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Discover Animal Holidays
TIPS WHEN TRAVELLING WITH PETS
 If you're travelling by road make sure you pet is secure for the trip - definitely confine cats to a carry cage - frightened cats can get under the driver's feet!
- If you're travelling by plane ensure your pet is pre-booked and check with the airline for any special requirements.
- Pack plenty of water and a water bowl for the journey.
- Pack familiar bedding and toys, plus a supply of your pet's usual food - you can never be sure you'll be able to buy it at your destination and you want to avoid any unnecessary upsets a change in diet can cause.
- Have an ID tag on your pet's collar that has your mobile phone number or a number you know will be answered.
- Pets aren't permitted in National Parks and some beaches - so plan around that in advance.
- Don't sedate or tranquilise your pet without veterinary advice.
- It's also a good idea to check with your vet that your pet's vaccinations are up to date and whether there are any preventative measures you should take before your holiday - especially if you're going somewhere coastal where ticks may be a problem.
- And finally...holidays are exciting for people and they can be great fun for a pet, but they also need to feel secure, so make sure you spend plenty of time with your pet and continue the routines they are used to.
- For more information check out http://www.petsinthecity.net.au/
DISNEY WORLD PET RESORT
Now dogs and cats can experience the ultimate in luxury accommodation at Walt Disney World Resort.
Kitty condos, canine water parks, and special VIP suites for prize pets — it's all at the Walt Disney World Resort's new pet facility, the Best Friends Pet Care Resort. Due to open September 1, 2010, the lavish Florida resort is already taking bookings for privileged pooches and pussycats.
Best Friends offers plenty of room to play with more than 50,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space including a canine-only water park, a dog-walking trail, and an on-site grooming salon. The resort provides daytime and overnight accommodation for 270 dogs and 30 cats (but dogs and cats aren't permitted to share rooms — cats have their own area in the "Kitty City" pavilion). The four VIP suites include televisions, raised bedding, and private yards.
To top it all off, the designated "pocket pet" area lets hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits and ferrets in on the fun. No venomous pets are allowed in the venue. Sorry Mickey and Minnie.
PETS PICK IN AUSTRALIA
Luxurious property Lilianfels Blue Mountains is an up-market establishment that is willing to indulge both you and your pets in four-paw five-star treatment.
There is a special Pet Room Service menu; and multi-channel TV, they're probably just as happy to stay in. The room service menu catering to VIPs (Very Important Pooches) includes Woof Woof — Japanese style miso soup, rice and grilled fish; and Poppie's Favourite — a delectable dish of beef steak and chunky vegetables. For puss there is Meow Meow — grilled salmon, with green beans, quail egg, tuna, potatoes and olives.
Click here for details: www.lilianfels.com.au/
Although this option is at the top-end of the market, there are literally thousands of places that will extend a warm welcome to the whole family, and State tourist offices are a good place to start with recommendations for short break holiday destinations with pets.
For more pet friendly resorts in Australia check out http://travel.ninemsn.com.au/world/654870/jet-setting-pets-holidays-for-the-four-legged
Josh Crouthamel – Ninemsn travel blogger
http://travel.ninemsn.com.au/blogs/armchair-traveller/
LOS ANGELES
 In Los Angeles pocket-sized pooches have replaced clutch bags as the newest, coolest accessory. All of the young celebs have a canine sidekick, donning miniature bling as they drool on their owner’s couture. Strut your stuff with your leashed puppy on the Sunset Strip and be mistaken for an heiress to a hotel fortune. Dance the night away at SkyBark, a pet-friendly club in downtown LA, or, for something away from the paparazzo’s lens, try Runyon Canyon, a veritable Eden for pets where pups can roam free in the heart of the city.
For a world famous hot dog you can join the line at Pink’s – if you are willing to wait hours for a bite of the perfect chili dog. Find Pink’s at 709 North La Brea Avenue (even the stars que for this!!)
Ed’s Top 5 Tips for pups
- Try Doga (doggie yoga) - Part of the class includes gentle stretching and dog massage but most of the time the humans gently use the dogs like yoga props.
- There are also dog friendly hikes throughout the Hollywood Hills on Fryman Canyon or through Griffith park to the Observatory – you might even catch a celeb walking their dog
- Head to Beverly Hills where you can find pet bakeries and pet Jewellery & fashion stores
- Head to the Beach! Most beaches prohibit dogs but in LA there are exceptions. Malibu’s scenic Leo Carrillo State Beach allows for leashed dogs, as long as they’re not in the busiest sections between lifeguard towers #2 and #3. Further south, the three-acre Long Beach Off-Leash Dog Zone in the city’s Belmont Shore district is the only legal off-leash dog beach in LA County. Finally, there’s another scenic, not-too-distant Los Angeles County beach known to be pretty lax about enforcing its no-dogs policy. Hint: it rhymes with Topanga.
- Take a stroll down Hollywood Blvd - For the not-so-skittish dogs, the Hollywood Walk of Fame will give your pup a chance to soak up the local vibe while admiring paw prints and sidewalk stars of Lassie – whose star is on Hollywood Boulevard between Cahuenga and Ivar – and Rin Tin Tin, whose star is on Vine Street.
Dr Katrina Warren
http://www.drkatrina.com/
HERVEY BAY
Hervey Bay is most well known for Whale watching – this is great until mid November. Don't forget the markets at the Whale Watch terminal located at the Urangan Marina held every Friday night 4-8 pm. Hervey Bay is home to beautiful beaches, swimming, sailing, fishing, diving and sea kayaking.
Fantastic ocean view drive between Noosa and Hervey Bay – only 3 hours, with some of the most divine scenery you are ever going to see. Whether you are starting or ending your journey in Noosa – no Noosa travel experience is complete without a dolphin adventure by kayak, Surfing or surfing lessons, Camel safari and a drive through the Noosa hinterlands stopping to enjoy art galleries, wineries and roadside stalls
Also Fraser Island is only a short drive from both Noosa & Hervey Bay
For more information http://www.discoverherveybay.com/
Ed’s TOP 3 accommodation picks for your stay in Hervey Bay with www.choicehotels.com.au
PICK #1: Comfort Inn & Suites Arlia Sands, Hervey Bay http://www.choicehotels.com.au/rooms/AU680?srp=PSEASN&packageId=1424&cid=1568435
Seasonal Whale Watching Package – FROM $135.00 p.n
Beautifully appointed Comfort Inn and Suites Arlia Sands is built to capture the Northern aspect with all balconies basking in either the winter sun or summer shade.
The package includes:
2 nights accommodation in a 1 bedroom apartment
½ day Whale Watching trip, includes pick up and drop off from Arlia Sands for Whale Watching morning or afternoon tea aboard the boat.
(Subject to availability, Min and max length of stay is 2 nights, Must book 7 nights in advance)
PICK #2: Comfort Inn Fraser Gateway
http://www.choicehotels.com.au/rooms/AU546?srp=PQLD&packageId=1265&cid=1568435
QUEENSLAND CO-OP PROMOTION – From $99 p.n
The package includes: Bed & Breakfast
(Subject to availability, Must be booked one night in advance)
PICK #3: Quality Suites Ivory Palms
http://www.choicehotels.com.au/rooms/AU746?srp=LSTAY7&packageId=1224&cid=1694815
7 Night Super Saver – From $200 p.n
Experience 7 nights relaxing holiday in Noosa on the Sunshine Coast at saving!
7 Nights from $200 per night
(Subject to availability, Minimum length of stay 7 nights)
ROSE KELLY
CHENGDU, CHINA
Channel Nine’s Livinia Nixon has experienced first-hand something that many of us would love to tick off our list – spending time with a giant panda. One of the worlds most endangered species, the giant panda’s habitats are disappearing fast. Because of their fussy breeding habits it is estimated there are only 1500 left in the wild.
 Giant pandas once roamed Southern China but they are now confined to pockets across six remote mountain forests. The habitats have been largely disconnected from one another because of logging, agricultural use and huge rises in human population.
Livinia visited the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base in Chengdu. Breeding is its focus and March to May is the 'falling in love period'. In autumn and winter, you can also peer through the glass into the panda 'nursery'. Feeding time is around 09:30 and is when the pandas are most active. Once feeding is over, they don't do much besides sleep.
There's also a museum with detailed exhibits on panda evolution and habits. Exhibits have good English captions. Bus 10 runs out to Qīnglóng, from where you'll have to change for bus 1 to the terminus. From here, hop on a motorised rickshaw to the breeding centre. A lot less hassle are the tours run by most guesthouses. You can also get one of the special tourist buses directly here from the Traffic Hotel. The base is about 10km from the city centre.
For more information: http://www.panda.org.cn/english/index.htm
http://channelnine.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=861199
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