Travel Advisors Address Growing Demand for Pet-Friendly Vacations
Photo Credit: Andrea Mladin, founder of Pet Travel Advisor, on the beach with Mila, her Maltese puppy. Pet Travel Advisor
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As more baby boomers and millennials take to the road with pets in tow, travel advisors will need to freshen up on their knowledge of rules and restrictions for travel. Hotels are beginning to cater more to pet owners, but the rules among airlines are in a state of flux.
While increasing numbers of travelers are reluctant to hit the road without their pets, doing so brings formidable challenges, including a lack of verified and updated information on pet-friendly travel options and airline guidelines.
As a result, pet-focused travel advisors are stepping in to fill the information void and meet the demand to bring dogs, cats, hamsters, and even snakes on vacation and business trips.
“They are your family. You want them with you, and it makes a great vacation even better,” said Heather Eisenstadt, who founded Top Dog Pet Travel in 2015.
One of the biggest reasons companies like Top Dog Pet Travel have come into existence is the fluidity of rules and regulations in both the airline and hotel industries regarding pet travel, according to Eisenstadt.
“Booking a pet into a hotel might not be as easy as you think it is,” she said. “Many hotels will take small pets but not as many will take larger pets. If you've got a golden retriever o
