Picking a vacation rental in the Smoky Mountains seems
like an easy thing to do, and most times it is.
There are exceptions, of course, as anyone who travels with a pet
knows. Finding the perfect rental cabin
for your needs and one that is pet friendly takes time and research to find.
While some cabins are referred to as ‘pet friendly’ you
need to ask what the pet rules are. Some
of the rentals I have searched don’t really mean pet friendly if Fido has to
live outside on the porch in a crate, or he has to be crated if you leave him
alone in the rental even for an hour. If
you deal with a vacation rental through VRBO.com (Vacation Rentals By Owner) you
deal directly with the owners. That way
you can ask them questions and find out exactly how pet friendly they really
are.
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| We always take her bed so that she feels comfy! |
We recently went to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee for three
nights. I searched every pet friendly
rental on VRBO. I found a few that truly
are pet friendly. The one I eventually
picked said the pet rules were: no pets on the furniture, pets can’t be left
alone in the cabin for extended periods of time, and renters must pick up the
doggie droppings!
When I questioned the owner about leaving our dog alone
she said what she means is she doesn’t want people leaving the cabin at 8 am
and not returning until late. Leaving a dog alone in a strange place for that
many hours can sometimes lead to trouble.
I explained that our dog is very ‘rental’
knowledgeable. She has stayed in
vacation rentals in Helen, Georgia; Pigeon Forge, Tennessee and Beaufort, South
Carolina. You do need to remember if you
leave your dog un-crated and he or she does damage you are responsible for that
damage.
The rental I found was absolutely perfect for us for many
reasons:
Location: It is off the beaten path but not too far off!
Price: Since April is pre-peak season in the Smoky
Mountains the price of this particular cabin was very good. The owners do offer a discount for repeat
renters.
Size: Although the rental could accommodate two couples
and a bunch of kids, it was still perfect for just my husband and me.
Bedrooms/Baths: 3 bedrooms and 2 full baths on the main
level with more sleeping options in the finished basement and another full
bath.
Kitchen: Cooking for two or cooking for 12, there are
enough dishes, silverware, pots and pans to do so. There is even a side-by-side fridge with auto
ice maker and a Keurig! One thing that I
really appreciate is the fact there is a full-size pantry that was totally empty
and just waiting for us to stash our goodies.
Beds: Since we only used the King bed in the master
bedroom I can only brag on that one. The
bed was extremely comfortable and the bedding was quite nice.
No Complaints – I can honestly say there was not one
thing to complain about.
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| An inviting front yard! |
As you can see from this photo the setting is
amazing. You can sit on the porch and
soak it all in. The neighborhood is
extremely quiet and well maintained.
For more information about this cabin in Wears Valley,
Tennessee click here. You have to see it in person and I highly recommend this rental cabin.
Photos belong to AbbyG
You are absolutely correct on several points. You have to know exactly what is meant by 'pet friendly'. A lot of times this means pups that do not exceed a certain weight such as 15 lb. limit. It may mean no more than one pup. As for leaving your pet for more than a couple hours in a strange environment, that is not kind to your pet and absolutely can lead to disasters. Have seen my share of window blinds that were destroyed by puppies who were left most of the day. They can also take it out on upholstered furniture, wooden table and chair legs, etc. You have to know your pets true training and housebreaking and be kind, don't abandon them for hours on end no matter how much fun you are having. Knowing the potential for traffic delays in and around Pigeon Forge, you must plan for getting stuck in traffic, sometimes for hours! Lots to consider but with proper planning your vacation can be enjoyable for you and your pet.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comments. Pet lovers need to share as much info as possible.
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