You love your pet. For most of us, pets are like family. No, they are family. That’s why the thought of leaving your “child” home with a stranger while you travel is unthinkable.

Like the St. George Ramada Inn, many hotels and lodging establishments are realizing that more and more people are traveling with their pets and have adopted pet-friendly policies to help make your travels with your pet more comfortable and less stressful. From budget inns and transient hotels that have standard pet-friendly rooms for no charge or a nominal fee to upscale resorts with pet suites featuring pooch cots, food and water dishes, treats and toys, the options are as diverse as the places to which you travel.

While the number of hotels that allow pets is increasing, no two establishments are the same and policies can vary greatly. There are also still many lodges that do not accept pets. If you’re planning on traveling with Fido, it’s important to know before you go.

Whether you book your stay online, make a reservation over the phone, or just stop in while rolling through town, you should always call the hotel ahead of time and find out exactly what their policies are, what (if any) pet amenities are included, and make sure they have a pet-friendly room available for your stay. Even if a hotel advertises itself as a pet-friendly property, there are almost always terms that can affect your travels, and even result in you arriving without a room for you and your pet. Some of these terms and policies are: varying pet fees and deposits, size and weight restrictions, number of animals per room, types of animals and breeds that are and aren’t accepted, and a limited number of pet-friendly rooms.

The Ramada St. George is a pet-friendly hotel, and we’re happy to have you travel with your furry family member. However, we do have certain pet policies and restrictions. For instance, we allow one pet per room (with some exceptions), under 25 pounds, for a $15/night non-refundable pet fee. For safety and sanitation reasons, pets cannot be left unattended in the room and are prohibited in certain areas of the hotel (such as the pool, breakfast and common areas). Also, for the safety and comfort of our guests, we only have a total of four specific pet-friendly rooms. Once those are occupied, we cannot accept any more pets. Properly licensed and documented service animals are of course always welcome in any of our rooms.

Traveling with a pet is stressful, for both the animal and the owner. Calling ahead and knowing specifically what your destination hotel’s policies are will help ensure you have proper, comfortable and safe accommodations for you and your pet.

P.S. Thank you Regal Bet Red (a.k.a. “Red”) for posing for this article’s picture. Red is a rescued brindle greyhound.

Facebook, Twitter, Yelp, Foursquare, TripAdvisor, Google+, and now Pinterest. These are just a few websites with one common purpose; to be social. Believe it or not, these services aren’t just for posting the latest pictures of your grandchildren, sharing embarrassing moments that happened to you at work, or passing along a quote from the morning news. Businesses down the block and across the world are becoming part of the global phenomenon known as social media, encouraging communication between businesses and consumers like you.

So what does this mean as a budget-conscious traveler? You need to like, follow, favorite, check-in to, and pin the places and businesses in your hometown as well as those in any city to which you are planning on traveling. Why? Chances are those businesses and places are not only carrying on a dialogue between consumers and tourists (a great way to find out what to expect when you arrive), but they’re likely running contests, promotions, special discounts, showcasing specific menu items or products on sale, and other great ways to save on the things you’re going to buy anyway (or wish you could treat yourself to while on vacation). Check out StGeorgeUtah.com’s Facebook timeline. It’s full of 50% or more discount offers for golfing, spa packages, tanning, bakery goodies, meals and more in St. George. Services like Foursquare and Yelp regularly have exclusive discounts and promotions that you can claim when you “check in” to places on your smartphone (such as Buy 1 Get 1 Free at restaurants and coffee shops, or 15%+ discounts at hotels and other service providers).

How do you find and take advantage of the savings opportunities available? Simple. Just do a search for businesses and places in your area from within the website or application. If you’re using a smartphone or tablet, most social apps (like Facebook and Google Check-In, Yelp and Foursquare) can detect your location and automatically find businesses around you that offer discounts and promotions, along with customer reviews so you can pick the best ones that fit your needs. And because these networks are meant to be social, they usually will show you related businesses and services based on your searches and interests, making it even easier to find the best specials and most savings.

By spending time a little differently on sites you’re already using you can easily find new ways to save big on your next trip across the country, or across the street. So venture out in the digital world and get social!

While you’re at it, be sure to like us on Facebook. As a special thank you, you’ll instantly get a printable voucher to save 15% on your next stay with us. We’re also regularly running contests for free night stays, sharing information about great local events and deals, and keeping everyone updated about the goings-on at the St. George Ramada.