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Families find that hotel chains and B&Bs are putting out the welcome mat and the water bowl for four-legged friends.

No longer will the lack of accommodations dictate that Spot should stay at home. There are so many chain hotels and other lodging options (see our list of pet-welcoming B&Bs below) for traveling with pets that families should take their cue from Mobil Travel Guides' Do's and Don'ts to actually decide if the family pet should share their next vacation. Mobil says:

Do Bring Pets If They Are well-socialized pets, enjoy new experiences , over 12-weeks-old, and if your travel plans are pet-friendly.

Don't Bring Pets Who Are unsocialized, noisy, boisterous, or not housetrained; under 12-weeks old

New Kinds of Pet-Friendly Lodging

Bedandbreakfast.com now chronicles the many B&Bs that welcome dogs - and often other pets such as horses - to occupy guestrooms or grounds.  Bedandbreakfast.com graciously provided us with a list of some pet, horse and kid-friendly B&Bs, organized alphabetically by location. Details on pet amenities, stables, and contact information are noted.

Before booking your next kids cum pets vacation, please review BedandBreakfast.com's advice for those who want to stay out of the dog house on their B&B visit:

1. Be sure your pet is a good traveler and friendly with strangers and strangers' furniture. 

2. Always inquire about your pet when making reservations, even if the website says pets are welcome. Often Innkeepers limit the number of pets in residence.

3. Be sure your pet wears ID and immunization tags at all times when traveling.

4. Leash your pet when outside your room or roaming the inn and its grounds, and respect the inn's policy about pets in the common areas, particularly dining areas.

5. Bring your pet's own bedding, toys, treats, water/food bowls, etc to offer something familiar in a new environment. 

6. Clean up after all pet messes, inside and out.

7. Crate your pets if you must leave them alone in a room; leaving a TV or radio on may soothe them in your absence.

8. A cleaning security deposit will be required; consider feeding your pet in the bathroom and bringing furniture covers to avoid spills and stains.