Help Your Pet Feel at Home on Vacation

With summer quickly approaching, families are starting to plan where to head next -- and they're looking to bring along a very important guest -- the family pet.
According to a recent survey from Petplan Pet Insurance, more than 78 percent of pet owners say they take their pet with them on vacation, an increase of eight percent over the previous year. If you're among the travelers adding pet-friendliness to your list of accommodation must-haves, consider staying in a vacation rental to make vacationing with your furry friend as seamless as possible.
Vacation rentals offer many of the advantages of home, like fully equipped kitchens, multiple bedrooms, more space and privacy all-around. For pets used to having plenty of space, vacationing in a typical 325-square-foot hotel room might leave them feeling cramped. The average vacation rental is 1,850 square feet, giving you, your family and your pet enough space to spread out in during your stay.
Vacation rentals can also help maintain some of the familiarity and routine pets crave. If your pet is used to sleeping in the living room, or their bowls are typically in the kitchen, they can still enjoy those comforts while away. Bring some of your pet's favorite toys and blankets along to help make your rental feel even more like home.
In addition to more room inside, many vacation rentals offer private outdoor space. Some even have large decks and fenced-in backyards, creating ideal vacation space for travelers with pets, whether you're barbecuing outside or letting your pet get some fresh air in-between attractions.
If you're worried your pet might have some trouble adjusting on vacation, a vacation rental can also give you added privacy from your neighbors. You won't have to worry about nervous barks disrupting anyone while your pet gets acquainted with their new surroundings. When you arrive, let your pet explore the rental and sniff around outdoors to help them adapt to the new space.

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When booking your accommodations, ask about any added services or amenities that may help your pet feel more comfortable on vacation. For example, Wyndham Vacation Rentals, the world's largest professionally managed vacation rentals company, greets furry guests in some of its properties with common pet necessities and temporary ID tags for their collars.