The niceties at the latest luxury hotels–fancy spas, turndown service and personal pampering–are pretty fetching, but some of the special treats might surprise you.
Walks, biscuits, cuddle time, “yappy hour” and vanilla paw soaks are among the offerings at posh pet boarding facilities that have sprung up near more than a dozen airports across the US. A one night stay at resorts featured in a recent story by The Seattle Times can top $50.
At Pet Paradise Resort in Charlotte, N.C., top-dog clients can lap up attention, wolf down ice cream treats and watch DVDs while relaxing in extra large suites. Manager Fred Goldsmith, the pet parent of a Bichon Frise, said he wanted to “create a Ritz-Carlton brand for dogs.” Since opening the first Pet Paradise Resort in 2005, Mr. Goldsmith has expanded to a total of nine sites.
Customers rave that the high-class digs rival the elegance of upscale human lodgings.
“I can say they treat every guest as special. There are people resorts that don’t make you feel as if you are special, so to receive such a good feeling from a pet resort is truly nice,” said a couple whose dog has stayed at Pet Paradise in Charlotte.
The pet resorts cater to pet parents’ needs, too. The facilities typically offer pet parents free parking, a shuttle to the airport and access to footage from Web cams showing their animals’ activities.
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