Hotel Patrol

There are surprises at every turn when it comes to travel and here's one I only recently stumbled upon. I don't even know where to begin because this property has so much to offer. Whether you are traveling alone, with the grand kids or with other family members, you are sure to find something that keeps you coming back.

Susie wants to let everyone know about an amazing boutique hotel in Glen Ellen, California – the Olea Hotel, which only has twelve rooms, three of which are pet friendly.

If you like visiting the Mediterranean, you will LOVE coming to Catalina Island. Only 26 miles from the Long Beach pier, you arrive within one hour in the magical town of Avalon. If you have never been here, you must do yourself a favor and put it on your Bucket List. I'm always surprised to find that many people are unfamiliar with this destination. I attended a Film Festival there last year and had the opportunity to spend some time with Stan Lee (yes, THAT Stan Lee!) and learned that this was his first visit to the Island. He said he was coming back with his wife because he was so enamored with this place. He lives in L.A. and never took the time to come the 26 miles.

So here's a spot you probably haven't thought to explore in Paris – the area known as Bercy. This is actually a great place to spend a few nights especially if you are traveling with your grandchildren. The Pullman Paris Bercy is one of the most reasonably priced hotels while visiting the City of Lights. Granted, you are not in the heart of Paris, but a mere 15 minute Metro ride into the center. The hotel has a very modern feel with amenities the kids will like – it is child and pet friendly. The beds are very comfortable and the food and service is quite good. The bathrooms are equipped with amenities and are quite large – all of which is hard to find in the center of Paris.

Whenever you travel to a large city, there are two main considerations when choosing a hotel – location and price. At least, that’s what I check out first – and the bigger the city, the more important those two items are! London is one of the most expensive cities in the world, so when you can find a decent price in a great location, count me in!

Take a step back in time as you walk up the steps to this historic hotel on Main Street in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. The Inn has been continuously operating since the 18^th century and offers 125 rooms, year round heated pool and hot tub, dining and live entertainment nightly.

Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia, where style, history and culture come together in the second largest city in Spain. It is also the tenth most visited city in the world. With this in mind, where should we stay you ask? I know just the place and it will take you to a time you know well.

Is it just me or is there mystery and romance surrounding a lighthouse?  Every time I’m near one, I just have to go and explore and dream of what it would be like to live in one, even for a day or a week. Well, dream no more, I have found a working lighthouse where you can stay and actually be a keeper, which is a lot of hard work, but oh, what an adventure!

Where can you go to leave the country but not really leave the country? San Juan, Puerto Rico of course where U.S. Citizens do not need a passport, because Puerto Rico is an unincorporated territory of the United States.

So, I have to ask – do you want to Shack Up? No, I’m not getting fresh, I just want to tell you about the Shack Up Inn in Mississippi. If you are a lover of the Blues and are into some really authentic working plantation kind of accommodations, then this is an experience for you! Just be aware, as they say, “The Ritz We Ain’t.”

Sacramento is not usually the first city that comes to mind when you visit California, but having been there twice, I have come to find it charming and well located. It has a Mediterranean climate, which makes it great to visit year round.

Susie is ready to pack up and head to Scotland after being told about a fabulous property in Crail right on the Scottish coast northeast of Edinburgh. Just picture staying for a week in an immaculate fisherman’s cottage perched directly above Crail harbor.

Who doesn’t love a breath of fresh air? Well, I found just the spot for you on the Baltic Sea in Northeast Germany. This area, Graal-Muritz, has a climate proven to benefit the skin, heart and respiratory system – they have even won awards!

If you and your dog want to have an incredible southwest adventure, this is the place. The Sunglow Ranch is rated in one list as one of the ten most pet friendly lodgings in the United States.

Hello Boomers! Remember when you went to Florida for Spring Break? Well, I was lucky enough to do that in college and just ran across a motel where I stayed back in the late sixties! It’s still there and owned by the same family! I was really excited to see the place and it brought back many fun memories. Oh no, I won’t be telling any stories - what happens in Cocoa Beach, stays in Cocoa Beach.

My kind of town – Chicago! And my kind of hotel – the Talbott! I don't know about you, but I love big cities, however, when I go to my room, I want to take the “big” out of the city and feel more cozy. The beauty of staying at this property is that the location is close to the Magnificent Mile, nightlife and museums, but it sits a few blocks away on a quiet tree lined street which gives you the best of both worlds.

Start your engines and head to Indy! That’s Indianapolis for those who aren’t from the area. This is a city that has blossomed and grown to become a center for sports, shopping and entertainment and deserves a visit. While making the trek, check out one of the new kids on the block for hotels, The Alexander - I highly recommend it. This is a boutique style hotel with modern décor and millions of dollars of artwork displayed throughout the facility curated by the Indianapolis Museum of Art.

Looking for an incredible place to enjoy luxury accommodations for both you and your pet, the Allison Inn & Spa in Oregon’s Willamette Valley is a great place to stay. The Inn is listed as one of the top pet friendly hotels in the United States.  There is a one-time fee of $50 per pet whether you stay a night, weekend or spend a week enjoying the Spa and Oregon’s wine country.

Susie has been talking to her British cousins about great places for dogs in the UK so we can provide recommendations for places our European readers can visit with their best friends. One of her pals from across the water brought a whole bunch of hotels and B&B’s to our attention in the United Kingdom. Susie and Beau are ready to hop on the Cunard Queen Mary II to visit them.  This option was featured in a recent pet patrol article entitled “Cruise with your Pet?: The Options are Limited.”

Susie was delighted to find a unique travel and vacation experience in northwest England. The Farmhouse at “A Corner of Eden” is located near Kirkby Stephen in Cumbria and is another pet friendly property that can be easily accessed in particular by our European patrol members.  Kirby Stephen is 94 miles north of Manchester and 75 miles southwest of Newcastle.

Have I got a surprise for you! Who says you have to go overseas to stay in a charming bed and breakfast that also gives you cooking classes? Don't get me wrong, going to Italy, France, Spain, etc. is amazing, but if you don't want to break the bank, go to Cincinnati! Yes, I said Cincinnati, as in Ohio.

Susie is always looking for great places for pets to stay and one of her friends told her about this great bed and breakfast in West Central Massachusetts. Restful Paws really got her attention because it might be classified as people-friendly because it is geared to pets first. Susie said what with “Great Name!”

If you want to stay at a very unique property with loads of atmosphere, the Inn of the Five Graces fills the bill. The five graces refer to the five graces of Tibetan philosophy – sight, sound, touch, smell and taste. The inn was formed from a group of abandoned adobe structures to create a very unique hotel.

Who says you have to have palm trees to be on a beach? Well, it certainly is a plus, but there are many ways to enjoy summer fun on the water when you are on a lake and not on the ocean.