Traveling with Pets: How to Put Your Paws on the Best Airlines and Hotels for Furry Family Members

Summary

Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways

Episode Title: Traveling with Pets: How to Put Your Paws on the Best Airlines and Hotels for Furry Family Members
Hosts: Sally French & Megan Coyle (NerdWallet Travel)
Date: April 8, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the world of traveling with pets, breaking down everything from the best airlines and hotels for furry friends to overlooked fees, practical strategies, and pro tips for stress-free pet travel. Sally French and Megan Coyle guide listeners through up-to-date policies, hidden gotchas, and genuine advice—pulling back the curtain on logistics, costs, and real-life pet travel experiences.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Realities of Traveling with Pets

• Statistics: 71% of pet owners say they prefer to travel with their pets—but the actual number of pets seen in planes and hotels is much lower due to logistics, policies, and costs. ([02:27])
• Common Barriers: Difficult logistics, high fees, strict carrier size rules, booking hassles, breed and size restrictions, and concerns about pet stress and safety.
  • Sally: “You don't see that many pets actually on planes or in hotel rooms. Why is that you ask? Because there are so many logistics involved and it might cost more money or be more of a hassle than you expect.” ([02:31])
• COVID Impact: Airlines removed many cargo options during the pandemic, further limiting travel options for larger pets. Hotels, conversely, have become more pet-friendly post-pandemic. ([29:27])

2. Credit Card & Loyalty Program News (Travel-Relevant Only)

• Hilton Credit Cards: Elevated welcome offers for Hilton cards, some expiring April 15th; highlights include free night rewards and massive bonus points. ([03:40]–[06:05])
  • Sally: “With Hilton it is [gold status] because you know I love free food and this unlocks Hilton's food and beverage credit … it gets bonus points at US supermarkets, gas stations and restaurants.” ([04:04])
• JetBlue News: You can now redeem JetBlue points for pet travel fees—timely for this episode's theme. ([13:58])
• Alaska/Hawaiian Cards: Big bonuses and unique companion fare features—helpful for pet travel budgeting, if you're loyal to those carriers. ([06:30]–[08:28])

3. Guest Interview: Jana Kate — Real-World Pet Travel

Guest: Jana Kate, traveled internationally with her small dog, Poquito
Highlights & Tips ([17:17]–[27:22])

• Paperwork and Entry Requirements: The biggest challenge is international paperwork and timing specifics (USDA stamps, vet certifications close to departure).
  • Jana: “The second time I found a vet who actually just helped me … and it was just such a much less stressful experience.” ([17:42])
  • Jana: “...some very strict guidelines in terms of when you get the form, when you have them signed by the vet, they have to be then stamped by the USDA within 10 or so days of you leaving the country...” ([18:57])
• Vet Help Is Worth It: Having a vet handle the documents, even for a fee, drastically cuts down on stress.
• Sedatives: Always consult a vet; light sedation can sometimes help but should only be under professional guidance and is controversial, especially for small breeds. ([20:08])
• Not All Pets Should Travel: Jana: “Traveling with your pet is a luxury and it's not maybe always a necessity … be really selective about choosing which trips you take them on.” ([20:52])
• Choosing Destinations and Stays: Look for accommodations with pet amenities; always check if fees are per-night or per-stay, and clarify policies before arrival. ([22:11])
  • Jana: “My first and almost now automatic filter in my favorite booking site … is to choose the pets option.”
• Practice Runs: Train your pet locally in the carrier before a big trip. ([25:01])
• Emergency Preparedness: Know nearby vets wherever you travel, just in case. ([26:12])

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Deep Dive: Best Airlines for Pets ([32:00]–[42:47])

Airline Policy Realities

• Cabin vs. Cargo: Most airlines only allow small pets (fit under seat in carrier) in the cabin. Cargo options are fewer post-COVID and come with greater risks.
• Airline Ranking Methodology: Evaluated U.S. airlines by:
  • Pets allowed in cabin/cargo
  • Cost of carriage
  • Species accepted
  • Clarity of policy
  • Ease of booking ([34:56])

Top Picks

• Alaska Airlines (Top pick, 57/60 points)

  • Pet fee: $100 each way (lower than most major carriers)
  • Accepts cats, dogs, rabbits, some other small animals
  • Policies are transparent; allows up to two carriers per passenger (with two tickets), so up to four small pets.
  • Downside: Must call or use web chat to book for pets, not available through normal online channel. ([36:30])

• Hawaiian Airlines (Runner-up)

  • Matching $100 each way pet fee (recently reduced)
  • Policies similar to Alaska, but allows only one pet carrier per ticketed guest. ([37:16])

• Frontier Airlines (Budget Pick)

  • Pet fee: $99 each way
  • Accepts a broader range of small animals, including guinea pigs, hamsters, and small birds—insightfully: “You can bring small household birds.” ([38:30])
  • Downside: No cargo pet transport; only small pets.

• JSX (Honorable Mention)

  • Semi-private experience, exceptionally pet-friendly: “The planes only have like 30 seats…your cat or dog can often just sit right next to you on the floor.”
  • Limited routes, expensive compared to mainstream carriers. ([39:35])

Key Cautions & Expert Tips

• Temperature Restrictions: Cargo travel can be denied at the last minute if temps are unsafe; always have a backup plan. ([40:53])
• Breed Restrictions: Brachycephalic (“short-nosed”) breeds often banned from cargo, sometimes even from cabin.
• Pet Limits: Airlines restrict the number of pets per flight, so book early.
• Business/First Upgrades: More space may mean less stress for the pet—and the owner. ([42:18])

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Best Hotels for Pets ([43:08]–[53:27])

What to Know About Pet-Friendly Stays

• Can You Leave Pets Unattended? Policies vary by hotel—even within the same chain. Some provide door signs (“pet in room”) to alert housekeeping not to enter. ([43:26])
• Noise & Behavior: Hotels expect well-behaved pets. If there's damage or excessive noise, expect fees or possible eviction.
• Cleaning Fees: Analyze whether fees are per-night or per-stay. ([44:45])
• Pet Policy Complexity: Many major brands are inconsistent; policies (and fees) can vary wildly from one property to another—even within the same chain.

Top Hotel Picks

• Kimpton Hotels (Clear winner)

  • No pet fee, no size or breed restriction—as long as the pet fits through the door, it's welcome: “They accept literally all pets. They say if the animal fits through the door, we'll take it.” ([49:27])
  • Upscale, but potentially cost-effective due to no pet charge.
  • Pet amenities: Bowls, beds, treats, etc.

• Motel 6 (Budget Pick)

  • Two pets per room stay free.
  • Noted: “Pets stay free at all locations. It's a great option if you are on a budget.” ([50:30])

• Lowe’s Hotels (Swankiest Pet Amenities)

  • Caters to pets with gourmet room service menus, dog walking route maps, plush beds, and more.
  • Typical fee: ~$100 per stay, but less than some top-tier options. ([51:03])

Additional Tips

• Boutique and local hotels may offer even more specialized pet amenities—research your destination for unique options (e.g., Sanctuary Beach Resort’s stick library and gourmet dog menus). ([52:35])
• Always confirm fee structure before you book.

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Top Pet Travel Tips & Actionable Advice

1. Research, Research, Research: Airline and hotel pet policies can change frequently. Always check directly with the provider.
2. Vet Documentation: For international travel, see a USDA-accredited vet well before your trip; timelines are strict.
3. Carrier Matters: Make sure your pet's carrier meets airline specs—and practice local trips with your pet in the carrier.
4. Pack Familiar Toys: Reduces stress for the animal. ([53:53])
5. Nonstop Flights (When Possible): Less time in transit = less stress. ([54:09]–[54:22])
6. Watch for Fee Traps: per-night vs. per-stay fees at hotels can make a big difference in cost. ([55:01])
7. Know Your Limits: For some pets and trips, it might be kinder to find a great pet sitter or boarding situation.
8. Emergency Planning: Identify local vets near your destination.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On why so few pets fly:
  Sally French ([02:31]):
  “There are so many logistics involved and it might cost more money or be more of a hassle than you expect. Unless you’re flying the right airline or staying at the right hotel."

• Reality check for pet travelers:
  Jana Kate ([20:52]):
  “Traveling with your pet is a luxury and it’s not maybe always a necessity … to be really selective about choosing which trips I took him on versus which trips I just found somebody to stay with him.”

• On Kimpton’s unmatched pet policy:
  Sally French ([49:27]):
  “They say if the animal fits through the door, we’ll take it. So theoretically, I guess you could bring your llama into a Kimpton.”

• On airline policy changes post-pandemic:
  Sally French ([29:27]):
  “Many airlines got rid of pet cargo during COVID… Many hotels have gotten much more pet friendly since COVID. I think everybody got a pet during COVID and then wanted to take them with them.”

• Choosing the right trip for your pet:
  Jana Kate ([21:30]):
  “If we're planning on being really chill, working from the room … maybe fine, he should come. Whereas if we're going to be going on excursions … maybe that's a trip that would be better to find a doggy daycare for him.”

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Traveling with pets: challenges and context: [02:27]–[03:35]
• Credit card news for travelers: [03:35]–[14:26]
• JetBlue allows points for pet fees: [13:58]
• Guest interview: pet travel in Europe: [17:00]–[27:22]
• Best airlines for pets segment: [32:00]–[42:47]
• Best pet-friendly hotels segment: [43:08]–[53:27]
• General pet travel tips: [53:27]–[55:01]
• Hot Takeoff (McDonald's abroad): [55:11]–[57:24]

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Tone & Language

The hosts maintain a fun, informally expert, and highly practical tone, mixing nerdy data with real traveler stories and a distinctly “travel-hacker” perspective. Their banter (“Literal zoo on the airplane!” [31:19]) and relatable hot takes make for a lively, informative listen.

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Episode Summary Table

| Segment | Timestamp | Highlights | |-----------------------------|-------------|-----------------------------------------------------| | Why traveling with pets is tough | 02:27–03:35 | Policy confusion, high cost, hidden logistics | | Current loyalty/credit card news | 03:35–14:26 | Hilton, JetBlue, Alaska/Hawaii points & pet fees | | Traveling with pets: real experiences | 17:00–27:22 | Vet help, paperwork, trip selection, emergencies | | Best airlines for pet travelers | 32:00–42:47 | Alaska, Hawaiian, Frontier, JSX, booking tips | | Best pet-friendly hotels | 43:08–53:27 | Kimpton, Motel 6, Lowe’s, boutique recommendations | | Extra pro tips & hot takes | 53:27–57:24 | Airline/hotel fee minutia, local hotel gems, McDonald's |

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Conclusion

If you’re dreaming of bringing your furry family member on your next adventure, this episode is an indispensable guide to beating the red tape, dodging hidden costs, and making pet travel rewarding for everyone (pets included!). Armed with these strategies—and a dash of NerdWallet’s signature data-driven analysis—you’ll be ready to upgrade your getaways with your four-legged (or feathered!) travel buddy by your side.

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For More

• Email the hosts: [e-mail] with your best pet travel tips or stories.
• Connect on social: @mileswithmeaganco and @savewithsally; pod at @smarttravelpod

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Listen for:

• A comprehensive, actionable take on traveling with pets: which airlines, which hotels, and how to make the experience stress-free, cost-effective, and genuinely fun.

Transcript

[Sally French]

Today's episode is sponsored by fora.

[Megan Coyle]

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[Sally French]

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[Megan Coyle]

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[Sally French]

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[Megan Coyle]

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[Sally French]

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[Megan Coyle]

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[Sally French]

paid sponsorship, not an endorsement by NerdWallet's editorial team. Today's episode is sponsored by Bilt. You've heard me talk about Bilt as a loyalty program that lets you earn points on rent wherever you live and they just leveled up even more as of 2026. Renters and homeowners can also earn up to 1.25x points on their housing payments. This is thanks to Bilt's three new credit cards, the Palladium card, Obsidian card and Blue Card. All three can turn your housing payments, rent or mortgage into flexible rewards so you can choose a card that fits your lifestyle without missing out on points and exclusive benefits. Built points can be redeemed at top airlines and hotels, Amazon.com purchases, future rent payments and more. Billpoints also have been ranked by top publications as the industry's most valuable points currency. Your housing payment is most likely your biggest expense. Make it your most rewarding. Find the car that fits your lifestyle and apply today at joinbilt.com smarttravel that's J-O-I N B I L T.com smarttravel make sure to use our URL so they know we sent you. Terms and limitations apply, subject to approval and eligibility. Bill cards are issued by column NA member FDIC pursuant to license from MasterCard International Incorporated.

[Megan Coyle]

71% of pet owners say they prefer to travel with their pets, but you

[Sally French]

don't see that many pets actually on planes or in hotel rooms. Why is that you ask? Because there are so many logistics involved

[Megan Coyle]

and it might cost more money or be more of a hassle than you expect. Unless you're flying the right airline or staying at the right hotel.

[Sally French]

And we're here to tell you which airlines will actually take Fifi and Fido and which hotels that won't charge you a fortune if you arrive with a furry friend.

[Megan Coyle]

Welcome to Smart Travel, a deep dive into the tips to tools and tactics to maximize your travel dollars. I'm Megan Coyle.

[Sally French]

And I'm Sally French and we're the

[Megan Coyle]

travel nerds ready to help you plan your next big trip. Today we're talking about traveling with pets, airlines, hotels, hidden fees, underrated tips, and what most people get wrong.

[Sally French]

I even spoke with a frequent traveler who has taken her dog on almost all of her travels, mostly to Europe. But first, our disclaimer and that is that we'll talk about a few credit card companies that are nerd bullet partners in this episode that does not influence how we discuss them. The benefits, terms and fees mentioned were accurate at the time of posting, but things can change. So some offers may have expired by the time you're listening. For the latest details, follow the links in the episode Description.

[Megan Coyle]

First bit of news is about some credit card offers, some of which are new and some of which are ending soon.

[Sally French]

Yes, so many of the Hilton co branded credit cards currently have elevated welcome offers, but Those end on April 15th.

[Megan Coyle]

Some of the highlights of the Hilton cards include the Hilton SurPass card. That one has a 150 annual fee and with their welcome offer you can earn a free night reward and 130,000 Hilton honors bonus points after you spend 3,000 doll in eligible purchases on your card in the first six months.

[Sally French]

Megan I do really love this card for people who stay with Hilton but maybe are turned off by the multi hundred dollar annual fee realm of cards. With this card you get complimentary gold status which often that mid tier of elite status is not that exciting. But with Hilton it is because you know I love free food and this unlocks Hilton's food and beverage credit. It's also good for everyday spending because it gets bonus points at US supermarkets, gas stations and restaurants.

[Megan Coyle]

And if you don't want to pay that annual fee at all. There's also the Hilton Honors card. That one has a $0 annual fee and its welcome offer also gets you a free night reward and 70,000 Hilton honors bonus points after you spend $2,000 on your card in the first six months of membership.

[Sally French]

Candidly, the welcome offer is the best benefit on this card. The other benefits, like the complimentary silver status, I'm not gonna lie, is pretty meh. I do think this could be a good card for someone interested in getting some more Hilton points and most importantly, getting that free night certificate.

[Megan Coyle]

The Hilton Free Night awards are so useful because unlike many other free night certificates, most other hotels cap the value. So they might be a certain number of points or a certain category of hotel that you can use the free night reward on, but Hilton doesn't do that at all. You can redeem the free night reward at basically any accommodation in the Hilton portfolio subject to availability, except for a few exceptions which are like the all inclusives. And that means you could get a double occupancy room at a beautiful Conrad hotel, all with this free night reward.

[Sally French]

I do think the key phrase here is subject to availability. The good hotels do typically get booked up fast. I know everyone wants to book that Grand Wailea in Maui and it's so hard to actually find a standard room available there. Still, I have stayed in many Hilton hotels that are going for over a thousand dollars per night. We stayed at the Conrad Punto de Nit and that was over a thousand dollars a night. But I did not pay that because I used one of these Hilton free night certificates.

[Megan Coyle]

And of course for the big Hilton fans out there, there is also an elevated signup bonus on the Hilton Aspire card which has a $550 annual fee. You can always check the website and find out all about the Hilton cards. Some other signup bonuses on credit cards that are new that I want to call out the Atmos rewards cards from Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines. So that program has two cards. One has a 95 annual fee and the other has a $395 annual fee for the cheaper one. The sign up bonus on the Atmos Rewards Ascent Visa signature credit card is get a 50 flight discount code and 80,000 bonus points and a 99 companion fare, which means you also have to pay taxes and fees. You get all of that as part of the signup bonus if you spend spend $4,000 or more on purchases within the first 120 days of opening your account.

[Sally French]

So the 50% flight discount code that's just for you. If you're traveling solo, you can get 50% off any flight, right?

[Megan Coyle]

Exactly. And then you also get the companion fare and the bonus points. I feel like this is a great offer.

[Sally French]

Yeah. You know, I've been thinking about maybe adding on some Alaska miles, so maybe this is my way to go.

[Megan Coyle]

You know, I actually got the Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite card. That's the one with a $395 annual fee. And that one also has a very similar, like three, three part bonus, but that one comes with 100,000 bonus points. So if you're really all in on Atmos points, that one might be the way to go.

[Sally French]

And then that one also has a Global Companion award. You have to spend $6,500 or more on your first 90 days of holding the card. And then what does that Global Companion award get you?

[Megan Coyle]

That's basically like an award flight discount. So you still have to spend points on your own ticket, and then your companion's ticket will be the same amount of points, minus 25,000. I am still trying to figure out the best way to use mine. I just got this card last year and I haven't used it yet. But the cool thing about it is that you can use it with any of Alaska's partners. Like you could use it to fly internationally on one of Alaska's partners. And so that's kind of what I want to do with it, but it's just getting the dates and the prices to line up.

[Sally French]

NerdWallet values at most points at 1.2 cents each. So a hundred thousand points is $1,200. That's assuming you travel in economy. However, I do think you can get 4 far more value if you're booking in business or first class.

[Megan Coyle]

And related to that, Alaska Airlines just unveiled their new International Business Class for their new international long haul flights out of Seattle. So the seats look awesome. They're fully lie flat. They have privacy doors, direct aisle access. And then my favorite part is they have a dessert cart with a customizable salt and straw sundae.

[Sally French]

Whoa. Salt and straw.

[Megan Coyle]

I used to work at the Museum of Ice Cream, so I used to eat salt and straw, like at least three times a week.

[Sally French]

Wow. They're the ones that during Halloween they do the bug ice cream.

[Megan Coyle]

Oh, gosh, that one's gross.

[Sally French]

Have you seen that? It's like literal bugs in the ice cream.

[Megan Coyle]

They're really creative with the flavors. I had a chicken one once, which was like, so weird. But, you know, it's fun to Try it once.

[Sally French]

I'm telling you, hot take. Eating bugs is a feature.

[Megan Coyle]

I love it. Maybe on an airplane. Maybe it'll replace the Biscoff.

[Sally French]

All righty. Alaska's new service from Seattle to Rome begins April 28, followed by London on May 21, in Reykjavik, Iceland, on May 28. So that is the first time Alaska flyers will get to experience these new business class seats.

[Megan Coyle]

Moving over to some lounge news, we just got wind of a bunch of new Amex lounges. These don't open this year, but coming

[Sally French]

soon, they announced these so far ahead in the future. The first one that we got news of is a new lounge at Boston Logan International Airport. So far in the future, dog. 2029 is when this is expected to open, but it'll be big. When it opens, it's going to be two stories. There's going to be an outdoor terrace. I am a sucker for any sort of outdoor terrace because if you're stuck in an airport forever and then you're on a plane, the last thing you want to be is indoors forever and ever. So get that fresh air, people. Thank you. Centurion Lounge.

[Megan Coyle]

And then the other thing I love is a lounge that focuses on food. Amex is opening a new sidecar location. This is kind of their new restaurant concept.

[Sally French]

That's not food, that's booze. Isn't the sidecar just about drinking?

[Megan Coyle]

No, it's about the food, in my opinion. I love the little small plates. As you know, this one opens at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport in 2027. I went to the opening of the Sidecar by Centurion Lounge at the Las Vegas Airport earlier this year, and wow, those little small plates are so cute. The food is really good, and it just provides, like, a more exclusive experience. Like, it does not feel like you are stacked in with everyone else at the lounge. You know what I mean?

[Sally French]

But the small plates are not the only thing that is small in the lounge. This lounge being a sidecar, that is amex's smaller lounge concept. So the square footage on this lounge is so much smaller than your standard Centurion lounge. And then also, you cannot get in three hours in advance. They limit you to just 90 minutes in advance to be in this lounge.

[Megan Coyle]

When I was there, they said that from order to delivery to your table, it only took, I think, seven or eight minutes. It's less than 10 minutes, which I love. I want that fast service.

[Sally French]

This is not the lounge you're coming in to treat as your. We work to take a shower and to work there for three hours and eat all the food. This is 90 minutes. Bing, bang, boom, get out.

[Megan Coyle]

This is where you're eating and going.

[Sally French]

But speaking of a big lounge, the final lounge that they announced is an expansion to an existing lounge. That would be the lounge at Dallas Fort Worth. They are making this lounge about 50% larger. It's going to add a new bar. And speaking of ice cream, they are doing a walk up ice cream window. It will not be salt and straw, I do not believe, but walk up ice cream is good either way.

[Megan Coyle]

I love ice cream in any and all forms on the go, at the lounge, in the airport, in the airplane.

[Sally French]

It is funny though because we talk about lounge overcrowding all the time and I do kind of think with this on the go ice cream window, they're just kind of saying get your ice cream and leave. We don't want you here. It's too crowded. Get out, get your ice cream and go.

[Megan Coyle]

My hot take is there should be more ice cream shops at airports. Like there's one in the Savannah airport and it's so good. Like I have that one every time I fly through there.

[Sally French]

Fair enough. All right. Another American Express news they are losing a transfer partner in June. Starting June 30, American Express membership Rewards members will no longer be able to transfer their points to Etihad guest loyalty program.

[Megan Coyle]

And that mostly matters for people who are trying to book Etihad's business or first class products which are considered some of the most premium luxurious cabins in the entire world. And generally you can only book these with Etihad guest miles. So Amex cardholders are losing their way to be able to transfer points to book these.

[Sally French]

Yes, if you do want to book one of these flights, go now or at least before June 30. Or alternatively, Etihad is still a one to one transfer partner of Built Rewards, City. Thank you and Capital One Miles. So maybe your other option is just to ditch American Express entirely if you really love Etihad and head over to one of those cards instead.

[Megan Coyle]

Lots of credit card news today. We're going to keep the train going. Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card members can now earn up to 5 points per dollar on all of their Lyft rides through December 2027. All they have to do is set up their Southwest credit card as their default payment method.

[Sally French]

The earnings rates differ by card. It's 5x on Priority and Performance business cards, 3x on Premier and Premier business and then just 2x on the plus card.

[Megan Coyle]

There are so many different ways to earn points with Lyft.

[Sally French]

You love your lifts?

[Megan Coyle]

I do the Chase, Sapphire Preferred and Reserve. Also earn 5 points per dollar on Lyft through September 2027. So there's so many different cards you can use if you're riding Lyft.

[Sally French]

You can also connect your Lyft account to a whole bunch of other loyalty programs so you can cross earn points on your rides. Some of those include Atmos Rewards, Bill Hilton Honors and United Mileage Plus.

[Megan Coyle]

And last thing for this week, JetBlue unveiled some new point subscriptions and new ways to use your True Blue points. The reason I bring this up is because JetBlue members can now redeem their points for all these like extra fees that you might have to pay for on the airplane. Things like seat assignments first and second check bags, priority security access. We know that is really important at this time when there's so many lines of the airport. And then the last one is pet travel fees.

[Sally French]

Whoa. Very timely.

[Megan Coyle]

This has to be like part of the rankings next year, Sally, which we'll talk about later in the show.

[Sally French]

I did analyze all of those different fees and pet policies to find some of the best airlines and hotels for pets. We did not consider that, but maybe next year we will have to. Before we get to our best rankings though, I want to share my chat I had with the traveler with an adorable dog named Pokemon Quito. That's up next after this break. The following is a paid sponsorship, not an endorsement by NerdWallet's editorial team. Today's episode is sponsored by Bilt. You've heard me talk about Bilt as a loyalty program that lets you earn points on rent wherever you live, and they just leveled up even more. As of 2026, renters and homeowners can also earn up to 1.25x points on their housing payments. This is thanks to Bilt's three new credit car the Palladium Card, Obsidian Card and Blue Card. All three can turn your housing payments, rent or mortgage into flexible rewards so you can choose a card that fits your lifestyle without missing out on points and exclusive benefits. Built points can be redeemed at top airlines and hotels, Amazon.com purchases, future rent payments and more. Built Points also have been ranked by top publications as the industry's most valuable points currency. Your housing payment is most likely your biggest expense. Make it your most rewarding. Find the car that fits your lifestyle and Apply today at joinbuilt.com smarttravel that's J-O-I N B I L T.com smarttravel. Make sure to use our URL so they know we sent you. Terms and limitations apply subject to approval and eligibility. Built cards are issued by column NA member FDIC pursuant to license from MasterCard International Incorporated.

[Megan Coyle]

This episode is sponsored by Rakuten.

[Sally French]

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[Megan Coyle]

You can earn cash back on fashion, beauty, electronics, pet supplies, kids stuff, groceries. But what I'm here to tell you is with Rakuten, you can get cash back on travel, too.

[Sally French]

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[Megan Coyle]

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[Sally French]

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[Megan Coyle]

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[Sally French]

And don't worry, cash back can be earned on top of your credit card points and with many loyalty programs because

[Megan Coyle]

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[Sally French]

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[Megan Coyle]

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[Sally French]

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[Megan Coyle]

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[Sally French]

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[Megan Coyle]

Go to rakuten.com or get the app

[Sally French]

that's R a k u t e n. Later today we will dive into the best hotels and airlines for pets. But before I do, I wanted to bring in a guest who is quite the avid traveler with her pet. And that is Jana Kate. Jana, welcome to the show. Hi.

[Jana Kate]

Thanks so much for having me, Sally. Happy to be here.

[Sally French]

Now, Jana, it sounds like you and your dog Poquito are quite the world travelers. You left your job in Colorado, then you went to go work in Spain. Sounds like Poquito came with you and you bopped all around Europe together before moving back to California.

[Jana Kate]

That's the story.

[Sally French]

What is the number one thing that you would tell people that they don't think of that they should know about traveling with a dog?

[Jana Kate]

I would say the first time I traveled internationally with him, I did a lot of the hard paperwork and legwork myself. And then the second time I found a vet who actually just helped me kind of cut through all of that, make sure I got all the right documents signed to go to the right countries. And it was just such a much less stressful experience.

[Sally French]

I imagine you have to pay the vet some money to help you with that.

[Jana Kate]

Exactly. So we were there for our regular annual checkup and I mentioned we had some travel coming up. And so yeah, there was an additional fee, but it wasn't too much outside of the normal fee. Basically you just have to get an accreditation through the usda. And of course, depending on which country you go to, the rules are different, but that's basically where all the fees go.

[Sally French]

I actually totally relate to how worthwhile that fee is because I am in the midst of this whole world tour of going to Madagascar, Mauritius, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and I have to get vaccines for so many of these places. And the different countries have different rules about what vaccine you need. And you can definitely just look this up online and do it, but it's very stressful. And I just go to my travel clinic for humans and ask them what I need and they do something very simple. They just write it out, what you need. So it sounds like that's what you did for Poketo.

[Jana Kate]

Exactly. And there's some very strict guidelines in terms of when you get the form, when you have them signed by the vet, they have to be then stamped by the USDA within 10 or so days of you leaving the country, which is of course when you're very stressed out anyways and just trying to pack and do all of that. So having them handle that was such a relief.

[Sally French]

I love that tip because I didn't even know that you could do that for dogs. But it totally checks out since you can do it for humans. So that avoided some stress in that department. What about any sort of stress at the airport? Have you ever had any traumatic situations?

[Jana Kate]

Yeah, no. He's actually just such a good dog, I can't complain. He has never done anything bad. Okay, maybe once or twice. But really he's just such a mild tempered dog. And that's partly why I was comfortable doing this with him, is that I knew that he wouldn't freak out too bad even if he did have a moment. So yeah, he's actually just been a really easy traveler. We did of course talk to our vet about getting a little bit of a sedative. I got a little bit of a sedative as well, just to help for the long flight. But totally okay with the vet. Totally safe for him and his size. And it just helped him, I think, just relax and fall asleep for the long flight a little bit better.

[Sally French]

I've heard mixed things about whether or not a sedative is good for the pet.

[Jana Kate]

Especially with small dogs. You do have to be very careful because they are so tiny. But of course, you know, just talk to your vet, explain the whole situation, how long the flight is and all that. And it's not just the flight itself. You know, you're waiting at the gate and then you're waiting to deplane often sometimes longer than you think. And then you have to wait and get through customs before you can actually get them to a potty break. So I think those extra waiting times kind of added up a little bit more stress than I was even considering going into this six or eight hour flight.

[Sally French]

So you're a lucky dog mom and you're probably a very good dog mom, which is why it sounds like Poquito is chill. When you see dogs at the airport that are not chill, what do you want to tell their owners?

[Jana Kate]

Traveling with your pet is a luxury and it's not maybe always a necessity. I'm sure for some people it might be. But I think that was the most important thing I realized through traveling with him was to be really selective about choosing which trips I took him on versus which trips. I just found somebody to stay with him because of the stress. It added up on me and it added up on him. And maybe there's some of the bigger trips that I wouldn't have taken him on in hindsight, just because that added stress didn't really pay off in the end, I think for either of us.

[Sally French]

Do you think there are some trips that are especially good for dogs and some that you would say, no way I'm paying all the money in the world to put them in doggy boarding?

[Jana Kate]

Absolutely. Actually, I just had this conversation recently with my boyfriend. He was like, oh, so you have a dog? Like, what does that mean for us if we want to take a trip? And I said, well, we just have to determine where it is, how far it is, and then what are we going to be doing when get there. And so if we're planning on being really chill, working from the room, kind of hanging out and there's like a nice yard or area he can be in, maybe fine, he should come. Whereas if we're going to be going on excursions and activities and going out at night and doing all of these things, and we're really not going to have that much time in the room. Maybe that's a trip that would be better to find a doggy daycare for him.

[Sally French]

Speaking of hotel rooms, what is your process for vetting a hotel before you book it?

[Jana Kate]

My first and almost now automatic filter in my favorite booking site, booking.com is to choose the pets option. Also book through Airbnb. Choose the pets option. It just makes such a nicer experience when you get there. A lot of hotels do allow pets and they might even have a doggy bed and treats and water there for your pet when you get there. I've had that experience as well. And they usually have a nice area where you can take them out outside. I'll also look and see because usually there's an additional fee if you bring your pet. And so then if I see they accept pets, then I'll go to the hotel site and investigate. Okay, what is the fee? Is it daily, is it by stay and kind of. How does that work when you check in?

[Sally French]

It's important to check because sometimes you think it's per se and then it's daily and you're like, oh, this is more than I thought.

[Jana Kate]

Exactly.

[Sally French]

Now, sometimes it is a fee where it's just a set cleaning fee and you know you have to pay it no matter what. Typically, you also just like if you're traveling as a human, you have to put down your credit card for any incidentals because they might charge you if there's some sort of damage. I imagine the risk of damage is higher if your dog is with you. Have you ever been caught by any sort of damage fees?

[Jana Kate]

No. He's so good. He really has never chewed on anything he wasn't supposed to. He's also a silky or Yorkshire terrier, which means he doesn't shed. And so that can really add up. If your dog is getting hair all over the room, I can definitely see you getting some fees for that. But he's pretty much a low impact kind of traveler.

[Sally French]

You know, maybe that's a tip right there is if you want to get a pet and you want to be a traveler, you need to get one that doesn't shed. So it sounds like silky terrier is the way to go.

[Jana Kate]

Exactly. And honestly, when I got him, knowing I love to travel, I purposely got a very small dog that I knew could travel in cabin with me because I just didn't feel comfortable about having a large dog that would have to go in a big crate and go underneath the plane. I know that that works for a lot of people, but for me and my sanity, I just wanted to have him right there with me at all times.

[Sally French]

Now, have you ever shown up to a hotel that claim to be pet friendly and you've had a bad experience?

[Jana Kate]

No, I really haven't. Like I said, some are very, very accommodating, meaning you go to the room and there's little bones and treats and bowls set up for them in the room. But most hotels, if they say they allow pets, you'll see other pets around and they'll point out where the little potty areas outside are. And it's been a good experience so far.

[Sally French]

I see more and more hotels that are very pet forward, not just pet friendly, but they're like, we have a stick Libra and you can play fetch with your dog with a perfect curated stick.

[Jana Kate]

The stick libraries kill me. I think that's the cutest thing ever.

[Sally French]

So you have been all around the world with Poquito. What is your number one tip for making pet travel easier?

[Jana Kate]

I would say just doing all the research you can ahead of time. So when I was looking for what carrier to bring him on the plane with, you had to make sure it's get the right size that actually fits underneath the seat in front of you. And then for me, I knew I'd be traveling in a little bit of a backpack style. And so I wanted to make sure it wasn't a duffel style carrier that would be kind of difficult to lug through airports and around European cities. I wanted to just have an easy backpack to throw him in. We also did pre training before we left for our first trip. We would just go around town, go to the local grocery store and do things. And obviously you have to be careful whenever you're going into establishments, even around town and make sure that they're pet friendly. But in Northern California, we do live in a very pet friendly environment, so we know it's okay to walk into the store with him. And it just got him really used to and safe and happy in that little carrier. And I think that just made it seem like less of a new thing because he had his safe space wherever we went.

[Sally French]

So many more people need to practice traveling with their pet locally before they travel far away with their pet. So I love that piece of advice. Do you have any travel plans with Pokedo coming up next?

[Jana Kate]

You know, I don't. I usually travel kind of ad hoc at the last minute. The last trip he went on with me was just a few hours away. We went skiing up in Tahoe and I looked at the cost of having him stay down here with a sitter versus taking him with me. And it actually worked out for him to just come up. I knew I would just be skiing for a few hours. I could walk him in the morning, walk him in the afternoon, and I just wanted to have him with me. And so he came with me and it worked out. We ended up having to take care of a little dental emergency that came up while we were there. And so that actually actually worked out really well too. Fortunately, we found a great local vet that had appointments that day and they were able to see him. And so that was kind of the hairiest experience that we've had with him yet. But as he's getting older, these little health things do come up. And so I would just say to myself, looking forward, maybe even pre plan, like who are the local vets, Jot their numbers down, kind of get their emails, figure out if they're open during the weekend, et cetera, when you'll be there. And that would have taken away a little bit more stress from that experience. Experience as well.

[Sally French]

We always say on NerdWallet, have a backup plan for your human troubles. But I love having a backup plan and knowing where that backup vet is for your doggy troubles as well.

[Jana Kate]

Exactly.

[Sally French]

Thank you, Jenna, so much for joining us on the show. I wish you the best travels with Poquito going forward.

[Jana Kate]

Thank you so much, Sally. It's really awesome to be here with that.

[Sally French]

We will actually do a deep dive into the best hotels and airlines for pets. That is coming up next after this. This episode is brought to you by Fandango. People say fans are too distracted these days, but the truth is when a great movie hits the screen, you show up, you stay glued, invested part of the story. And without fans like you, there'd be no cinema magic, no shared moments. So head to fandango.com to get tickets, stream or rent or buy top movies and series. Fandango loves fans.

[Megan Coyle]

Refreshing wild cherry cola meets smooth cream. The treat you deserve. Pepsi Wild cherry and cream. Treat yourself.

[Sally French]

Megan, do you have a pet?

[Megan Coyle]

I do not have one in Los Angeles, but my family has pets. We have two dogs back at home in Virginia. The little one is named Whisper. She's a cockapoo and she's only £17. So I think technically she could travel on an airplane, but we would never send her on an airplane. And then we have a second dog, Boyfriend. I know his name is crazy. My mom won the vote to name him. Not that the name boyfriend won the vote, but she just kind of basically vetoed all the other names and then chose his name. But yeah, boyfriend is 35 pounds. He's an Australian labradoodle. So he also doesn't really get to travel much because he would be too big to fly inside the cabin.

[Sally French]

I do not have pets myself either. I travel too much and I think it's too hard to find coverage for your pets. But much love and respect to pet owners. I did have a cat at one point in my life. My cat's name was Bindi because I was obsessed with the Crocodile Hunter and Bindy is one the name of Steve Irwin's favorite crocodile and the name of his daughter and now the name of my cat.

[Jana Kate]

Cat.

[Sally French]

She was a tailless cat and this cat was just absolutely more vicious than an alligator. My mom did in fact, try to take her through the airport once and cat just had a complete meltdown. Honestly, I'd rather go through the airport with a crocodile than with this cat. Rip Bindi. Now, I have not personally traveled with a pet. However, for some reason, I have been put on the pet beat ever since I joined Nord Wallet more than five years ago. I review the best airlines and hotels for pets every year. I have interviewed dozens of pet owners. I have been putting together this guide. We have adjusted how we've done our rankings based on what, what the readers actually want, what they care about, and what I found over the past more than five years doing this is that we've seen a lot of pet policies change. Many airlines got rid of pet cargo during COVID which really limited people with bigger pets who needed to travel with those larger animals that didn't fit in the main cabin. I also found that many hotels have gotten much more pet friendly since COVID I think everybody got a pet during COVID and then wanted to take them with them. So hotels said, all right, we gotta allow you to do that. If we want you to stay for

[Megan Coyle]

us, well, take your money. You know, that's what they said.

[Sally French]

The other thing that I find interesting, speaking of people who want to travel with pets is I got some data from RV Share. They are kind of this Airbnb for RVs rental website and RVs are really well suited for pet travel. But what RV Share shared with me is that in 2026 they did this study and found that 71% of pet owners do prefer to travel with their pets. 16% of them say they will not travel at all unless their pet can come along with them.

[Megan Coyle]

Interesting. I don't know about that because I don't feel like 3/4 of people are traveling with their pets when I'm on an airplane. That would be like a literal zoo on the airplane.

[Sally French]

Literal zoo.

[Jana Kate]

Megan.

[Sally French]

I think, I think the stat is 71% of pet owners. Owners want to. The question is whether they actually do. And the answer is they don't. Because as we'll dig into on this show, it is surprisingly difficult and expensive to travel with pets and stressful.

[Megan Coyle]

Like, I know all pet owners do not want to put their pets in a Very stressful situation. And things like flying them in cargo. The pet is going to be separated from their owner for a long time. They're in a really unfamiliar environment that might smell weird, that has a lot of sounds going on. So I think a lot of pet owners are like, I don't want to put my pet in that situation.

[Sally French]

All right, Megan, I think we should just go right into the best airlines for pets.

[Megan Coyle]

Let's do it. People have so many considerations when they are traveling on airlines with their pets. I've talked about some of the reasons you might not want to, but I mean, maybe we should talk about some of the reasons you might want to, which is one, your pet gets to come with you on these travels. You might be going somewhere that is too far to drive with them or you don't have enough time to drive with them. And I think anything to make the flying experience a little bit more fun. Having a dog or cat or whatever type of pet you have there with you I think could be kind of sweet.

[Sally French]

Yeah. And then there's just the practical. Some people might be moving and they have to take their pet with them. They have no choice. Now, there are a lot of challenges, as we said, of flying with a pet. There are the fees and we'll get into the fees later. But there are also also just some other practical challenges to bring your pet in the cabin. Typically, there is a limit on the carrier size and the limits vary by airlines. It could be a 16 inch carrier or a 20 inch carrier. So do check with your airline and ensure that your pet and its carrier will fit with that specific airline. Typically, you can only bring your pet in the main cabin if it's small enough to fit under the seat. So many of our big dogs will not fit. So then you have to put it in the cargo. There are a limited number of airlines that even offer offer this as a service. And then as you mentioned, it can be traumatizing to put your pet in cargo. There are always the stories of the pet deaths. Nordwell actually used to account for pet deaths in cargo in our rankings. We stopped doing that just because the number was still very small. It would be ranking three pet deaths versus four pet deaths, which we didn't feel like was super fair to include in our rankings. But still, if you are one of those three or four pet deaths or you know you're the owner of one of those pets, that's really, really traumatizing.

[Megan Coyle]

I actually was on a flight where a pet died in the cabin during the flight and it was incredibly sad.

[Sally French]

Yeah.

[Megan Coyle]

But let's talk about some of the rankings you did. So you looked at nine major US carriers. So that's Alaska, American, Delta, Frontier, Hawaiian, JetBlue, Southwest, Spirit, and United.

[Sally French]

We also excluded service animals. So anything we talk about is just your standard pet. If you've got a service animal, this episode does not necessarily apply to you because they are governed by separate federal regulations under the Air Carrier Act, Access Act.

[Megan Coyle]

And you also have to think about different rules if you're flying internationally with a pet. So the policies that you looked at only apply to domestic travel.

[Sally French]

Right. Many countries have their own policies. So don't just assume I can bring my pet on United. And that's all good, because if you're flying on United to a specific country that might take your pet or might require some extra sort of permit, don't just take this episode as word for it. So make sure that you've checked before you arrive in a country with your pet.

[Megan Coyle]

And we should also say Hawaii is an exception to the domestic travel. They do not allow pets from the mainland to just come and go as they please.

[Sally French]

Good call Out. So we scored our pet airlines based on five things. One, whether pets are even allowed in cabin or cargo. Two, what the cost is, Three, what animals they accept, because some airlines accept certain animals and not all of them. Four, how clear the airline policies are, and then five, how easy it actually is to book an airfare with a pet. We scored airlines out of a possible 60 points. So perfect score would be 60 points.

[Megan Coyle]

And who is the winner?

[Sally French]

Alaska was our winner, believe it or not. They scored super high, 57 out of 60.

[Megan Coyle]

And what set them apart from all the other airlines?

[Sally French]

Yeah, they almost got this perfect score because they were pretty much great all around. Their fee to bring a pet in cabin is $100 each way, which is lower than most of the other legacy carriers. They accept not just cats and dogs, but also rats, rabbits. So might be helpful to some pet owners of a rabbits. Not all airlines take rabbits. They have very clear cargo policies. What's also interesting about Alaska is that they allow you to bring two pets of the same species in similar size in the same carrier, assuming they fit. So if you have two little tiny dogs that can fit in a carrier, and then this is wild, they allow you to bring a maximum of two pet carriers in the main cabin. So if you do this, you would have to purchase a seat next to you. So two seats. But then you could have two pet carriers. So theoretically, if you had two little animals in the pet carriers, you could bring four pets on your Alaska flight.

[Megan Coyle]

Oh, wow, four. Okay, we're getting to zoo real quickly.

[Sally French]

Here we are.

[Megan Coyle]

What are some of the downsides of flying your pets with Alaska?

[Sally French]

What really brought Alaska down is that you have to call or use their web chat. I hate web chat. The only thing I hate more than calling is web chat. You have to use that to book with your pets. There's no easy way to just do this on the website. Many of the other airlines we ranked have an easy button you can click to say you have a pet. So I just find it irritating that Alaska makes you call or use the chat.

[Megan Coyle]

Yeah, it is kind of annoying, but also it makes me feel like a human actually made sure that your pet is going to be allowed and cared for on the flight. So, you know, maybe there is a plus.

[Jana Kate]

I. Wow.

[Sally French]

Maybe you would give Alaska 60 out of 60 then.

[Megan Coyle]

Okay, and who is the runner up?

[Sally French]

Hawaiian Airlines actually ranked up super close, right up next to Alaska. This is interesting. They recently lowered their pet fee to $100 each way, which matches Alaska's price, and that's down from $125.

[Megan Coyle]

We love to see a lower fee. You don't see that that often in this economy. I would say it's probably because they merged with Alaska recently.

[Sally French]

That's my theory, too.

[Megan Coyle]

Yeah.

[Sally French]

So Alaska's policies are very similar to Hawaiian. No surprise since the two are merged. Hawaiian, though, does have a couple additional limitations that Alaska doesn't have. So with Hawaiian, each ticketed guest can only travel with one pet carrier in the cabin. As I mentioned, Alaska lets you do that, too, if you book the seat next to you. Also, they say each carrier can only contain one adult pet. So you could still get away with this if you had two little puppies or kitties, but one adult pet per carrier. Another thing, like Alaska, Hawaiian requires calling to book, which, as I said, I don't really love that. And then Hawaiian also offers the options for pets to travel as checked baggage, which is something that you don't find with all the other airlines.

[Megan Coyle]

All right, there's another pick that almost made it to the top two that does operate a lot in the mainland. What is it?

[Sally French]

I want to preface this episode is Best Airlines for Pets, not Best Airlines for Humans. But I was surprised about this. Best airline for pets. That is our budget pick of Frontier. Frontier's pet fee is $99 each way. What is interesting, though, about Frontier is they accept quite the range of species. You can bring dogs, cats, and rabbits just like you can with Alaska, but they also let you bring guinea pigs, hamsters, and this is wild. You could bring small household birds.

[Megan Coyle]

You know, couldn't the birds just fly there themselves and they wouldn't be on an airplane? No, I know that doesn't really work, but in theory, it's a bit funny to be flying a bird. Yes.

[Sally French]

But keep in mind their fees are just completely bananas. For everything else.

[Megan Coyle]

Also, Frontier does not offer cargo pet transport. So if you do have a larger dog that can't fit under the seat, you'll probably need to fly a different airline.

[Sally French]

And then I do want to talk about one more airline which we did not technically include in our official rankings, and that is jsx.

[Megan Coyle]

JSX is one of those semi private carriers, so. So you are not flying out of the main airports. Usually you don't have to go through security in the same way. And the planes only have like 30 seats or something like that. And so your cat or dog can often just sit right next to you on the floor. There's a lot more space for them.

[Sally French]

Yeah. JSX has very limited service, so the reason why we don't include them in our best pets rankings is because we don't even include them in our best ofs Overall, when we name an airline that we want to say is the best of, we want one that practically you could take just about anywhere. Don't go through a standard airport, which can be really big, really overwhelming. You're not going through standard security. JSX has their own security protocols and they have their own terminals. These terminals are much smaller, generally much quieter. There aren't those big boarding announcements. And that alone can be very appealing to pet owners. Keep in mind, JSX has limited service. Its fares are also typically far more expensive than you would find with a United or a Delta. Fair. So do keep that in mind. But I do know so many pet owners who say it is absolutely worth the higher price for my fare so I can have this better experience with my pet.

[Megan Coyle]

You are flying semi private, so expect to pay semi private prices. All right, Sally, any other tips for flying with pets?

[Sally French]

Temperature restrictions can ground your pet. So there are many airlines that say, sure, we will fly your pet and cargo, but. And then all these buts add up and one of them is typically if it's way too cold or way too hot, the airline does not want your pet to die and they don't want to put your pet in some cargo hold cold that could potentially be too hot and cause the pet to Die. So just because you're boarding at the last minute, the airline could say, you know what, we're not doing this. So, so do have maybe some sort of backup plan if that's going to be the case, especially if you're flying to a hot weather or cold weather destination, Vegas in the summer, brace for maybe not being able to fly with your pet then.

[Megan Coyle]

They also have all those restrictions about the types of breeds. So a lot of those short nose dogs, you know, like a little bulldog, honestly can't fly sometimes even in the cabin, but definitely in cargo. They don't allow certain types of breeds to fly in cargo.

[Sally French]

And then Megan, you were like, no to the zoo on the plane. And the airlines themselves say no zoos. Many have a specific cap for how many pets can go on that flight. So they might say, no matter how early you book and how many pets are there or want to go, they will only allow. Allow eight. So if, if you're one of those first eight, then your pet can go on the flight. So do book early. And, and maybe Megan, as you mentioned, the benefit of calling, you can really guarantee. Am I one of the first expets to be able to fit on the flight?

[Megan Coyle]

I'll add another tip, which is one of my friends who flies with her dog a lot actually likes to try to book business or first class. And you know, she doesn't have enough points or miles to be able to fly business all the time. Time. But she said that extra space really just helps the dog feel a little bit calmer about it. And she can kind of like angle it. So that way the dog feels like they have their own like kind of space in the pod, if that makes sense.

[Sally French]

Okay.

[Megan Coyle]

They're not exactly like underneath a seat and like really cramped. She just said that flying business has made the experience a lot better for them.

[Sally French]

Hopefully the person next to you in business likes that dog as well.

[Megan Coyle]

Well, you're pretty far away from the next person in business business. All right, that's enough about flying with pets. Let's talk about hotels because I think maybe more people bring their pets to hotels with them.

[Sally French]

Yeah. And I imagine if you are one of those pet owners who has not taken your pet to a hotel before, you might have a million questions about how this actually works.

[Megan Coyle]

So some of those common questions we get about this is are you allowed to leave the pet in your room when you have to go out and do something, assuming that you're at a hotel that allows pets?

[Sally French]

This is handled differently per hotel. So check with your individual hotel hotel to see what their rules are. Some hotels do allow that pet to be in there unattended. Typically if they allow this, they'll also give you some sort of flag on your door. Like how you always would just put the flag of the do not disturb, I'm sleeping on the door. You might often see there is a pet in the room flag that you can put on. This is also helpful because the housekeeping will typically not enter the hotel room if there is a pet in there.

[Megan Coyle]

What if you have a really loud pet, like your dog is just barking their head off off. I mean, will the hotel try to calm them down? I don't know.

[Sally French]

The hotel is not taking ownership of calming down your pet. That is your job. And typically what I will see in these pet policies is they'll have words like we allow well behaved pets up to 75 pounds. So that well behaved is totally what covers them. Of course, what is well behaved even mean, is barking okay, Is it not okay? And that's really where you see it is up to the hotel's discretion.

[Megan Coyle]

And as all pet owners know, sometimes your dog is well behaved in the environment. It knows. Right. Like at home, it knows what the sound of the mail truck is like. But at an unfamiliar hotel, they might be set off by a lot of other different noises or smells.

[Sally French]

Yes. So it is important to know what happens if your pet makes a mess, if it ruins the room. So as with all hotels, you're going to put down some sort of security deposit. If the pet completely destroys something, then that might come out of your security deposit. That's also where you see many hotels have mandatory cleaning fees for your pet. So with our pet rankings, we did prioritize hotels that have the lowest fees. And it's always nice as a pet owner to say I'm, I'm checking in a hotel that has $0 pet fees. But at the same time, I do kind of look at it and say, hey, the cleaning is going to be more costly to add on all this pet hair, which me as a non pet owner did not contribute any pet hair to the room. So you will tip typically see that the charges are higher to bring your pet into the hotel for exactly that reason is, is the cleaning costs are of course higher.

[Megan Coyle]

That makes sense. Okay, so you looked at these cleaning fees and it's honestly really difficult because there are a bunch of different hotel companies and then they also have a bunch of different brands within these companies. So they don't all have consistent policies. But tell us which ones you looked at and which ones you thought did kind of meet the qualifications of having consistent policies.

[Sally French]

Right. So we looked at 13 major hotel companies. They're all the big ones like Best Western Choice, Drury, Hilton, Hyatt, IG, Lowe's, Marriott, Motel 6, Wyndham. I could go on. But from there we looked at individual brands within each portfolio. You look at something like a Hilton and Hilton has a million brands within itself. The policies that let's say a Waldorf Astoria are different than at a Hilton Garden Inn. And so it's important to know that policies can vary by. But what we also realized is many brands don't have consistent policies. So one Doubletree might accept pets and another doubletree might not accept pets. So what we did is we only ranked hotels that have consistent policies across the whole brand. So it didn't have to be every single Hilton has the same exact policy. But we only considered Hilton as naming it the best brand brand if it had a consistent policy across the board. So if every single Waldorf Astoria accepted pets, then we considered it for our rankings.

[Megan Coyle]

So this ranking is really great if you want a very consistent picture of these brands. But if you are going somewhere and they don't have one of these hotels we're about to talk about, don't be afraid to just check the individual hotels pet policy because just because we don't mention them here doesn't mean they don't allow pets or something like that.

[Sally French]

So with that doubletree example, not all Doubletrees except pets and they have different fees. So DoubleTree is not one of our winners. But that doesn't mean that there's not one great double tree that is so pet friendly and so amazing. So do of course check with individual

[Megan Coyle]

hotels and also maybe email us if you have stayed at a hotel that you were like, wow, this hotel had a great experience for pet owners. We would love to know. Maybe we can figure out a way to put that in our next ranking.

[Sally French]

Also, to qualify for our rankings, brands needed to have at least 50 properties. Because we want to tell you about a hotel that you couldn't actually book. We don't want to tell you about a great hotel that just only has one. So they had to have at least 50 properties, including a minimum of 10 in the U.S. we did exclude all inclusive resorts, vacation clubs, any of those apartment style brands just because they don't seem to fit the needs of a traditional traveler. We also found that lots of hotel chains say they are pet friendly, quote, air quotes, pet friendly, but then they have all these stipulations about the pet can only be up to £50. And. And then there's this cleaning fee, and they have these confusing policies. So we did throw out a lot of these hotels that were not quite as pet friendly, even if they say they're pet friendly.

[Megan Coyle]

Okay, so let's talk about the winner. Which one actually was pet friendly?

[Sally French]

Megan, Far and away, there was one single queer winner. Drum roll. That is Kimpton.

[Megan Coyle]

And why is that?

[Sally French]

With Kimpton, there is no additional cost to bring a pet. So most of the other, quote, pet friendly hotels that we analyzed will charge fees, which is typically somewhere between 50 to $150 per stay. Some even do that per night. Kimpton, no pet fee whatsoever. I will say Kimptons tend to be more upscale, therefore more expensive, just in general. So there'll be a higher cost for you as a human. But the lack of pet fees can make them a surprisingly cost effective option if you are traveling with a pet.

[Megan Coyle]

We should also mention Kimpton is part of ihg. It's kind of one of their boutique sort of hotel brands. So if you have points, you could also possibly save on the hotel room. And then the hotel room would include being able to bring pets there. So that's one way you could also make this maybe a more affordable journey.

[Sally French]

The other thing that we love about Kimpton is they accept literally all pets. They say if the animal fits through the door, we'll take it. So theoretically, I guess you could bring your llama into a Kimpton. Many of the hotels we reviewed only accept dogs, or maybe cats and dogs. Dogs. Kimpton says that they will take anything, whether that's a bird, reptile, or any other species that many hotels would flat out refuse. There's no weight limit, no size limit, as long as it fits through the door.

[Megan Coyle]

I also like that they kind of provide the pet with special amenities as well. Like they get food and water bowls. Like sometimes they have pet beds that they can loan you. So I feel like the pet is getting pampered as well. When they stay at a Kimberly Hampton. What other hotels stand out to you?

[Sally French]

Okay. Much like we said with our Frontier Airlines pick, this is a show about best hotels or airlines for pets, not necessarily for humans. But, Megan, there is a hotel brand that really stood out to me as being very accepting of pets, and that is Motel 6.

[Megan Coyle]

Nice. Okay. Budget option. We love that.

[Sally French]

So. So keep in mind all your opinions about Motel 6. This is really only having to do with the pet experience. Experience. So with Motel 6, you can bring up to two pets per room, and pets stay free at all locations. It's a great option if you are on a budget. And keyword if you're on a budget. And it's also a great option if you're traveling with a pet on a budget.

[Megan Coyle]

Excellent. Okay, were there any other honorable mentions? Maybe something in the middle between Kimpton and Motel 6.

[Sally French]

Megan, I just want to take us to Swanky Options. I know you.

[Megan Coyle]

Okay, cool. I'm on board. You know what? On board.

[Sally French]

Okay. So one hotel chain that I really, really love for pets, they do not have 50 properties, so they did not qualify to be one of our winners. However, Lowe's Hotels is so good for pets. They offer room service menus for cats and dogs. And this is not your basic bowl of kibble. They have gourmet meals. So I'm like, I don't even eat this well. Their pets, if you order room service, can get fresh salmon filet, beef filet with eggs and rice. Then you can request all this stuff to your room, like bedding, leashes, litter box, dog walking, route maps, and they have treats, doggy pickup bags, bones, catnips, scratch poles for your pet. So hopefully your pet doesn't scratch on the furniture, I guess. Pets are consistently allowed at every Lowe's policy. They do charge fees, which vary by location, but typically $100 per stay is common.

[Megan Coyle]

And if you've never heard of Lowe's, I always think of Lowe's as one of those hotel chains that you often see at. At big vacation destinations, particularly theme park destinations. Yes, like the Lowe's. I always see it when I'm looking at hotels around Universal. I've seen one in San Antonio.

[Sally French]

Lowe's operates every of the Universal Orlando hotels.

[Megan Coyle]

Oh, yeah, that's right. And you get all those other perks with it, like, you know, early entry into Universal because you stayed at this Lowe's Universal Hotel.

[Sally French]

Yeah, so we do like Lowe's Universal hotels. I stayed at the one in St. Louis, right by the ballpark. That was a fun one. So big fan of Lowe's.

[Megan Coyle]

We obviously couldn't cover all of them in our rankings, but there are some really fun examples of other hotels that have amenities like this for pets.

[Sally French]

Yeah, I'm kind of sad I couldn't include boutique hotels in this ranking purely because we do want to give you a best hotel that you could book pretty much anywhere. But do check with your city that you're going to. So if you're saying, I am flying to San Francisco, it could be helpful to just Do a Google search of pet friendly San Francisco hotels and you might find something. I was actually just at the Sanctuary Beach Resort, which is near Monterey, the most pet friendly hotel I think I've ever been to. They have a patio menu and they've got again, fancier food than I would eat. $16 grilled chicken breast with rice and veggies that you can order for your dog. All the dogs who check in get a Frisbee. They have the cutest thing right by the beach. They have a stick library for dogs so you can find the best stick that you want to throw to your dog on the beach, which I thought was just so sweet.

[Megan Coyle]

Okay, Sally, after all of this research, any other pet travel tips you want to throw in here?

[Sally French]

Yes, I'm glad you asked because there were just a couple other things I wanted to say, especially if you've never flown with a pet before, some things that you might not think of right off the bat. So one of the key things is they say don't sedate your pet when flying unless your vet specifically advises it. In fact, many airlines discourage this as it can make the experience even, even worse or harm your pet.

[Megan Coyle]

Oh, no, don't want that. Okay, what else about flying?

[Sally French]

Another thing that many pet experts recommend is put a familiar toy in the carrier. Just give the pet something to relax when obviously flying is stressful. I've heard a lot of advice of don't use a blanket because it can, I guess, smother the pet. But they say a toy can be helpful.

[Megan Coyle]

I feel like planes are too hot anyway, so that's good advice. Another flying tip is book nonstop if possible, just to kind of cut down on how much time the dog is going to be in this stressful environment.

[Sally French]

Megan, that's a good tip for humans, not just pets.

[Megan Coyle]

Literally. Less delays, less unknowns. But you do also have to think about how long some of these flights are and if it is too long. I think sometimes a layover gives them a good chance to go to the bathroom and stretch. But I would say book non stop if possible. My friend that I mentioned who flies with her dog in business class is often flying non stop from LA to New York and she doesn't usually take any stops.

[Sally French]

I'll give one more tip, and that is just to really pay attention to the fee structure. Does your hotel charge per stay or per night? That could be a huge difference. So just pay attention to what you're actually paying for.

[Megan Coyle]

Always good advice whether you're flying with pets or not. All right, let's move on to the hot takeoff section for this episode. Sally, what do you have this week?

[Sally French]

Well, I was just talking about how all these dogs eat the fanciest food dog. I am eating at McDonald's when I travel internationally. My hot take is you always have to try the local McDonald's.

[Megan Coyle]

Oh, my gosh. Yeah. I don't know if this is a hot take, but, yeah, it is a fun thing to do when you agree with me. I mean, oh, everyone goes to McDonald's abroad. I think that's just an American thing, to be honest.

[Sally French]

No, no, no. I think so many people are snooty and they're like, I am checking the Michelin guides. I'm only eating local. If you are eating at a chain when you're international, you're doing it wrong. And I say I disagree, because McDonald's International is like its own unique thing. So many international McDonald's have special menus of things you can only find there. So, for example, poutine. In Canada, you got to get McDonald's poutine. Their fries are so good. And now I want poutine.

[Megan Coyle]

I love the fries.

[Sally French]

Throw that gravy and cheese curd on it.

[Megan Coyle]

No. I remember watching a travel television show when I was a kid, and it was about all the, like, fanciest McDonald's in the world. And the one in Rome has marble and, like, spaghetti or something like that. And so, yeah, ever since then, I've feel like it's just been a comforting tradition to go to McDonald's. I will try the interesting food, but I'll also get some chicken nuggets if they have them.

[Sally French]

The McDonald's in Budapest, Hungary, extremely fancy. And then some of these other menu items are so unique. In Czech Republic, they have gouda rings, which are these golden fried rings with gouda cheese inside. Can't go wrong there. Hong Kong, very interesting. I'm going to Hong Kong, and I'm excited to try this. They have grilled chicken, twisty pop pasta for breakfast. Megan, is that a breakfast food?

[Megan Coyle]

I think anything could be made into a breakfast food, honestly. So I'm into it.

[Sally French]

Also in Hong Kong, they have fried chicken. They have fried chicken in a few countries, mostly in Asia. Vietnam has fried chicken. And then Megan, you know, we both love Hawaii, so my best friend, Tiny Tiff, friend of the show, she loves the apple pie. But in Hawaii, they have taro pie.

[Megan Coyle]

I've had the taro pie. It's good. Yeah, I like the spam stuff a little bit more, honestly, because I love spam but, yeah, I feel like spam

[Sally French]

works out McDonald's, so I support that.

[Megan Coyle]

Spam works anytime, anywhere. This is my hot take is. I love Spam.

[Sally French]

Whoa. Okay. That's actually hot take.

[Megan Coyle]

Yeah, it's so good. You just have to fry it.

[Sally French]

Right.

[Megan Coyle]

I think people think you're gonna, like, eat it out of the can. You're not gonna do that. That's gross.

[Sally French]

That's the problem. People who eat Spam out of a can have messed up. Megan, did you know, also speaking in front of the show, my aunt Colleen and Uncle Mike, they lived in Austin, Minnesota, which is the spam capital of the world. And there's a free spam factory. Factory that you can visit. You can't visit the factory, but there's, like, a museum that you can visit. And Megan, they have spam. Free samples, but they're spambles. Okay.

[Megan Coyle]

Interesting. Of like, different flavors of.

[Sally French]

Yeah, usually they'll just be sampling whatever their new flavor is, and it's usually just on a pretzel stick.

[Megan Coyle]

Okay. Also, I was gonna add two more things about McDonald's. One, they have different names for McDonald's all over the place. So I think that's always fun to learn about what other people call it. What are they. They call it in New Zealand. It's called maccas.

[Sally French]

Whoa, I didn't know that.

[Megan Coyle]

And then also, they often try different dishes in other markets, and if they're really popular there, they might bring them to the US So that happened recently when I was last in New Zealand. The big burger that people eat there is called the Big Arch, and it has white cheddar. It's got onions, and then this special sauce. And I believe they are bringing the Big Arch burgers to the US So I felt like I got a little sneak preview of a McDonald's dish.

[Sally French]

Oh, I just want them to bring that fried taro pie to. To California.

[Megan Coyle]

I don't know if that's happening, but, yeah, we can dream. We can dream.

[Sally French]

Okay, listeners, tell us what you eat at McDonald's. Tell us the best international McDonald's. Tell us where you're traveling with a pet. If you have any pet advice, tell us everything. You can email us@travel nerdwallet.com you could

[Megan Coyle]

also send us a voice memo. We might play your voice on the show.

[Sally French]

We will play your voice on the

[Megan Coyle]

show and make sure to follow Smart Travel on your favorite podcast app, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and iHeartRadio to automatically download new episodes. And if you're listening on Spotify, please drop us a comment right in the

[Sally French]

app and finally connect with us on social Megan is on TikTok and Instagram as mileswithmeaganco and I am also on those platforms as Save with Sally.

[Megan Coyle]

Our Show Instagram and TikTok is called Smart Travel Pod. So good luck remembering all of those usernames. This episode was produced by Tess Viglan and edited by Nick Kraken. Me, Claire Sosi and Hilary Georgie helped

[Sally French]

with fact checking and our disclaimer. We are not financial nor investment advisors. This info is provided for general educational and entertainment purposes. It may not apply to your specific circumstances.

[Megan Coyle]

We hope you're inspired to keep your passport full and your wallet even fuller. Thanks everyone. We'll see you next time.

[Jana Kate]

Spring just slid into your DMs. Grab that boho. Look for that rooftop dinner, those sandals that can keep up with you. And hang some string lights to give your patio a glow up. Spring's calling. Ross. Work your magic.