On a warm day in June, my husband and I checked into The Plaza Hotel with our lab mix, Delta Burke. This is a bucket-list hotel stay for many people, but this trip was exclusively for our senior rescue dog.
As a travel writer, I’ve heard the term “bucket list” thrown around a lot in the past decade. “Oh, I’d love to take Meemaw on a bucket-list cruise to the Caribbean!” “We’re taking the kids on their bucket-list vacation to Disney over spring break!” “I’m heading to India to live out my bucket-list version of Eat, Pray, Love!” But a new travel trend is emerging and hear me out: There’s no one better to take on a dream vacation than your pet.
To be completely transparent, this wasn’t my original idea. I once met a man on a hike in Red Rock Canyon, and when I stopped to pet his beautiful golden retriever, he informed me that he was ticking off a travel list for his dying dog, and this was her favorite hike. I immediately stole the idea when my pup became a senior.
Photography provided by The Plaza, a Fairmont Managed Hotel
Art Markman, professor of psychology at the University of Texas at Austin, says that for many people, their relationship with their pet is the most uncomplicated relationship they have. “Dogs and cats show unconditional love and ask little in return.” He adds, “For some pet owners, going on vacation is partly stressful because they are concerned about how their pet will be taken care of. Bringing a pet on vacation — particularly one that the pet will enjoy — is a way of honoring that relationship while reducing the anxiety associated with leaving a pet in boarding or with a sitter.”
For Delta’s stay at The Plaza, we drove just 30 blocks for her to be treated to a plush dog bed, water bowls filled with Evian and a multi-tiered silver platter with dog-friendly macarons. Eloise’s fictional dog, Weenie, even left Delta a personalized welcome note. That night, my sweet dog slept on sky-high thread count sheets (foregoing the dog bed for our own), gorged on homemade dog treats and we all snapped selfies in our matching robes.
Is this completely over the top? Yes. Does this make me sound like I could be an extra in Best in Show or a skit on Portlandia? Also, yes. But is it also sort of endearing? I think so. Markman says, “One of the biggest challenges with having a pet is that you are likely to outlive it. As pets age, they often develop health problems that slow them down; they are tired, suffer from arthritis and sleep a lot. Yet, you want happy memories that will sustain you after the pet is gone. Taking your pet on a trip and taking videos as they enjoy the scenery, run on the beach or breathe fresh air is a way to create memories that will live on even after a beloved pet is gone.” (Who knew I could type through tears?)
According to a Pew Research Center study, 62% of Americans own a pet, and nearly all U.S. pet owners (97%) consider them family. Additionally, a survey of 10,000 American dog owners by Forbes Advisor revealed that 82% of dog owners sometimes travel with their dogs by car and 33% do so by plane.
Airlines are responding. BARK Air is claiming to be the world’s first air travel experience designed for dogs. Dogs receive flight prep with calming pheromones. All furry passengers have access to calming treats and noise-canceling earmuffs. Once onboard, dogs are served their beverage of choice during ascent and descent to prevent ear discomfort caused by changes in cabin pressure.
Additionally, various BARK-branded treats, snacks and surprises are provided throughout the flight. (Domestic tickets cost $6,000 for one human and their dog.) Alternatively, VistaJet offers VistaPet, developed with veterinary experts, groomers, dietitians and animal trainers to address the rising demand for improved pet travel. In 2023, Vista had a 43% increase in pets flying onboard their planes. The company offers crew members trained in pet CPR (who knew this was a thing?), along with Labbvenn sleep mats, curated prime cuts of meat, natural flower essences to mix with pet’s drinking water for relaxation and water-free shampoo and wipes for salon-quality fur care. This sounds a lot better than my plastic cup of chardonnay in seat 27B.
But traveling with a pet doesn’t have to be all caviar and private puppy jets. Beth Reser and her partner, who reside in Durham, North Carolina, share a blind 13-year-old Yorkie mix named Roxie who had a rough life until they found, fostered and adopted her. They’ve spent the last two years taking Roxie on bucket-list trips. Reser says, “We have taken her to the beach numerous times and the mountains. She’s blind but enjoys the smell of saltwater and crisp mountain air.” She adds, “Depending on the terrain, we may push her in a stroller or put her in a backpack. She loves to walk, though, and being blind doesn’t slow her down.”
Julie Ward from New Orleans planned a bucket-list staycation day for her dog, Millie, before saying goodbye. “We went to visit all her friends (including Blanche, the tortoise); we did a photoshoot at The Chloe Hotel and visited the horses at City Park; we also paid a visit to the neighborhood bar for the last time. We ended the day at home on a big pallet of pillows and blankets where we listened to music while snuggling.”
Artful Living’s editor-in-chief, Amy Synnott, planned a similar trip with her 13-year-old dog, Lucy, at the dog-friendly Surf Lodge in Montauk, New York. As part of the Defender weekend experience, she and her pup had access to a vehicle all weekend, which made it easy for Lucy to put her paws in the sand one last time. With her head poking out the window and her ears flapping in the breeze, she was the picture of happiness as they wheeled around town, ultimately stopping at a dog-friendly beach where the water-loving pup briefly seemed to forget about her arthritic hips and other chronic health issues as she sauntered happily into the ocean.
This sort of bucket-list trip might be easier than taking your children, parents or spouse on vacation, says Markman. “Most family vacations are fun only when you look back on them. In the moment, there is a lot of stress. The journey to a destination can be stressful. Family members may differ in what they want to do or where they want to eat. Though you often focus later on the happy memories, there are likely to be several frustrations along the way.” However, he says, “Pets are much less demanding because they live in the moment. Let them loose on the beach, and they don’t complain about the traffic but rather just enjoy that moment as it happens. That can make a trip with a pet easier and perhaps more enjoyable than trips with other people.”
Right now, the trips with our senior dog are designed for her. But the memory of this short time with Delta will stay with us forever. As they say these days: Core (pet) memory unlocked.
