Traveling With Your Dog: NYC Edition
Wednesday, September 18, 2019 12:08:00 PM America/Los_Angeles
A whopping 53-percent of pet owners say they travel with their pets. However, more than half of those who take their pets on vacation end up cutting their vacation short to accommodate their fur baby. Many also find that they can't do everything they wanted to do on vacation with their pet in tow. So what's a pet owner to do? Traveling with your dog takes some research, especially if you're traveling to a city that's not known to be pet friendly, such as New York City. Following is your guide to traveling with Fido in NYC and other cities like it.
Dog Friendly Lodging
Numerous five-star hotels in New York are pet friendly, including The Beekman, Crosby Street Hotel and The Sherry-Netherland Hotel. If you can't afford five-star luxury but crave a luxurious stay with your pooch, check out the Even Hotel in Times Square South, The Pierre, and Park Hyatt. Many chain hotels are also dog friendly lodging options, including the Hilton, Sheraton and Hampton Inn. Keep in mind that many hotels charge extra fees for pets. Some even have rules regarding breed and weight, so you will want to call each prospective hotel to see if your dog is allowed to stay there.
Dog Friendly Attractions
While you won't be able to take Fido everywhere, there are several pet-friendly places in NYC. If you want to get out in nature, consider the Sirius Dog Run, Canine Country Outings and Central Park. If you wish to go out for a bite to eat with your favorite pet, you may want to check out one or more of these dog-friendly restaurants: Barking Dog Luncheonette, West 79th Street Boat Basin Cafe, Growler Bites &Brews and the Shake Shack. Regardless of where you choose to go, you will want to take precautions while traveling around lesser dog friendly cities with your pup. If you want to go on the subway, you will have to put your dog in a bag or carrier, provided it's small enough. If you have a larger dog on a leash, you can go on the ferry, but you can't travel via most public transit systems. Your best bet is hiring a taxi or car service that allows pets.
Local Boarding Options
If you want to jet into a place that isn't on the list of dog friendly cities or where Fido isn't welcome, you may want to look into a Dog Parker membership. A short-term boarding alternative, Dog Parker has small, individual kennels all over the city in which you can place your trusted friend for about 20 cents per minute. All units are climate controlled. You should also consider the smart phone application- Rover. Rover is a dog boarding website and you will be able to find a pet sitter in NYC who will take your dog into their home to babysit for the day or night!
Big City Bathroom Concerns
Taking a worry-free, memorable trip to NYC with your dog requires planning and innovation, especially when it comes to bathroom breaks. In a city where real grass is scarce, a portable potty solution may be your best bet. What's more, you may not wish to venture out in a strange city in the middle of the night. Fortunately, Bark Potty is a dog bathroom that you can set up right in your hotel room. Your dog will love Bark Potty because it's made of real bark, and like real grass, contains the natural smells that compel dogs to ""go."" Bark Potty works similar to pee pads, but your dog will actually WANT to pee on it! Plus the natural enzymes in the bark help to break down any urine odors! You may also want to find a few dog parks that are close to your hotel to give your pup some exercise! There are more than 30 dog parks in Manhattan alone, so you should be able to find plenty of options!