The ever-inventive Kimpton Hotel Group, which operates 37 boutique hotels across the country, knows you want to bring your pet along when you travel. To encourage you to think Kimpton, many of their hotels have devised pet-friendly packages, running from now through, one hopes, National Pet Week, which starts on May 4, 2003. Here are a few treats your Fido or Puss-Puss can expect:
Chicago's Hotel Monaco has a Furry Friends package, with rates starting at $139 per room. The price includes a welcome letter from Peaches, the hotel's honorary dog mascot for 2003, a doggie bed and bowl for use during hotel stay and a doggie bone at turndown. Cats receive disposable litter boxes and a bowl for use during hotel stay and a treat at turndown.The hotel also provides pet walking and sitting services, day care and grooming and spa services. All pets get a souvenir bandana, as well. Contact the hotel at 866/610-0081 or 312/960-8500, Web site www.monaco-chicago.com.
The No Need to Beg package is priced at $149 at Washington, D.C.'s Hotel Rouge, and includes a King or Queen room, a red fire hydrant mat, a red bowl, liver biscotti and pooper-scooper bags for daily walks. Humans accompanying the pets can join a free "Last Call" Bloody Mary and Cold Pizza hour each morning and get 24-hour free valet parking with in/out privileges. Taxes are extra. Contact the Rouge at 800/368-5689 or 202/232-8000, Web site www.rougehotel.com.
At San Francisco's Hotel Triton, there's a Park & Bark package, costing $169, which includes room, a special pet amenity and free parking. Any size pets are welcome, but only two pets per room. Taxes extra. Contact the hotel at 800/433-6611, 415/394-0500 or at www.hoteltriton.com.
At least 23 other hotels in the group offer similar packages, with typical room rates at $174 (Hotel Monaco, New Orleans), $189 (Cypress Hotel, Cupertino CA; Hotel Allegro, Chicago), $199 (Serrano Hotel, San Francisco), $215 (Palomar Hotel, San Francisco) and $219 (Hotel Monaco, San Francisco).
For general information on the Kimpton Group, contact them at 415/397-5572 or at www.kimptongroup.com.