Looking for something fun and unique to do with your dog this summer? How about taking Fido to a summer camp for dogs and their people!

The Canine Club Getaway is hosting their second annual event this June, and all well-behaved dogs (and humans) are invited to attend.

Enjoy a weekend of dog-related seminars, classes, and lots of activities! Everything is included so you and your dog can just enjoy spending quality time with each other, while meeting other like-minded folks.

For more info, please visit my article on Examiner.com!

Did you go last year? How was it? Let us know by commenting below!

Rachel from PetRelocation.com asked me to provide an answer to a question they received about taking a road trip with a dog. Since they mainly deal with moving pets around the world, they asked for my expertise in answering the question

Thank you for the opportunity!

Read the post here!

The Pet-friendly Portofino Bay Hotel, Orlando

Loews Hotels wants to pump you (and your pet) up!

Did you know that 50% of dogs and cats are overweight and obese (according to a 2008 study by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention)? Loews Hotels have created a special package to help you, and your pet, get in shame.

The Pumped-Up Pets Package includes a deluxe room, workout tips for both humans and their pets, a Zisc dog Frisbee, and a specially created “Scratch My Flat Belly” meal for pets.

The Pumped-Up Pets Package is available at 17 Loews Hotels in the U.S. and Canada from now through May 1st, 2010. Rates vary and are subject to availability.

Two of Orlando’s Loews properties are offering this special pet package – the Loews Portofino Bay Hotel and the Loews Royal Pacific Resort – both on Universal Orlando property.

All of Loews hotels are pet-friendly and guests (the four-legged kind) receive special gifts at check-in including a pet tag, a bowl and of course, a healthy treat!

There is a one-time pet cleaning fee of $25 and a maximum of two pets per room are allowed. For a complete listing of their pet rules, visit the Loews Hotel Pet Policy.

For more information about the Orlando resorts, check out my article on Examiner.com.

If you need assistance with your travel plans, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I am a travel agent specializing in pet travel. My small dog, Bodie, goes with us on every trip we take and so far has been lucky enough to visit 12 countries!

You can follow us on Twitter @AndASmallDog

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!

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.

Dog-friendly area at the TradeWinds Island Grand Resort

Earlier this week we had the pleasure of staying at the TradeWinds Island Grand Resort on St Pete Beach in Florida. This fairly large resort is the pet-friendliest hotel we’ve ever encountered so far on our travels. It features a Pet Play Zone – an off-leash fenced area complete with fire hydrants, tables and chairs, and room for your pet to run around. The resort also has a designated pet walk area that goes around the waterway, over a bridge, and past the dunes on the beach. Pets aren’t allowed on the beach itself, but there is a roped off area with sand and a hammock to make your dog feel like he’s on the beach! One of my dog’s favorite things about this resort, however, is the doggie (and cat) room service! Each species has three gourmet meal choices including Mutt Meatloaf and Kitty Kasserolle. Read my full review of this pet-friendly resort on Examiner.com – Beach vacation with a dog – the TradeWinds Island Grand Resort at St Pete Beach Check out the slideshow and video at the bottom of the Examiner article!

We enjoyed our stay and look forward to returning. This AAA Four-Diamond property offers a “Fido’s Fabulous Adventure” package that is valid until December 24, 2009. It includes 2 nights accommodations for you and your pet. To read more about this package, read my Examiner Article: Fido’s Fabulous Fall Adventure – pet-friendly resort offers packages for you and your dog

If you would like more information about this resort, or would like to request rate information or make reservations, please email me. I am a travel agent specializing in pet travel and I can help you with all your travel plans!

Check out the full review on Examiner.com featuring a slideshow and video of the resort!

Or watch the video on YouTube!

Bodie thoroughly enjoying the Fido's Fajitas

Bodie the dog at a castle in Poland

Last year we traveled around Poland with my in-laws for almost two weeks. The purpose was to see as much as we could of the country as my mother-in-law’s family were all originally from different parts of Poland. We spent time in Warsaw and Krakow, as well as Poznan and a castle hotel in Rydzyna. Our dog, Bodie, got to do a lot of sightseeing as well, including exploring an old castle outside of Krakow which he thoroughly enjoyed!

Here are links to the trip reports for each location. Please also check out the slideshows on each article page!

Poznan, Poland

Rydzyna Castle Hotel

Warsaw, Poland

Coming soon: Krakow and a ruined pet-friendly castle!

If you have stories or photos you’d like to share of your trip to Poland, please feel free to email me!

And don’t forget to Follow me on Twitter – @andasmalldog

This past spring Bodie, my husband and I went on a road trip through the southern states. Our original intent was to drive across to the Mississippi and tour around the Delta region on our way up to Memphis focusing on blues and old country music sights. However, once we got to Vicksburg, MS we got stuck in a huge thunderstorm that had no end in sight. It was causing heavy flooding in the area we wanted to focus on – not the type of weather to be walking around old graves and small towns.

So instead we headed south – where the sun was. And that happened to be New Orleans! 

Read about our three-part southern state tour here:

Part One – Montgomery, Alabama – F. Scott Fitzgerald House, Hank Williams Statue, and more!

Part Two – Vicksburg, Mississippi – Vicksburg Military Park (dog-friendly!), Robert Johnson Memorial, and more!

Part Three – New Orleans, Louisiana – Jazz Walk of Fame, Aquarium, Harrah’s and more!

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Thank you!