Dogs' Days of Summer in Sedona

SEDONA, AZ, August 08, 2012 (Press-News.org) If you're planning to take your pet on your next getaway, you're not alone. According to the U.S. Travel Association, over 49 percent of U.S. adult leisure travelers consider their pet to be part of the family and 18 percent of U.S. adult leisure travelers usually take their pets with them when they travel. Despite travelers' desire to bring their pets along, it is often difficult to find truly pet-friendly accommodations.

One place where travelers can be assured their pet will be treated as a valued guest is El Portal Sedona Hotel in Sedona, Arizona. This luxury boutique hotel doesn't just allow pets; they welcome them with open arms, and there is never a fee for pets. Guests have great things to say about their experiences at El Portal, "The purpose of our trip was for our two senior labs to experience travel. They were treated like royalty! We were given extra thick blankets for them to lie on as well as treats, clean up bags, etc. Our room (called The Flat Rock Hickory) had a patio with a fenced garden which gave the dogs freedom to roam. Our room was beautiful and spotless...and I mean spotless!"

El Portal owners, Steve and Connie Segner, have a long history in the pet care industry. Segner says that the pet friendly Sedona hotel was designed with dogs in mind, including wood and tile flooring throughout, special dog patios available with some rooms and the designated exercise area on the grounds of the hotel. Guests traveling with canine companions will find rooms stocked with a pet bed and special treat basket upon arrival. Guests can advise management of any special feeding requirements for their pet before their arrival, and El Portal even provides free dog sitting while guests are out exploring Sedona. Long-time pet owner Segner says, "We will keep an eye on the dog; all we ask for is a cell phone number in case of an emergency. We will walk, water, and feed our guests' dogs - whatever they would like us to do, so they can go and have fun without worry."

Segner wants guests to feel at home and dogs are welcome anywhere in the hotel, including the spacious great room or on the patio in the central courtyard. He will personally sit down with guests and their four-legged friends to make hiking and sightseeing arrangements; from kayaking and helicopter excursions to wine tours and Grand Canyon adventures. Sedona jeep tours with Sun Country Adventures provide dog-friendly outings amid Sedona's rugged terrain and stunning red rock scenery. The hotel is located next to the historic Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village for shopping and dining, and is within walking distance of Oak Creek.

El Portal offers guests not only pet friendly accommodations, but know the places to go, eat, play, etc. with their pets. The Segners and staff have lists of groomers, pet friendly parks, and pet food and supplies in the Sedona area, and help with State and National Park pet regulations. Some great places to take "Fido" to include Sedona Dog Park - an off-leash park where dogs can romp and play; West Fork Hiking Trail - one of the best trails in Arizona and one of the top ten in the country! Try Grasshopper Point - a natural swimming hole surrounded by the beauty of Oak Creek Canyon; or Marg's Draw Hiking Trail - an easy to moderate hike with stunning vistas of the towering red rocks. All welcome well- behaved dogs.

El Portal caters to their human guests as well. The twelve room luxury inn was designed and built with scrupulous attention to detail with turn of the century Southwestern design, 18-inch thick handmade adobe walls, recycled wood trim and natural native stone. Each spacious room is full of character and has unique features such as museum quality Arts and Crafts furnishings, soaring beamed ceilings or hand-painted details. Rooms feature all modern amenities such as fireplaces, whirlpool tubs, free WiFi, TV, phones, and more.

This summer, don't leave your best buddy behind. Enjoy the many wonders of Sedona and the very best in Sedona pet-friendly accommodations.