Pets Allowed?

[jjjenny]

I am a travel agent and I had something happen to me the other day that has never happened before.
I just went through hurricane Rita. Part of my house was destroyed and we had just finished renovating our house. I had been without power for 9 days. The gas had been cut off due to leaks in the city, so we did not have hot water and we were living under martial law. This is just to explain my frame of mind.
My husband works for a company that has a location in Houma, LA. He had to go to work and they offered us a hotel room at the Days Inn there. I called the hotel directly and asked the lady if they accepted pets. Yes, we do! But, there is a fee of 150.00.
I thanked her and said we would be there the following day.
Well, I left home at 2:00pm and arrived there at a lilttle past 5:00pm.
The lady I had spoken with on the phone was there to check me in. Guess what?
They do not accept pets and charge 150.00 per pet if one is found.
I was totally upset!! She said she was the one I had spoken with and was sorry because she had misinformed me.
Now, I couldn't go home, curfew was at 6:00pm. There are no other hotel rooms due to Katrina.
I didn't fly off the handle, but she could tell that I was upset. I asked for the Red Cross.
Anyway, my husband's company moved a guy from an apartment to the hotel and we moved into the apartment, so it ended out well.
But, I called the hotel directly and was misinformed. I was just lucky that we had a place to go to.
I would really be interested in hearing from other ones who work for hotels.
I supposedly did the right thing and checked directly with the hotel to see if they allowed pets.
Anyway, even if you do call hotels directly, you don't always get the correct information.

[Annette]

There's a hotel chain called Hotel Monaco that not only accepts pets but will provide one if you didn't bring one.

"'If your pet isn't able to join you during your stay at the Hotel Monaco, we would be happy to share one of our pets with you. Upon request, we can deliver a complimentary goldfish companion to your guest room. Guests wishing to "sleep with the fishes" can request their own complimentary goldfish when making a reservation or upon check-in. Rest assured, all you need to do is enjoy your temporary pet…we'll handle the care and feeding."

But thing brings up a good point - we should have a listing of pet-friendly hotels. I'm going to check the "suppliers" section and if there isn't already a topic there on it then I'll start one, and I encourage folks to post names/links of pet-friendly hotels there so that we have a good reference list.

[john225]

jjjenny, you have mail!

[susanliber]

Most Best Westerns accept pets too.

[stephen_s]

Here's a website that gives you a directory of hotels that allow pets.

http://www.petswelcome.com/

[mercwyn]

I know that Shilo Inns, Rodeway Inns and Residence Inns all accept pets with a deposit.

[Kairho]

Add Days Inns to the list.

[missalf]

Originally posted by Kairho@Oct 7 2005, 11:50 AM
Add Days Inns to the list.
10878

But that's where she was and they said they wouldn't take them.

Jjjenny, I've always used either the petswelcome URL given above, or thePetfriendly.com (http://www.petfriendlyhotelsandtravel.com/html/find_lodging.html)search engine for hotels by state.

Glad everything worked out okay -- it's bad enough to have something traumatic like that happen, but then to have the threat of being forced to separate from your four-legged family members is unconscionable.

Oh, and I think the surcharge supposedly for cleaning the room after your pet has occupied the room is total bunk -- I've yet to see any chain do any major cleaning to a room if it's been pet occupied, other than maybe spray air freshner on the carpet -- plus they stick you in smoking rooms anyway (And I'd prefer a pet to a smoker any day!)

[jjjenny]

Thanks for the suggestions. However, those suggestions don't help when there are NOT any hotels available in the area due to the hurricanes and relief workers taking up all the rooms.
I guess I was really upset that I had called and was told they did accept pets and I guess I could have fought it but didn't.
But thanks everyone!