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Pet-Friendly near I-95 N. Florida/S. Georgia for yappy dogs?

Pet-Friendly near I-95 N. Florida/S. Georgia for yappy dogs?

Old Apr 23rd, 2015, 06:12 AM
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Pet-Friendly near I-95 N. Florida/S. Georgia for yappy dogs?

We are taking our three small pups to the Keys with us this summer. We love taking them on vacation and carefully select vacation homes that are fairly secluded so the dogs don't disturb the neighbors.

Our dilemma is finding a pet-friendly place to stay on the trip down and back from DC where they won't keep everyone else awake all night with their yips.

They are all under 15 pounds and well-behaved, except for their Chihuahua tendency to yap if they hear noises outside our door to "guard" us. They will shush if we tell them but not before they have each let out a yap or two. Multiply three dogs by two-three yaps each and that will definitely wake up a light sleeper.

We have stayed at La Quintas and pet-friendly Hampton Inns but we get no sleep at all because we have to stay up to shush them every time they hear a noise, and I am sure we annoy the neighbors too, which I hate.

Our most successful stay was in a Hampton Inn in Alabama where the desk clerk gave us a room with no near neighbors.

I would love to find a cabin, house, RV, anything with no shared walls where we could stay for one night on the way down and back to avoid the barking issues. Even one of those old-school motels that are separate little cabins would work. Even a motel or hotel where they will place you far from the other guests if possible would be great. We don't care how fancy or low-rent it is...it is only for one night.

Any ideas of places that might fit the bill would be welcome. I've been searching online but most vacation rentals have 2-3 night minimums.

If money were no object, we would just buy a little camper to have a place to stay with our dogs while on the road.
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Old Apr 23rd, 2015, 07:02 AM
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I was going to suggest the LQ in Brunswick. Have you tried a children's chewable Benadryl? My pup took one for skin allergies but I also gave her one when she got "wound up".

You need a motor court hotel but I can't think of one. I'll put my thinking cap on.

The problem with VRBO and other rentals are the cleaning fees don't make it worthwhile for overnight stay.
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Old Apr 23rd, 2015, 07:06 AM
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We stay at a miccrotel in South Carolina off 95 when we travel north. We get an end room bottom floor by door and it works for my two big Boxers. Hampton inn is great also but they put dogs on fourth floor and I take my Boxers down the steps there and not the elevator because they are overly friendly...
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Old Apr 23rd, 2015, 07:13 AM
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Okay, I remembered there was a campground resort with cabins on Tybee. That's the sum total of what I know about it.

ONE cabin is pet-friendly and they require a 2 night stay.
You could slow down and stay for 2 nights - and visit Savannah - or just bite the bullet and pay for 2 nights but only stay one.

http://www.riversendcampground.com/Cabins.html

The other places like KOAs that have camping cabins don't allow pets in them.

Good luck!
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Old Apr 23rd, 2015, 07:19 AM
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Would white noise like a fan help?
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Old Apr 23rd, 2015, 07:29 AM
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Thanks for all the ideas!

starrs- We have tried Benadryl and "ace" from the vet but the dogs all make themselves wake up to bark if they hear a noise because they want to protect us. It's actually sort of funny and sad to watch them fighting the sleepiness to stay alert. They are really mellow dogs; they just have to "report" any strange noises (and there are a lot of strange noises in a hotel).

Thanks for the term "motor court." I wasn't remembering that term, so it gives me a new way to search.

flpab- I am going to try your strategy and call motels as we get closer to the trip to see if anyone will let us reserve an end unit.

starrs- I checked out the cabins. It is an idea if we are desperate but paying for two nights each way would get pricey.

I appreciate the help and the lack of judgment over barky dogs! My pack is really well-trained in every other way but as my trainer says, the hardest thing to train a dog to do is not bark when they think their owner is being threatened.
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Old Apr 23rd, 2015, 08:21 AM
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I think white noise or music to mask the sounds of others is the best solution.

You could also kennel them overnight and splurge a bit with a hotel for the Humans in a hotel in Savannah.
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Old Apr 23rd, 2015, 08:45 AM
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I'm back. My friend (who doesn't even like dogs) just had a possibly brilliant idea. Stay at a motel with cheap rates and request an end unit and pay for the room next to it as a buffer zone.

I might try this if I can keep it under 150 bucks total. I'm less concerned with how nice the room is as long as it isn't disgusting and more concerned with being able to get a decent night's sleep without bothering anyone else. A buffer room and an end unit along with white noise (we have wave sounds to help with this) might do the trick.

Thought I would share for other yappy dog owners!
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Old Apr 23rd, 2015, 12:05 PM
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You might check with Georgia State Parks about a cabin or yurt.
http://gastateparks.org/rules
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Old Apr 23rd, 2015, 12:15 PM
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Pets are not allowed in yurts. Usually only one or two cabins per park allow pets, and those book up months in advance.
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Old Apr 23rd, 2015, 12:25 PM
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BlueSwimmer, don't reject this suggestion immediately.

I suggest you try a new nighttime routine. I'd start it at home, and even if you don't use it every night, get them used to it at home. For decades I never used a crate for my pups, but my last two pups came to me crate-trained. They really like them. So much, I had to buy an extra crate for my very ill 13 year old schnauzer because she would never get out of her new sister's crate.

So the routine - Go nite-nite in the crate. My two pups share a really big wire crate (even though they can get into individual crates if they want). Put a towel on the top and sides to make a "den". Play music (or white noise) next to them to mask noises from outside the room. Give them a treat to go in and have them sleep together at night. My pups have run of the house and even have a dog door at home, but don't mind the crate at all. If you do this, you have added security in a hotel room if an housekeeper comes in accidently - no getting slipping out of the room.

The crates fold up so it's easy to travel with them in a car. I had to take my parents somewhere recently and I knew there would be dog crates there. One was ready in the guest house and when I left, the girls "kenneled up" and settled in for the day while I was gone.

I didn't use a crate for the pups for decades, but I learned from the pups how much they like them. My hunter comes in from a hard day of running outside and goes into her crate to rest. The wire crate is big enough to hold four pups, but my two cuddle up next to each other with room to spare. The lab stretches out in front of the crate, touching it. They are so funny.

I think a new routine could work for yours - if you start the routine at home.
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Old Apr 23rd, 2015, 12:34 PM
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The buffer zone is a brilliant idea- I may try that sometime. I have the same issue except my dog's "alert" sound is more a bay than a yap!

I stay at motel 6's a lot for this reason, people tend to be a little friendlier about dogs there when compared to "inside door" hotels like la quintas. Also, it's sometimes a good idea to go off the interstate a bit- hotels right off the freeway have the heaviest traffic, and people arriving at all hours. so maybe look at ones on the other side of town or a little out of the way.
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Old Apr 23rd, 2015, 12:56 PM
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"...when compared to "inside door" hotels like la quintas"

Some LQs have exterior doors. The one in Savannah Midtown is one example.

The newer "Inn and Suites" design have interior hallways and you used to be able to tell the difference based on "Suites" being in the name. That's not true now. A quick look at the photo on the website will help. I've stayed in one that was a former Baymont also.
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Old Apr 23rd, 2015, 01:18 PM
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Ah, very interesting, Starrs! I was not aware of that, and will check photos next time I reserve a Laquinta in an unfamiliar place. Thanks! Although come to think of it, the la quintas I've stayed at recently have all been newish builds. I wonder if LQ is expanding at a more rapid pace or it has just been the luck of the draw.
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Old Apr 23rd, 2015, 02:04 PM
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The original ones were exterior entrances. The atrium style is the one they built for a couple of decades. Some of the newest ones are a completely different style. Some hotels were previously operated by other chains.

The original LQ style -
http://www.laquintasavannahmidtown.com/
Look at the pool photo and the last photo to see the exterior entrances.

Atrium style -
http://www.laquintamacon.com/

A newer build - as pretty as any mid-range hotel
http://www.laquintasavannahairportpooler.com/

Former Baymont -
http://www.laquintaatlantamidtown.com/
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Old Apr 23rd, 2015, 02:12 PM
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You might check around Kingsland, GA. There are close to a dozen hotels right by the exit there (exit 3). This area is inexpensive and so it might be even easier to get two rooms if you decide to go that route.

Our dog also does the bark to alert us to anything. A half of a melatonin takes the edge off for her, so you might ask your vet about that too if it interests you.
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Old Apr 23rd, 2015, 02:15 PM
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http://www.microtelinn.com/hotels/ge...n_date&rooms=1
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Old Apr 23rd, 2015, 02:25 PM
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Wow, yes, I see. Interesting. I've certainly never stayed at an LQ with doors facing out to the pool like that. But then, I suspect a hotel pool is a hotter commodity in Savannah than in the west
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Old Apr 23rd, 2015, 03:38 PM
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"But then, I suspect a hotel pool is a hotter commodity in Savannah than in the west"

No, the first LQs I stayed in (during the 80s) were in Texas. South Texas. Hot south Texas.
I thought all LQs were like that until I discovered the very different atrium design. But I like the outside entrance better when traveling with the pups.
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Old Apr 23rd, 2015, 07:06 PM
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We've always stayed at the Hampton Inn-Savannah North which is adjacent to I-95 and just a couple of miles into Georgia. Large are for walking the dogs and all pet rooms are on the ground floor. We take the AAA rate. Don't know if there is a pet number limit or not since we have only one dog.
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