CHICAGO, June 24, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The great
American road trip has officially taken on dogs. According to a
recent online travel survey from Orbitz, 77% of vacationers are
planning to take their pets on a road trip this summer and visiting
dog parks (20%) and taking selfies at tourist attractions (21%) are
at the top of their to-do list1.
The survey results from 2,000 U.S. travelers revealed important
considerations and destinations for pet owners, which are featured
in a new road trip map at Orbitz.com/dogfriendlyroadtrips. Seven
pet-friendly routes were ranked based on photo-worthy road trip
attractions, outdoor activities, pet-friendly lodging and bars and
restaurants in geographically diverse regions of the U.S. Points of
interest are marked every 100 miles or less and are available for
download in Google Maps.
"There's a road trip for every kind of dog and dog owner," said
Dan Schachner, Animal Planet host,
announcer and annual "rufferee" of the Puppy Bowl. "Routes with
off-leash parks, hiking trails and open play areas are great for
active dogs. More passive dogs might enjoy an urban adventure with
dog-friendly hotels and minimal walking."
Pet Travelers Go the Distance
Perhaps unsurprisingly,
the Orbitz survey revealed that travelers will go almost any
distance to please their pets. The majority of pet owners said they
most want to road trip cross-country with their four-legged friends
(33%) and will spend up to $500 extra
on food, lodging and activities together (40%). Schachner advises
pet owners to try a few short trips first before embarking on an
epic adventure together.
"Taking a pet with you on a road trip is a great way to bond and
establish a deeper connection, but it's important to consider your
dog's age, breed and personality. Know what your pup can handle and
plan accordingly."
Road Trip PETiquette
Travelers confessed that when it
comes to their pets, they're not always great at following the
rules of the road. Most drivers let their pets ride in the back
seat (58%) or secure them in a crate (15%), but one-in-four
travelers said their dog calls dibs on the front seat or even rides
in their lap.
"It's tempting to let our pets sit up front with us, but the
safest place for a dog is always in a crate with a seat belt or
harness," said Schachner. "If renting a car, be sure to lay
protective covering down to avoid any extra cleaning costs from
excessive pet hair, soiling, or damage. This way, your pet is
comfortable and happy and so is your wallet."
One-in-three travelers also said they would sneak their pet into
their hotel room. However, more pet owners are searching for
pet-friendly lodging and hotels. In fact, Orbitz reports that hotel
searches using their pet-friendly filter have increased 40%
year-over-year2, and many properties advertise
pet-menities like free dog dishes, treats, and "yappy hours."
A Rewarding Road Trip for Frankie
Orbitz and Dollar
Car Rental are helping Schachner embark on a rescue road trip this
summer to deliver Frankie, a three-month old puppy rescued from
Puerto Rico by The Sato Project,
to his new forever family in Massachusetts. Schachner is documenting
Frankie's road trip in a Dollar Car Rental from Newark airport to Boston on social media while stopping at
pet-friendly pit stops and highlighting other dogs available for
adoption from local humane societies. Follow Dan and Frankie's
adventure on Instagram and Twitter (@DanSchachner).
Celebrity Road Trip Companions
Pet lovers tend to
travel in a pack, so it's no surprise the celebrities that
travelers most wanted to join them on a cross-country trip were
Miley Cyrus and her pet pig, Piggy
(43%), followed by Andy Cohen and
his rescue dog Wacha (20%). Political pets also fared well,
with Elizabeth Warren and her golden
retriever, Bailey, and Michelle
Obama and Bo, the former first family's Portuguese water
dog, topping the list for most popular write-ins.
Save on Pet Travel this Summer
Travelers can
access exclusive discounts on pet travel at
Orbitz.com/dogfriendlyroadtrips through August 31. Use promo code "PET10" for
$10 off a $100 hotel stay on Orbitz and save 10% off the
base rate on a weekend or weekly car rental with code "101463" from
Dollar Car Rental3. When pet owners sign up for the
Orbitz Rewards, they'll also earn travel freebies to use on a trip
with their furry friends, including waived in-cabin pet fees for
Platinum Members and Orbucks they can cash in at thousands of
pet-friendly hotels worldwide.
Additional insights from the Orbitz Summer Travel
Survey:
- 51% of travelers want to road trip with their pet in a SUV or
van; 15% prefer a pickup for off-road adventures
- 12% would choose to road trip with their pets over friends,
family, children or significant others
- Travelers are torn between taking their pets on a road trip to
the mountains (24%) or beach (23%)
- Half of pet parents said the #1 thing they want to do with
their pet on a road trip is drive with the windows down on the open
road
- The road trip movie most travelers would like to recreate with
their pets is National Lampoon's Vacation (43%) followed by Little
Miss Sunshine (21%) and Dumb and Dumber (19%)
1 Report based on Google Consumer online survey
conducted May 22-25, 2019 among 2,000
U.S. adults.
2 Report based on Orbitz search and booking data
comparing Q1 2018 to Q1 2019.
3 Discount applies to pay later base rate. Taxes
and fees excluded. Terms apply.
Contact:
Mel Dohmen
Senior Brand Manager
press@orbitz.com
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SOURCE Orbitz