Eight years ago, I brought home a squirmy cocker spaniel puppy named Lola. She had - and still has - the most soulful brown eyes I have ever seen, and her personality was literally twice as powerful. Over the next few years, my relationship with her became one of the most lasting friendships of my life. We do everything together: we curl up in bed together at night with our favorite things (a book of mine, her stuffed duck), and we even go for an early morning run to Starbucks together. She knows my schedule and even my mood; if I cry, for example, she jumps into my lap and puts her paw in my hand. As a single woman living in New York City, my connection with Lola is priceless and something I cherish every day. But there's one thing we haven't done until now - travel together. I finally took my dog on vacation last fall, and I'm proud to say it was the best trip either of us has ever had.
If you're a dog parent who's thinking about taking your furry on a fun adventure but is worried about it, don't worry, I totally understand your concerns. First, my Lola rarely spends the night outside my apartment. What to do if you sleep in a strange place? She is also a hall monitor and barks whenever she hears an unfamiliar sound in the hallway. If I take her to a hotel, will she make a lot of noise and disturb other guests? What if an unpredictable accident occurs? Dog parents ask themselves a lot of questions before taking their dog on a trip, and in my case it took me a long time to feel that Lola would be comfortable going on vacation with me.
However, we both recently stepped out of our comfort zones and took a weekend road trip from our home in New York City to Newport, Rhode Island, a New England seaside town about three hours away. Not only was this car trip actually super comfortable for both of us - Lola had her own space to stretch out and enjoy the ride, and the car served as a home base for our entire vacation - but it even helped us More connections were made through: I didn’t think it was possible. Before the weekend was over, I was on my hotel bed looking for other pet-friendly vacations in 2019!
If you're considering a road trip with your furry best friend, here are the best tips I learned from traveling with Lola:
Choose a vehicle with extra (four-legged) legroom
In New York City, where I live, a car is not a necessity because of the transit system that can take me anywhere with just a swipe of my MetroCard. When Lola and I travel to visit family, I usually rent a car or take a pet-friendly taxi. So, you can say that cars are not really my thing. So before heading to Newport, I really focused on finding a vehicle that was safe to drive long distances, and one that had enough room for Lola to stretch out and sleep. We chose the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox, which had plenty of room for our luggage and for Lola to relax in. The seats are also very durable, so we didn't have to worry about getting muddy paws or unfortunate accidents.
Bring a human co-pilot if possible
My original plan was to drive to Newport with just Laura, but my mom ended up tagging along. This ended up being a great addition because my dog thinks my mom is the best thing since sliced bread, and she's been a great human driving companion to me. As I drove us all to Rhode Island, Lola snuggled into my mom's arms in the passenger seat so she could look out the window and get some fresh air. My mother and I also tagged the team and took Lola for a walk. All in all, I definitely recommend starting your road trip with a human friend, as the extra help and conversation is priceless when traveling long distances or even short distances.
Choose a pet-friendly hotel (not just “pet-friendly” on paper)
Of course, you can trust a hotel concierge when they say a hotel is truly pet-friendly, but it's important to research and check reviews to make sure you find a hotel that truly suits your pet's needs. The Hotel Viking, a luxury hotel in downtown Newport where Lola and I stayed for a few days, fit that bill and so much more. When we came in, my curly-haired cutie looked more like Héloïse than a dog, and the doorman happily greeted her at the entrance. She even received cookies from the concierge upon check-in! By the end of the day, it seemed like everyone knew her name and were excited to see her. Since we did arrive after a storm and could not enjoy dinner outside on the terrace, the hotel welcomed us to have dinner with Lola in the hotel's restaurant. Eating New England lobster in a luxury hotel while your pup is snuggled under your beautiful table? A weird, special experience that everyone should have at least once.
Accidents can happen, but that's okay
When we first visited the residence at the Viking Hotel, Lola had a "little" problem. While I was worried, our hotel tour guide didn't bat an eye - she simply said it happened and the mess was quickly cleaned up. On your road trip, it's important to remember that your dog is just a dog (just like you are just a human) and things may not always go as planned. But usually, there's nothing a Clorox wipe can't fix.
Make sure your destination has pet-friendly activities
Vacations are for exploring, and your four-legged friend deserves to experience them! You don’t want to be confined to your hotel room, so be sure to research nearby activities that you can both enjoy. Rhode Island beaches are pet-friendly after October 1st, so we got to walk along the sand and pick up shells. The hardened sand made the journey easier on Lola's paws, and the look on her face as she admired the waves in the breeze was priceless.
Connect with your puppy in a whole new way
The most memorable experience for me was taking a morning walk with Lola in the park a few blocks from our hotel, breathing in the fresh New England air. Since there are far fewer sidewalks than Lola was used to, she was able to explore and mess with piles of leaves on her own without having to share with all the dogs that were cooped up in the apartment building. After our daily walk in the park, we go to Starbucks (where Lola gets a warm welcome) and then head to the dock to enjoy some quiet time by the water. There was no admission fee, no additional pet supplies, and it ultimately made me feel closer to my eight-year-old companion and grateful that I could give her such sweet views of New England.
