There are millions of pet owners in the United States, with pet ownership trends increasing year by year. When it comes time to take a vacation, pet lovers have to decide whether to trust a sitter, board a pet, which gets expensive, or bring the pet along for the fun. Florida Rentals conducted a comprehensive study to help pet owners determine which cities would be the best hosts for furry friends.
The team used these factors to form a scoring system:
• Percentage of pet-friendly hotels
• Average price of pet-friendly hotels
• Number of dog-friendly restaurants
• Dog park quality score
• Best cities to walk your dog score
• Pet health score
• Average review of pet-friendly hotels
• Number of dog-friendly activities
• Dog parks per 100,000 residents
• Dog climate score
• Number of 24-hour vets
• WalletHub’s most pet-friendly cities score
Pet-friendly hotels, a decent climate for outdoor activity, vet availability, and dog park access were the most important factors, but high ratings for these places and decent prices are most important for some. Overall, pet owners are looking for comfort, safety, and affordability.
These cities ranked the highest:
• Portland, Oregon
• Albuquerque, New Mexico
• Phoenix, Arizona
• San Francisco, California
• Tampa, Florida
• San Diego, California
• Austin, Texas
• New York, New York
• Tucson, Arizona
• Colorado Springs, Colorado
Portland takes the #1 honors with a pet-friendly culture, plenty of parks to enjoy, and many pet-friendly hotels and restaurants. Overall, Portland earned high scores across the board. Albuquerque and Phoenix earned high scores, too, as affordable destinations with plentiful outdoor spaces. San Francisco, Austin, and Tampa also scored well, boasting sunny, warm weather perfect for time spent outdoors. They also have walkable neighborhoods and restaurants that welcome pets. The team’s work gives a comprehensive look into American cities based on their desirability as a pet-friendly vacation destination.
