curious policy on pets in hotels
 

Recently I received an email promo for Red Lion about their new "pets stay free" policy, and it looked like it was a great option for me: we've got to go to Sacto for 2 nights, my kid loves the pool at Red Lion, and if I take the cat (who doesn't mind travel) then I don't have to deal with the kitty hotel drop-off /pick up head ache. But then I read the fine print: you can't leave the pet alone in the hotel room at all, ever, is basically what it says.

Isn't leaving the pet in the room part of the time the point of allowing pets to travel with their owners? :confused:

I mean, I really don't plan to take the cat out to dinner with us, or down to the pool in the afternoon. He won't bark and disturb other hotel guests, or bite the housekeeper ( I could leave him in his carrier during cleaning). His mostly like crime is shedding on the bedspread.

If you travel with your pet, is it with you every time you leave the hotel room?

I think their policy probably pertains more to dogs than cats with the constant barking issue. I know some dogs will bark with every noise they hear, and in a hotel there is constant noise from outside traffic in the parking lot to people walking and talking in the hallways. They might also be worried about pets escaping when housekeeping or hotel maintenance enters the room. Lots of times housekeeping will prop the door open while they're cleaning a room, and if they didn't realize a scared kitty cat or puppy was hiding under the bed (looking for escape) they might be oblivious to an animal slipping out of the room unnoticed. If you were able to leave your cat in the carrier whenever you aren't in the room they might bend the rules for you.

I've run into a similar policy with La Quinta. It has a lot to do with barking dogs. If I explain that I have a rigid kennel that locks, I usually can leave my poodle in the room for short periods of time.

I have a folding metal crate that I have used for hotels and also B&B's that I place my Cavalier into while traveling. If you are driving as opposed to flying these do come in handy. @:-)