At Traveler we love animals. It pains us not to be able to travel with them on many occasions. Fortunately, more and more four and five star pet friendly accommodations are welcoming our little furry friends with open arms. But not only that, many hotels they adopt their own pet and welcome in their hall a minimum, a bulldog or a family of ducks . We introduce you to some of them.
TIMMY, PORTLAND'S MOST HELPFUL LABRADOR
Timmy is a charming Labrador Retriever who has the entire staff at the ** Portland Hotel Monaco ** enthralled. Trained for two years to be a guide dog ("profession" that he practiced), his vocation to serve others moved to this boutique hotel where he has lived for more than five years. Kind, intelligent and very affable , Timmy greets all guests in the hotel lobby. He is now seven years old and his hobbies include rock climbing and organizing city tours for four-legged customers. He admits to having a bane: the Nylaboney bones. Timmy is the soul of this four-star accommodation that defines itself as a super pet friendly hotel. There are no size or weight restrictions for pets who want to stay in this hotel with their owners: 'Pets always welcome'.
Timmy welcomes us in the hall
POSH, A HIGH SOCIETY DOG IN SAN DIEGO
The mascot of the ** Hotel Palomar in San Diego ** has a first and last name: posh parker , although affectionately everyone addresses her as Poshi. Appointed "Director of Pet Relations for the hotel," Poshi is a high-class pup (her name means "posh" in English) who enjoys strolling on the beach in true Californian style. Her role is to help furry guests staying at the hotel feel at home (or even better). Mission accomplished: the pets at this Kimpton chain boutique hotel have their own space in the room, they sleep on a comfortable puff at the foot of their owner's bed and they have two huge designer bowls to eat and drink, as well as special services such as beauty arrangements for the most presumptuous or dog walkers.
Posh, the most 'posh' dog
FA-RAON, LE CHAT WITH NECKLACE BY GOYARD
In the Parisian hotel Le Bristol a soft purr is heard : it's Fa-Raon, an elegant Burmese cat with fine, soft fur and big blue eyes. This kitty loves to wander around the lobby, play on the grass in the hotel's French-style gardens and attract guests' attention with his roars. He can even boast of having rubbed elbows with celebrities like Angelina Jolie, Leonardo Di Caprio or George Clooney, regular customers of the hotel. Intelligent, calm and very affectionate, Fa-Raon is a symbol in Le Bristol, where animals have always been welcomed with open arms (before Fa-Raon's arrival, the hotel's mascot was a little rabbit called Hippolyte). . Fa-Raon is so popular in Paris that for his third birthday he received a very special gift from the Maison Goyard: a black leather and canvas necklace and a plate made of poplar wood personalized with his name. A fashion cat in haute couture paradise.
Fa-Raon posing with her gifts from Goyard
The march of the famous Memphis DUCKS
In Memphis, everyone knows the Peabody Hotel. Not because of its luxurious suites, its great location, or even because of the gastronomic delights of its French restaurant. His fame is due to his cute pets: a family of ducks. Since 1933, the Peabody Ducks have been out each day at 11 a.m. in the lobby. and parade down a red carpet like big stars to the huge fountain in the lobby, where they spend the day splashing around. At five in the afternoon they return to their Duck Palace, located in the hotel attic and where they live like a king. Trained by a bellman with experience as a circus tamer, this famous family of ducks repeats this parade every day, being the most anticipated attraction by hotel guests. They are not always the same ducks. Raised by a farmer friend of the hotel owners, the birds reside at the hotel for three months before returning to their natural habitat. Another important detail: the hotel's Chez Philippe restaurant has not served any duck since 1981.
Duck is not served in this hotel for lunch
STELLA, HOLLYWOOD'S MOST FAMOUS BULLDOG
Another hotel where animals are treated like royalty is the London West Hollywood in Los Angeles. An example of this is your VIP guest: Stella, a French bulldog who roams freely in the lobby, the pool or any other common area of the hotel (except the kitchen, of course). He is a flirtatious and glamorous dog who has become accustomed to the good life of Hollywood stars and who, from time to time, is seen at one of the parties organized by the hotel. West Hollywood is one of the areas with the highest number of dogs. People say that there are an average of 1,000 dogs per square mile . Hence the importance that many accommodations give to the good reception of pets. Special beds, beauty kits, bowls and lots of treats are some of the services this hotel offers to all the animals that walk through its door.
Stella, the most chic bulldog
GINGER, THE DOG WHO WEARS VUITTON
At The Muse Hotel in New York they have a peculiar Director of Pet Relations: Ginger, a Dwarf German Spitz, a breed also known as Pomeranian Lulu. With 12 years of age , Ginger is quite a veteran of the hotel. She smug and flirtatious, she loves to wear Louis Vuitton, relax at the spa, pose for the cameras (she's very good at it) and eat ahi tuna (yellow fin tuna). Her job at this luxurious hotel is to receive her four-legged relatives and offer them the best plans to enjoy the Big Apple, such as the Pet Chauffeur service. If you can't find Ginger, take a good look in the hall, it's most likely that she's resting under the janitor's feet. It's nap time.
Ginger, a classy lady
MATILDA, THE CHAISELONGE KITTEN
In the Algonquin Hotel in New York there is a reserved sofa in the lobby: it is the chaise longue of Matilda, the most charismatic cat. She is the heir to a dynasty of minims that began in the 1930s, when the hotel manager decided to give shelter and adopt a small cat that was lurking around the door and who was baptized with a very theatrical name: Hamlet. Today Matilda, the name of all the females in the family, is like a toy for all who visit the Algonquin. She is an extremely docile cat who loves humans. and, that in addition to lying down in her booth, she likes to hide behind the reception computer or stretch out on the luggage carts. Her great hobby is watching the comings and goings of guests. Everyone in the hotel adores her, so much so that she has become a true New York celebrity. Every year, her birthday turns into a party with cake, costumes and cat friends. In addition, Matilda is very internet-oriented: she has her own email and Facebook account.
Matilda, the spoiled girl of the Algonquin
Beau & Mave, the most exquisite canine palates
The concierge at the Fairmont Hotel in Vancouver cannot complain about the good accompaniment he receives every day in his work. Next to him are Mavis and Beau, a Golden Retriever and a Labrador who wag their tails and raise their paws every time they see guests appear. That makes them happy. This inseparable duo are the most photographed canines in Vancouver. Celebrities such as Halle Berry, Robin Williams or Cindy Crawford have posed alongside them . In addition to their important relationship with customers, the culinary taste of these two canine ambassadors has been key when creating the hotel's pet menu. And they haven't settled for just anything. After several tastings, the (very gourmet) menu consists of dishes made with organic meat, fresh vegetables, apples and hormone-free turkey breast. For the kittens, a succulent stew of wild salmon with vegetables awaits them for lunchtime.
*** You may also be interested in...**
- Traveling with dogs (a love letter) - Hotels for pets: this is animal life! - The Madrid cat library - Cat tourism - All the information on traveling with pets - The off-road guide for dog friendly urbanites
Beau & Mave, the inseparable duo
moment to relax