Posted on: Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Money-saving tips for road tripping with a pet
By Sharon Harvey Rosenberg and Myscha Theriault
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
A cross-country move from Arizona to Maine with two large dogs proved challenging. Long runway layovers and overnights at expensive airport hotels were out of the question. We saved money by avoiding hotel pet fees.
Here are additional money-saving tips for road tripping with Rover.
Plan ahead: Petswelcome.com allows you to search by route and destination for accommodations that are pet-friendly and affordable. The site showed us which hotels charged additional fees for pets, and we booked other options. In the Cape Canaveral area of Florida, we found a hotel chain offering free breakfast for the family, complimentary Wi-Fi and a free welcome mat for pets. Dr. Chris Yule of the Fort Kent Animal Hospital in Maine urges clients to stop by before a trip to discuss regional diseases — and preventative measures — to avoid costly diagnostic problems on the road. She also recommends updating pet tags with current cell phone information and the updating of microchip data. An unidentified runaway pet can cost big bucks in the form of extended hotel stays during a vacation. Roadside rest areas: Skip expensive dog parks and grab a healthy sandwich at the sub shop when you gas up. Enjoy your lunch in a grassy picnic area along with your pet. This strategy gives your pet exercise time and you a chance to administer any medications without chaos. Save money by packing your pet's favorite treats and food. Bring portable bowls, pet toys and blankets. Network: Build a list of pet-friendly hotels and locations by networking with other pet owners at dog parks, pet stores and vet offices. We've received great leads this way on affordable dog daycare facilities and reasonably priced accommodations, where animals are given ample space and time for play. Team up with other pet owners to swap sitting services. Infrastructure: Theme parks and other attractions may offer affordable daycare or overnight services for your animals while you enjoy exhibits and park entertainment. For instance, Disneyworld provides Pet Care Kennels at the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom and Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground. Hammock in Paradise blogger Lisa Overman recommends pet cams as an affordable replacement to day care when you are only out of the room for a few hours. Certain models offer travelers the ability to check in on a pet's antics via a dedicated viewing address on a smart phone.———
Wisebread.com writers Sharon Harvey Rosenberg and Myscha Theriault are co-authors of the best-selling personal finance book "10,001 Ways to Live Large on a Small Budget," and founders of PoshFrugalityNetwork.com. Theriault is founder of TrekHound.com, a travel Web site, and Rosenberg is the author of "The Frugal Duchess: How to Live Well and Save Money." Find them on Twitter at Twitter.com/FrugalDuchess and Twitter.com/MyschaTheriault.
