Chicago Pet-Friendly Hotels

During their next visit to the Windy City with the family, this question is bound to come up for a lot of families: what do we do about Fido? You might leave your pet with a pet sitter, drop them off with a friend, or even leave them with a sitting and boarding service.  But some people find their pets are as much a part of the family as the kids, and they can’t bear to part with them. Perhaps such arrangements are simply too expensive or impractical. Before you plan your next trip, see if your destination is pet-friendly, and the rest of your journey will be as carefree and fun as travelling with pets can be.

Most chain hotels have a pet policy, and it’s going to be stated clearly on their website. You’ll want to see if there’s a deposit to put down for your dog or cat, and also find out what kind of restrictions there are on the basis of breed, number of pets, or the animal’s size. If there’s no deposit, there may be a small fee associated with your pet’s stay. Some hotels don’t mind pets and don’t include a fee or deposit, but they still have policies you should know about; perhaps your pet is required to stay crated during their visit, for example. Be sure to check on all possible policies, including deposit, fees, and special rules. If your pet is exotic, there may be additional restrictions. For instance, perhaps your Labrador retriever is fine, but your two pet iguanas may be a problem! When in doubt, call in advance.

While you’re touring and dining your way across Chicago, allowing your pet to tag along may be a problem. Be sure to find out which places you intend to visit will allow your animal to come with you. It’s not a good idea to leave your animal in the hotel room unattended for many reasons; the potential for damage, theft of your pet, or a medical emergency would all create unwanted crisis for your fun vacation. Before you decide to bring the your pet with you, be sure you’ve considered all of the potential downsides to travel with a pet. If you’ll be visiting a lot of outdoor locations or parks, for instance, this might be the ideal scenario for bringing them along. Of course, on cross-country or relocation trips, you may not have a choice.

Consider carefully before you bring your pet and be sure to ask all the questions you think necessary before checking in at a pet-friendly hotel.