TripWitt.com is a new site that helps potential clients find their perfect travel agent. Visitors to the site can search by destination (city, state, country or region) or by type of travel (Luxury, Ecotourism, Pet-friendly and more) to find the right travel agent for their trip. Once they make a search, they will get a list of available agents that are specialists in what they searched for. The list includes full profiles and contact information for each agent so visitors can contact the agent directly. It’s a great way for home-based agents that specialize in certain niches find potential clients. It’s free!

Have a look at my profile by clicking here! I am a travel agent specializing in Pet Travel (of course!), Europe, and North America (Florida being my main specialty). River cruises are also a specialty but are unfortunately non-pet-friendly.

Just a small selection of the available shells!

We recently took a quick getaway to Sanibel Island – about a 3 and a half hour drive from Orlando. The small island of Sanibel (only 12 miles long and 4 miles wide) is located off of the coast of Fort Myers in Florida. I have lived in central Florida off-and-on for over twenty years but had never ventured to this side of Florida. I am glad I waited until now so that my small dog, Bodie, could come!

We had a great day at the beach – all the beaches on Sanibel are dog-friendly! There’s no loud music or spring-breakers and cars aren’t allowed on the beach (unlike in Daytona!). Instead, Sanibel is unspoiled and natural. It is a top destination for shelling – all along the beach are piles and piles of shells to be sorted through (go at sunrise to get the best ones!). But it isn’t just a shelling beach – there’s still plenty of sand.

Helping us shell-hunt (the only hunting we do!)

There’s a long list of pet-friendly accommodations – mostly small motels or cottages. Don’t expect over-the-top luxuriousness – head to the other coast for that. Instead, everything is small and quaint, and authentic Floridian – the way it used to be. There’s no traffic lights on Sanibel (but two traffic cops instead) and you won’t see very many of the big chains on the island. I think Dairy Queen was the biggest name that we saw! Instead, there are plenty of good restaurants and cafes and most allow dogs on their patios (check out Over Easy Cafe and their delicious breakfasts served until 2pm!).

A couple of the Castaways colorful cottages!

We stayed at the Castaways Beach and Bay Cottages. The units were cute and the location was peaceful and quiet (on the northern tip of the Sanibel – right next to the small bridge to Captiva Island, a more remote and residential island).

To read more about our trip, check out these two articles on Examiner:

Sanibel Island – more details on what to see and do on Sanibel

Castaways review – with photos!

If you need assistance planning your next vacation, please just email me with your request. I am a travel agent who specializes in pet travel (and human travel, too!).

Happy Travels!

Relax by the fire with your dog at Paws Up

Catchy title, eh? It caught my eye and so I thought I would share it with all you dog lovers. Looking for an escape to the wilderness with your pet? How about Montana! The Resort at Paws Up is hosting a “Wine and Bitch” weekend in April that is full of doggie fun including a fashion parade, wellness seminars, pet (and human) massages and more. Humans will enjoy the fine wine tastings, gourmet food and having some peaceful time with a good book.

Montana is a bit far for most of us, but if planning a trip in that region check out Paws Up – dogs are welcome always so if you can’t make it to their event in April you can go there another time!

Read more about the Wine and Bitch Weekend here!

Keep up-to-date with all the doggie vacation offers by following us on Twitter – @AndASmallDog and remember I am here to help you with all your travel plans! After all, pets need vacations, too!

Swiss Family Robinson-style accommodations

I’ve always wanted to go to an all-inclusive resort in the Caribbean or Mexico, but haven’t since our dog, Bodie, always comes with us when we travel. I had checked into options for Jamaica – a popular area for all-inclusive resorts – but found out that dogs (and other pets) are forbidden to even enter the island. So on a whim, I looked into Mexico – and lo and behold the Xpu-Ha Palace Resort allows dogs! It is the first of its kind, that I know of. The Xpu-Ha Palace is an eco resort – all the rooms are located in what looks like treehouses. The property is surrounded by lush vegetation, and natural flora and fauna. There’s even a mini zoo on-site. The beach is next to the resort but not its main appeal (from what I’ve read, its been washed away from hurricanes but guests staying at one Palace Resort have the option to use the amenities of other Palace Resorts in the area which are on “better stretches” of beach). Pets (dogs and cats, only. Sorry ferrets!) up to 55 lbs are allowed with a maximum of two per room. The all-inclusive package (which is free for the first pet, and $50 for the second) includes a special pet bed, waste bags for dogs, litter box, pooper scooper and scratching posts for cats as well as grooming. There is also an on-site pet care facility which offers veterinary care, boarding and obedience classes.

To read more about the Xpu-Ha and its pet-friendliness, check out my article on Examiner.

If you want to find out more information, including rates and availability, please email me! I am a travel agent who specializes in pet travel.

Hola Mexico!

Leila – Info@AndASmallDog.com

Planning your spring or summer vacation? Why not take your pet? More and more hotels are allowing pets – as pets are part of the family too! It can be a bit of a pain to find the right hotel – especially when traveling with large dogs, multiple pets or exotic animals – but I am here to help! I have a background as a travel agent for humans, but now specialize in the growing niche of vacations for the whole family – including your pets. Just email me with your travel request and I will do the research so you don’t have to! Items to include in your email are:

• Chosen destination(s) – or if you need help, just let me know!
• Dates
• Type of pet(s) and their weight(s)
• How many travelers in total
• Any additional information that will help me suggest the perfect vacation spot for you and your whole family

If you are looking for things to do with your pet at your chosen destination, head over to GoPetFriendly.com to find some ideas!

Happy Travels!

Leila

Recently I contributed my first guest post on GoPetFriendly.com’s blog – Take Paws. Check it out by clicking here - GoPetFriendly.com blog.

And if you read the article on GoPetFriendly already and this is your first time visiting AndASmallDog.com – Welcome! I am here to help you with all your pet travel plans – from researching and reserving appropriate accommodations and transportation to finding pet-friendly things to do in your chosen location. I always travel with my small dog and so I have a lot of experience dealing with all the ins-and-outs of pet travel. Please feel free to email me with any questions or if you need help with planning your trip – my services are free!

Happy Travels!

Leila

Planning a road-trip and need suggestions on what to see and do with your furry friend? Have a look at GoPetFriendly.com for ideas and information for locations across the U.S. There is also a handy roadtrip planner and access to hotel information. For more information on this great resource, check out my full review on Examiner.com.

Just a quick post to wish everyone a Happy Holiday season!

Sorry I haven’t been posting new articles recently – just trying to get ready for a roadtrip to visit family in North Carolina for Christmas while launching a new website (for honeymoons), working with several clients who are traveling with their pets (and some who are leaving them behind) and other odds and ends that needed to be done before the new year! I will be posting more in January – I promise!

For now, here is a photo of my dog Bodie as he finally sat still long enough to get professionally photographed by Sandra Johnson, during a pet photo event at Woof Gang Bakery in Orlando.

Bodie being a good dog

This holiday season treat you and your dog (or cat) to a weekend getaway at a Loews Hotel. All Loews Hotels (except the Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Orlando) are offering a special holiday-themed package called “Houndly Holidays”. This package includes one night accommodations, a special meal for your pet (brought to you by room service, of course) and many other extras. To read more about the package, please check out my article about it on Examiner.com.

If you need help with reservations at a Loews Hotel, or any other destination, just email me. I am a certified travel agent who can help you with all your travel plans  – whether you are taking your paw friends or not!

Happy Holidays!

Loews Hotels offers “Houndly Holidays” package this holiday seasons.

Bodie at The Shores Resort and Spa

Last week we enjoyed a couple nights stay at The Shores Resort and Spa located in Daytona Beach Shores, a quieter stretch of the beach but only a few miles away from the action. We were looking for a place to relax and not have to do anything, and that is exactly what we experienced. This AAA Four-Diamond Resort offers total calm from the moment you walk in. You are greeted by a personal concierge who not only handles your check-in, but can also recommend places to dine and sights to see.

We stayed in an oceanfront king bed room and our view was great. It was right over the pool area also so our dog had lots to look at. The weather was pretty bad while we were there (bad for Florida that is – cloudy and windy thanks to the trails of Hurricane Ida) but we enjoyed our stay nonetheless. Try a hot-stone massage at their on-site spa, a boutique style spa that has many options available for individuals and for couples.

To read more about our stay at The Shores Resort and Spa, check out my Examiner.com review. Additional photos can also be seen at this link.

We also visited a pet-friendly beach park near the resort, and you can read about that also on Examiner.com.

I highly recommend The Shores Resort and Spa if you are looking for a place to rest, relax and rejuvenate. If you need assistance with reservations or have any questions, just email me at info@andasmalldog.com. Not only do I write pet travel articles, but I am also a full-time travel agent.