The Dog Owner
Opt for a getaway with man's best friend
By Jennifer Davoren
Cunard
At the Fairmont Washington, DC, in the capitol's historic Georgetown neighborhood, the VID (Very Important Dog) program starts at reception with a homemade dog treat. Fairmont Miramar Hotel and Bungalows, in Santa Monica, CA, loans out beds and food bowls and offers a range of animal-friendly spa treatments. And babysitting is a standard service at the Fairmont Banff Springs in Alberta, Canada, but petsitting also is available for a Fido-free night on the town.
If your little buddy can't make the trip, consider a stay at a Fairmont equipped with its own "canine ambassador." Dogs on the company payroll include Marcus, a golden lab at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, who joins guests for walks along the hotel's namesake waterfront in western Canada.
Walkies over the Atlantic
The Queen Mary 2, the stately flagship of Cunard Line, pampers pooches with a unique kennel program on trans-Atlantic crossings between New York and Southampton, England, the cruiser's gateway to London.
Four-legged guests receive welcome bags stuffed with toys and Cunard-branded trinkets as well as easy access to their human companions, who visit as often as they like throughout the cruise. A full-time "kennel master" supervises kibble distribution and potty breaks. The ship's kitchen provides freshly made biscuits. And, no slouch when it comes to safety, the QM2 comes equipped with pet-size life jackets.
Trans-Atlantic sailings can be as short as seven nights, but paperwork involved with international pet travel can take months to arrange. Look into summer 2015 voyages, including a Brooklyn, NY, departure on Aug. 4 with per-person prices from $1,461.
The information in this story was accurate at the time it was published in January/February 2015.
Please visit Vacations To Go or call (800) 338-4962 for current rates and details.
