The estimated population of pets in the U. S. has grown by over 25 million from 2001 to 2007. In the U. S. alone there are more than 72 million dogs and over 80 million cats. It is no surprise, then, that traveling with pets is a growing industry. While hotels and airlines are catching on to this growing trend, careful trip planning and preparation are essential for anyone wanting to travel with their furry friend.

According to Megan Hanson, a moderator for the Travel Forum at HotelDealsRevealed. com, pet friendly hotels are in high demand. “This is one of the most commonly asked questions we get on the forum,” she says. “It’s mostly people traveling with their dogs. They are doing road trips during the summer, and want to travel with their pets. They’re part of the family and want to spend vacation with their pets. ”

“Hotels are catching on,” she adds. She is right. Best Western and La Quinta chains now offer many pet friendly hotels, as do many other chains. For a small extra fee, hotel guests can have their pet stay with them. Rooms dedicated for pets are usually in a dedicated section of the hotel that prevents other guests are not bothered by dander and pet noise. Some hotels even go one step further and offer pet recreation areas and sell food and other pet convenience items.

Airlines are also becoming more pet-friendly as well. There have been major improvements in the handling of “baggage class” pet travelers once they leave the care of the owners. These include: climate-controled areas, transport tags attached to the crate to indicate pet and owners information, and trained handlers. Some airlines now offer cabin class travel for pets, although this is usually restricted to small dogs and cats.

“This is a classic example of where supply had not kept up with demand,” states Hanson. “Hotel rooms book up early and people are often left scrambling to make alternate arrangements. There clearly isn’t enough pet-friendly rooms during the peak periods. ” Summer months are typically the busiest.

Hanson offers this advice to travelers: “Spontaneous travel with pets is difficult. Don’t just hit the road and think you’ll find somewhere to sleep with your pet for the night. Plan your trip in detail. Make reservations early. Find out which parks in the area you’re staying allow dogs and inform yourself on local bylaws. Traveling with your pet doesn’t have to be a hassle, but it requires a lot of preparation. ”

Randy Greencorn is a travel enthusiast and the creator of HotelDealsRevealed. com, a Hotwire & Priceline Help Forum. When not traveling, he enjoys listening to Bob Dylan and spending time with his wife and 3 daughters on Canada’s Westcoast.