Tips for Finding the Perfect Pet-Friendly Vacation Rental

Posted by Lauren Barker

Vacation Rentals offer plenty of advantages for travelers with dogs. They typically give you more privacy and room to spread out than a hotel, and with so many vacation properties opening their doors to furry friends, there’s something for every taste and budget. With a little digging, you can find the “pawfect” home away from home for your pup, and many provide perks ranging from dog beds and bowls to fenced backyards and dog-sitting services. Pet-friendly Airbnbs and VRBOs around the world also go the extra mile for human guests, with amenities including hot tubs, pools, and even unique themed stays. Make Fido’s trip a dream come true with these proven tips for finding the perfect dog-friendly vacation rental for your next getaway.

“Did you know this place would be this cool?” Photo by @burlwoodcottage

1. Plan Ahead

Vacation rental properties have never been more popular, and with an increasing number of travelers bringing Fido along, pet-friendly options book up quickly. If you are traveling during peak season or other high-demand times, you’ll want to start your search well in advance (sometimes months ahead) for the best chance at finding the ideal home away from home for your best friend. You can use BringFido’s app or website to browse dog-friendly vacation homes around the world. Once you’ve found a match, go ahead and reserve it. Just remember to pay close attention to cancellation policies so there are no penalties if your plans change.

2. Check the Pet Policy and House Rules

With BringFido, there are no unexpected surprises when you book a dog-friendly Airbnb or VRBO. We list the pet policies and fees for each vacation rental up front. Review the policies along with the house rules pertaining to pets before you book. Even if the homeowner doesn’t require prior approval before they’ll permit your pooch, it’s a good idea to let them know what pets you’ll be bringing at the time of booking. If you’ll be attending an event where your pup isn’t welcome, make sure it’s okay for him to stay behind. Some rentals may require pets to be crated while you’re away, while others may not allow pets to be unattended at any time. Occasionally, property managers who live on-site will offer dog-sitting services while you’re out, like at this Wildlife Wonderland in Paige, TX.

“This bed is all mine, right?” Photo by @cabinonblueberryhill

3. Find a Walkable Neighborhood

A great benefit to booking a pet-friendly vacation rental is the option to stay where it’s easy to move about. Unlike hotels, vacation rentals are often located in the suburbs, with plenty of sidewalks, parks and greenways just outside your door, along with neighborhood shops and restaurants. Find a property like this East Atlanta bungalow, where Fido won’t have far to go to explore the sights and smells of the BeltLine and hang out at Fetch Park, or this tiny house in the trendy Alameda neighborhood of Portland, OR, where you can walk together to dog-friendly cafes, breweries and a dog park.

“What more could a dog ask for?”Photo by @macaroni.thedog

4. What’s in it for Fido?

Like hotels, some vacation rentals are dog-friendlier than others. Look for a property that goes out of the way to make your furry family member feel at home. For example, you only need to read the name of the Dogologie Haus in Fredericksburg, TX, to know your pooch will be welcome here, but they also provide crates, beds, bowls and treats. There are even vacation rentals built with canines in mind, like the cabins of Barkwells in Mills River, NC. In addition to a basket of goodies, Fido will enjoy accommodations with fenced yards, doggie doors, gated porches, a pet-friendly pond, and access to a community dog wash. Then there’s Brooklyn’s Bungalow at Paw House Inn in West Rutland, VT, where your pooch can sleep on a doggie trundle bed and play in a fully fenced on-site dog park with agility equipment. What more could a pup want?

“This vacation is 'pawfect' in every way.” Photo by @cokolita1

5. Look for a Rental With a Fenced Backyard

Just as you’d expect a nice, clean bathroom for yourself, Fido wants some space to do his business, too. A place to stretch his legs and take in all the new smells is a bonus as well. After all, this is also his vacation! Give him the freedom he deserves by booking a place with a fenced yard and easy access to the outdoors, like this cabin in Bailey, CO, with a ramp from the large backyard deck leading to a one-acre fenced dog run.

6. Research the Local Scene

If you're planning a secluded getaway on a snowy mountain with epic views or a relaxing weekend at a cabin in the woods, you may not need to think about what’s nearby. But if you want to explore a new town, get a taste of the local cuisine, or adventure out into nature, start by checking BringFido for restaurants, activities and events that welcome four-legged friends near your next home away from home. For example, this studio apartment in Pacifica, CA, is within walking distance of dog-friendly Pacifica State Beach, and the annual World Dog Surfing Championship as well as restaurants and breweries that welcome canines; truly a pooch’s “pawradise.”

7. Check for Four-Legged Neighbors

Whether your canine is a wallflower or a social butterfly, consider who he might encounter during your stay. Rentals might be part of a shared complex where the owner or other guests have pets, and unique experiences like farm stays and dude ranches will have other animals present. If your pooch is excited to make friends, book the Dog and Pony Ranch in Jackson, CA. Fido can meet horses, cattle, miniature donkeys, llamas and chickens, and be free to run in the fenced yard and splash in the pond.

“Mom, can you open that bag of treats?” Photo by @jerseypaws_

8. Be Open to New Experiences

Vacation rentals come in all forms, from luxury condos in the city with all the creature comforts to one-of-a-kind getaways you won’t find anywhere else, and even off-the-grid homes if you’d like to disconnect. One of the best benefits of staying in a vacation rental is the opportunity to experience something new. Find out what it’s like to live in a tiny home with Fido, or give him an up-close view of the squirrels in a dog-friendly treehouse, like this one in Arkadelphia, AR. If you’re looking for a truly unique experience, consider glamping options like a vintage Airstream, yurt, or igloo, or sleep on the water in a pet-friendly houseboat. The possibilities are endless!

What do you look for in the perfect pet-friendly vacation rental? Leave a comment or tweet us @BringFido!

Banner photo by @scoobsthecorgi.