included in, I might as well leave them at the PetSmart Hotel, where they can play in doggie day camp and have fun with other dogs.
My dogs don't want to be left alone in a hotel room with nothing to do but stare out the bars of their crate - who would want that for their pets?! Although this Kimpton Hotel was gorgeous and great for us, it wasn't much of a treat for Icy and Phoebe. Here's why:
Immediately upon checking in I was handed a Pet Policy to sign stating that my dogs were basically Not Allowed anywhere in the hotel except in our room. It stated that if we left the room, our dogs had to be crated . I do not crate my dogs at home and leave the house so I'm not going to do it in a hotel. They are super well behaved. If they weren't I wouldn't bring them to a seaside hotel.
My dogs were not welcome on either of their restaurant's outdoor patios. The patios were quite spacious, so Why Not?! I was very disappointed, that is not very dog welcoming.
The only flooring throughout our room was tile, which is cold. Being a Siberian Husky, that's great for Icy, but not for my little warmth-sucker, Phoebe. They didn't provide a pet bed in the room and one wasn't offered. After we got to our room I saw how cold it was and that Phoebe was uncomfortable. I called the front desk to ask for a dog bed. They brought us a pet bed that clearly hadn't been cleaned. There was hair all over it and dirt was lodged in the edges of the bed. I had to shake it out and use a lint brush on it myself.
However, Phoebe loved that bed and spent most of her time snuggled up in it so I can't complain TOO much! Many upscale pet friendly hotels provide a pet bed in the room or offer one upon checkin, which is very welcoming.
Throughout our stay, no one even offered me a biscuit for my two dogs! Most dog friendly hotels have a little something to welcome their furry guests upon arrival; a biscuit or dog treat, a bed, poop bags, something!
I knew in advance that although the hotel is right on the beach, no dogs were allowed on the beach. That is a Vero Beach town rule, so it's not their fault. It was a shame though.
The hotel has no self parking, only valet (daily fee) which makes it difficult when traveling with dogs. I don't know about you, but we often need to get into the car to grab some dog related item or other. Their parking garage was large so I wish they offered self parking as well, but that's not necessarily a pet friendly point so scratch that complaint.
Think I'm being too picky? Think I should be grateful that any hotel allows our dogs? Let me tell you, for the prices they charge at this place I think they should include a full on Spa Day for my dogs! Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it's a bad place to stay with dogs. I'm just saying there are hotels that are far more welcoming to pets. Which brings me to the second half of my Tale of Two Dog Friendly Hotels.
I found dog friendly Hyatt Place Hotels quite by accident when we drove down to Myrtle Beach for a BlogPaws conference. We needed a pit stop along the way so I settled on Fredericksburg, Virginia.
When searching for pet friendly hotels in the area I happened upon a Hyatt Place Hotel. I've heard of Hyatt Hotels of course, but wasn't familiar with their Hyatt Place Hotels.
Throughout our stay, no one even offered me a biscuit for my two dogs! Most dog friendly hotels have a little something to welcome their furry guests upon arrival; a biscuit or dog treat, a bed, poop bags, something!
I knew in advance that although the hotel is right on the beach, no dogs were allowed on the beach. That is a Vero Beach town rule, so it's not their fault. It was a shame though.
The hotel has no self parking, only valet (daily fee) which makes it difficult when traveling with dogs. I don't know about you, but we often need to get into the car to grab some dog related item or other. Their parking garage was large so I wish they offered self parking as well, but that's not necessarily a pet friendly point so scratch that complaint.
Think I'm being too picky? Think I should be grateful that any hotel allows our dogs? Let me tell you, for the prices they charge at this place I think they should include a full on Spa Day for my dogs! Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it's a bad place to stay with dogs. I'm just saying there are hotels that are far more welcoming to pets. Which brings me to the second half of my Tale of Two Dog Friendly Hotels.
I found dog friendly Hyatt Place Hotels quite by accident when we drove down to Myrtle Beach for a BlogPaws conference. We needed a pit stop along the way so I settled on Fredericksburg, Virginia.
When searching for pet friendly hotels in the area I happened upon a Hyatt Place Hotel. I've heard of Hyatt Hotels of course, but wasn't familiar with their Hyatt Place Hotels.
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| Icy and Phoebe relaxing in the beautiful Hyatt Place Hotel in Fredericksburg, VA. They LOVE the Hyatt Place hotel! |
Imagine our delight when we found this lovely Hyatt Place Hotel that welcomes pets! Actually, by dog friendly hotel standards, it's gorgeous and beautifully updated! Their fee was reasonable and they welcome up to two dogs 50lbs and under. I've been told however, that larger size dogs can be accepted at Hyatt Place Hotels, at Management discretion. Call in advance, of course.
Check out this beautifully updated, spacious room! We are so comfortable in this hotel. We've stayed at the Hyatt Place Hotel in Fredericksburg 4 times, we just love it!
Check out this beautifully updated, spacious room! We are so comfortable in this hotel. We've stayed at the Hyatt Place Hotel in Fredericksburg 4 times, we just love it!
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| My exhausted dogs and husband relax upon arrival at the Hyatt Place Hotel in Fredericksburg, Virginia. |
The Management and Staff at this particular hotel are fabulous. It's such a pleasure going there. They are so welcoming to us and to our dogs. They always want to pet and love on Icy and Phoebe, and they always offer them biscuits!
Just outside the hotel is a really pretty walking path with wide sidewalks and a convenient poop station. We really look forward to our morning walks with the dogs at this hotel.
They don't pummel us with rules of what we can't do with our dogs, they welcome them! The vibe is just great here.
Because we've had such great experiences at the Hyatt Place Hotel in Fredericksburg, we looked for a Hyatt Place Hotel in West Palm Beach Florida where my sisters live. We found a great one, right in downtown West Palm Beach. Not only is the location perfect, but the staff are so sweet. They really liked our dogs and treated us so well. Again, they didn't pummel us with rules about where they can't go, they welcomed Icy and Phoebe. We even saw dogs hanging out at the bar with their owners! I'm not sure that's really allowed because they do serve some food in that area, but no one complained. I didn't dare bring our dogs into the bar though, I was too timid LOL!
We hung out with them in a corner of the lobby one afternoon and no one had any issue with it.
Just outside the hotel is a really pretty walking path with wide sidewalks and a convenient poop station. We really look forward to our morning walks with the dogs at this hotel.
They don't pummel us with rules of what we can't do with our dogs, they welcome them! The vibe is just great here.
Because we've had such great experiences at the Hyatt Place Hotel in Fredericksburg, we looked for a Hyatt Place Hotel in West Palm Beach Florida where my sisters live. We found a great one, right in downtown West Palm Beach. Not only is the location perfect, but the staff are so sweet. They really liked our dogs and treated us so well. Again, they didn't pummel us with rules about where they can't go, they welcomed Icy and Phoebe. We even saw dogs hanging out at the bar with their owners! I'm not sure that's really allowed because they do serve some food in that area, but no one complained. I didn't dare bring our dogs into the bar though, I was too timid LOL!
We hung out with them in a corner of the lobby one afternoon and no one had any issue with it.
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| Cooling off with Icy and Phoebe in the Hyatt Place Hotel lobby after a long walk around West Palm Beach, FL. |
During our stay in West Palm Beach, Icy and Phoebe were so comfortable and happy at the Hyatt Place hotel in West Palm Beach. We had no issue leaving them in the room for short periods of time while we went out for a few meals. Honestly though, there were so many things to do with the dogs in the area they didn't need to stay in the room alone much at all.
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| Phoebe checks out the skyline of West Palm Beach, from across the Intracoastal in Palm Beach |
The staff was great about actually calling to say they noticed we had our Do Not disturb sign on the first 2 days, and asked if we needed any towels or cleaning. If so, they wanted to know when it was convenient for us to have them come into the room. How nice is that!?
Our stay at the Hyatt Place Hotels was so pleasant and comfortable, we loved every day we were there. I can't wait to stay there again!
I'd still recommend the Kimpton Hotel in Vero Beach, I just wouldn't recommend bringing pets along if you don't want them confined to the room all day or if you don't plan to take them on outings away from the hotel.
Guess what the Best dog friendly beaches on Florida's East Coast are?!
I'm definitely adding Florida to my list of great dog friendly vacation spots! Looking for more great vacation spots to take your dog? Check out some of my posts on Great Dog Friendly Travel!
Our stay at the Hyatt Place Hotels was so pleasant and comfortable, we loved every day we were there. I can't wait to stay there again!
I'd still recommend the Kimpton Hotel in Vero Beach, I just wouldn't recommend bringing pets along if you don't want them confined to the room all day or if you don't plan to take them on outings away from the hotel.
Guess what the Best dog friendly beaches on Florida's East Coast are?!
