56 South Bay Accent
and Bay Bridge, state-of-the-art fitness facility and proximity to
local attractions, such as the San Francisco Museum of Modern
Art, Yerba Buena Gardens and The Ferry Building. The contemporary
hotel’s opulent P.A.W. (“PETS ARE WELCOME”) program
pampers feline and canine companions alike, from check-in to
turn-down. Cost: $25 per pet, per night, plus an additional $100
cleaning fee upon check-out.
Playtime: Visitors to San Francisco’s Marriott W can exercise
their pets at nearby dog-friendly South Park, or promenade them
along the perimeter of lush Yerba Buena Gardens. For a little offleash
love, check out the City of San Francisco Recreation and
Parks Department Dog Play Area Program’s designated off-leash
park play areas available citywide: (sfrecpark.org/parks-open-spaces/
dog-play-areas-program).
Pampering: W San Francisco greets fleecy companions with
a fun-filled welcome packet brimming with goodies, including a
plush pet toy, homemade treats, and a W San Francisco pet tag.
In-room amenities include a W Hotels pet bed, food and water
bowls with a floor mat, pet-in-room door sign, and—best of all
—a special treat at turndown!
Hound Chow: For the most finicky furballs, W San Francisco’s
signature restaurant, TRACE, proffers pet-specific, in-suite dining
menus with drool-worthy fare like PAWSOME meatloaf, paired
with savory chicken or turkey broth. (See Sidebar One for recipe.)
Extra Services: The hotel presents a fashionable “Yappy Hour”
fête each summer, featuring step-and-repeat “puparazzi” photo
station, live music, specialty cocktails and tantalizing small bites
catered to both dogs and owners.
“If a car flips over, and your dog is in a kennel, it’s just like a seat
belt and keeps the animal intact,” Leverette says. “It will prevent
the pet from being thrown around all over the car.” He adds that
using a crate in a hotel room helps alleviate possible destruction
of property, such as chewing through doors, or pulling up carpets.
The crack canine behaviorist also suggests exercising pets to burn
off any excess energy accumulated during travel.
Finally, Leverette reminds owners to keep pets away from table
scraps like cookie dough, turkey skin and bones when traveling.
On the road, these “snacks” are more apt to irritate their sensitive
stomachs. (For owners unable to travel with animals during the
holidays, Leverette advises seeking a company that does board and
train, so that man’s best friend can be properly cared for while away.)
A few more tips are offered by The American Veterinary Medical
Association (AVMA) (www.avma.org): Tote additional pet food
and medications, first-aid gear and data to help identify the pet if
it gets lost. The AVMA also suggests filing away each pet’s most
recent health certificate for travel, both interstate and abroad.
Once you arrive at any of these six sumptuous resorts you’ll
discover an array of “purr-fect” amenities sure to please even the
most discriminating “paw-late.”
•
SAN FR ANCISCO
W San Francisco
wsanfrancisco.com
Marriott’s W San Francisco, an urban oasis in the heart of San
Francisco’s SoMa district, boasts lavish views of the city’s skyline
W San Francisco
COURTESY OF W SAN FRANCISCO; OPPOSITE: NATALIA SILVA; PREVIOUS SPREAD: SHUTTERSTOCK