Before you start looking for a pet-friendly VRBO that fits the bill, spend time planning which destination best suits you and your dog. If your Schnauzer doesn’t like crowds, this pet-friendly VRBO near Central Park might not be the best choice, while hounds who love the outdoors will prefer a cabin in the woods or a beach home. Additionally, take into consideration how well your dog travels. Large dog owners may want to choose a destination closer to home because flying is more difficult for them than a Chihuahua who fits snugly under an airplane seat in the cabin. With pet-friendly VRBOs in every state, the right destination is just a click away. For help deciding where to land, check out 365 of the best places to stay and play with your dog in all 50 states in BringFido’s Ruff Guide to the United States.

Don’t spend hours making a shortlist of possible places to stay only to discover they won’t welcome the furriest member of the family. BringFido makes it easy to find and book pet-friendly rentals. When searching for your next stay on BringFido’s website or mobile apps, simply choose your destination and select “Vacation Rentals” from the dropdown menu.

You can even narrow your search further by filtering for pet fees, weight and size limitations, number of pets allowed, and even for cats!

Select the property rating and price to find exactly what you and Fido are looking for, or try searching for a specific feature (“fenced yard” and “hot tub” are crowd favorites).

If you’re having trouble narrowing down the list of pet-friendly rentals to the perfect one for your fur family, look for special features that make one stand out from the others. Pups who can never make their minds up about where they want to hang out will relish the doggy door that connects to a private fenced yard at this Austin, TX rental. Or, Fido could be blown away by a property with dog amenities included in your stay like this rental in Utah.

Hidden fees can make an affordable mini-break suddenly break the bank. Fortunately, BringFido lists pet fees and cleaning fees in the description of each of our vacation rental listings, so you know what you’re getting into. Pet fees are often collected at the time of booking, but hosts may require fees to be paid after you make your reservation, especially when it varies based on the number of pets you are bringing to stay. Remember, read all details to avoid a costly and unexpected surprise.

Unlike hotels where you sign in at a front desk, the likelihood is you won’t ever come face to face with your host. These days, most provide a lock box at the door and a code to get in. When you book with BringFido, we notify the host that you’re traveling with a pet, and we allow you to include special requests that may pertain to traveling with your pet. However, you can also communicate specific information about your pets directly with the host, including anything that will make your pup’s stay more comfortable.

If your boisterous Beagle is known to cause a mess, Pet Damage Protection may be the cure for sleepless nights in somebody else’s palace. Starting at just $6.00 per trip, Pet Damage Protection provides up to $1,500 of coverage for accidental damage to your vacation rental. Additionally, BringFido’s Pet Travel Insurance covers up to $2,000 in unexpected veterinary expenses if your pet gets sick or injured during your trip. The insurance also protects up to 100% of your covered trip costs in the event of trip cancellation due to an accident, illness or severe weather.

The time has come to dust off your pup’s barely used dog bed and buy a new food mat in preparation for her vacation. Don’t forget to bring her essentials like food, bowls, treats and a leash. It’s also advisable to pack toys and recognizable blankets to offer her some security in unfamiliar surroundings, and to protect your host’s bed if your dog refuses to sleep elsewhere. This dog casino interactive treat puzzle is a fun game that will keep your pooch entertained and distracted while you relax. Heading to the lake? Be sure to buy her these Chuckit amphibious dog toys for fun in the water.

Fido may run the show at your place, but in somebody else’s house he needs to follow their rules. Even if he usually sprawls all over the bed at home, he’s going to have to “ruff it” on the floor for a few days if the rules state (and they often do) that dogs aren’t allowed on furniture. The last thing you want is to be slammed with a surprise cleaning fee for not treating your home away from home with respect. At BringFido, we believe pups should join in the fun wherever possible, so plan pet-friendly activities to avoid leaving your pooch alone in unfamiliar surroundings. As well as being more enjoyable for your pup, taking them with you will often be specified in your chosen property’s rules.

Cleaning fees are usually included in vacation rental bookings, but that doesn’t mean you should leave a mess. On VRBO, guests can be rated from one to five stars on cleanliness, communication, and adherence to house rules. If you want the opportunity to stay anywhere else with your four-legged travel companion, read the rules and leave no trace of her weekend of adventures. Before your stay, be sure to remove excess hair with a pet brush. While you’re there, stop muddy paws at the door with The Dexas MudBuster. Don’t check out until you’ve picked up anything left behind in the backyard with this handy dispenser and stash of bags.

Don’t forget to leave a good rating on BringFido if you enjoyed your stay. Five bones can make all the difference to the success of a property in the vacation rental business, and it’s a nice way to acknowledge the host who let you and your hairy holidaymaker make some wonderful memories together. And remember, guests aren’t the only ones who can leave reviews these days. Hosts are also able to review you and your pooch, so make sure Fido’s on his best behavior!