Helping You Find the Pet Lover of Your Dreams

• First and foremost: Be yourself. If you've heard this once, you've heard it a thousand times. But it's so true! What is the point of pretending you're someone you're not? If you take on a false persona, you'll ruin any chances of determining genuine compatibility with your date. And if you decide you want to go out with her again, you're eventually going to have to reveal "the real you" – and then you'll have to admit that you weren't being honest initially. 

• Be realistic. If you set your expectations too high, it will be very difficult for anyone to meet them. Not everyone can be smart, beautiful, funny, and rich. Before you judge your date too harshly, realize your own weaknesses and limitations. If your date has admitted to you that he's struggling with expenses at this time in his life, don't insist on going to an expensive dinner – and don't assume that he's going to pick up the check. After all, we're living in the year 2006, not 1950.

• Don't go along just to get along. If you hate action movies, don't enthusiastically agree to see a Jean Claude Van Damme flick just so your date will think you're compatible with him. If your companion takes you to a noisy, crowded bar and you're feeling miserable and claustrophobic, suggest going to another bar or restaurant that you would both enjoy. You always command more respect and admiration if you have your own opinions, as long as you're open to others' opinions and willing to compromise.

• Make allowances for nervousness and fatigue. A bad case of nerves can make your date talk a mile a minute or not say much at all. Maybe she just spent a particularly long and stressful day at work. Don't let your date's personality and mood on the first date make you draw a firm conclusion about what she is like. Unless you absolutely can't stand this person, make another date and reserve judgment. She might be less nervous or less tired the next time, and might feel more comfortable with you and let her guard down.

• Be considerate, and treat your date the way you want him or her to treat you. For example, don't talk on your cell phone during your date. It's rude and disrespectful, and it can make the other person feel ignored and insignificant. It can also embarrass your companion -- onlookers may be throwing sympathetic glances his way because he's fidgeting uncomfortably as you chat on your cell phone, oblivious to his presence.

• Don't monopolize the conversation. The only way to get to know each other is to take turns talking about yourselves. If you do all the talking, your date will get to know you, but you won't get to know her.

• Meet in public places on the first few dates. You can't be too careful when it comes to your safety, so you'll want to get to know the person before you take any chances. Also, if you're having an awful time and you're positive that you don't ever want to see this person again, cut the evening short. There's no point in prolonging something that seems doomed to fail. This doesn't mean you should down your drink in record time and stalk out of the bar or restaurant – but you can certainly tell your date that you'd like to get home early or that you don't think the date is working out.

After you've been on a few dates with someone and really feel a connection, you might want to take a trip together. If things are going really well, you can consider a long vacation to a far-away place, but it's probably best to start out with a domestic destination over a long weekend for your first travel stint together.

One of the decisions you'll have to make is whether you want to leave your pets at home and hire petsitters, or take your pets along with you. If you decide to travel with your pets, rest assured that there are thousands of resorts, hotels, cabins, and timeshares to choose from that will welcome both you and your pets. Below is a list of just a few, as well as some travel services that can help you find pet-friendly lodging:

PETScanSTAY^TM TRAVEL SERVICES - FREE TRAVEL ASSISTANCE
1-800-574-3121
http://www.petscanstay.com

Find Certified Pet-Friendly Accommodations
For peace of mind when traveling with your pet, book your next trip with Pets Can Stay:
• Search their Certified pet-friendly hotels, B&Bs, and resorts index
• Use their online travel request form, or
• Call them toll-free at 1-800-574-3121 for free travel assistance


Pet Friendly Hotels and Motels by 1Click
Free Online Directory of pet friendly hotels, motels & resorts that allow dogs, cats, etc.
http://www.1clickpethotels.com
All hotels on this site are dog-friendly hotels and most of them also allow, accept or take cats and other pets as well, unless otherwise specified.
Check out their Pet Travel Links for tips, guidelines and fun things to do when your pet takes you with it. Book On-line for Maximum Savings - Or Call 800-620-2752


WYNDHAM PET-FRIENDLY HOTELS & RESORTS (Search by state) http://www.wyndham.com/locator/pets/main.wnt+
Check online for each individuals property's Pet Policies & Guidelines. Make sure you give the hotel/resort plenty of notice -- only certain rooms are allocated for pets.

CANDLEWOOD SUITES PET-FRIENDLY HOTELS http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/cw/1/en/c/1/content/dec/teaser/cw/1/en/lp/petfriendly.html?WT.extp=petfriendly&WT.exts=keywords&cm_mmc=MSN-PS-CW-_-BN%20Core-_-Pet%20Friendly-_-Pet%20Friendly%20Hotels
After booking online, simply call the property directly (not the central reservation number). Give them your name or confirmation number and ask them to add your pet to the reservation. It's that simple. Each property's Pet Policies & Guidelines are specified online.

EXTENDED-STAY HOTELS
http://www.extendedstayhotels.com/?WT.srch=1


Pet-Friendly Timeshare Resorts
http://www.thetimesharebeat.com/petfriendly.htm
Call to verify before booking. Most pet friendly resorts have a limited number of units for Fido, so you will need to make arrangements early.  Here are just a few of the US destinations that will welcome your pets:

Sedona Pines, Sedona, Arizona
The Plaza Resort And Spa, Palm Springs, California
Inn at Silvercreek, SilverCreek, Colorado
Caribe Beach Resort, Sanibel Island, Florida
The Waves, Ocean City, Maryland
Rancho Ruidoso Condominiums, Alto, New Mexico
Silverleaf's Holly Lake Ranch, Holly Lake Ranch, Texas
Kala Point Village, Port Townsend, Washington
Banff Rocky Mountain Resort, Banff, Alberta  
Premier Vacation Club at Kohl's Ranch Lodge, Payson, Arizona (Kennel provided)
Premier Vacation Club at Bell Rock Inn, Sedona, Arizona (Has pet units with dog runs)
Villas of Gold Canyon, Gold Canyon, Arizona (Dogs are permitted to stay w/their owner in the rooms for a $75 weekly cleaning fee.)
The Townhouses at St. Augustine Beach & Tennis Resort, St. Augustine, Florida
Club la Pension, New Orleans, Louisiana


FEATURED RESORT:

Tally Ho Inn (Huntsville, Ontario)
800-461-4232
www.tallyhoinn.com
Resort on Peninsula Lake offering various styles of rooms, units, suites, cabins & cottages. Most with wood burning fireplaces, some with full kitchens. Home-made meals available. Tennis, shuffleboard, whirlpool, sauna, boat rentals, fishing for smallmouth bass & trout. Winter: Snowmobile trails, downhill, cross country skiing, snow tubing closeby Muskoka cottage vacations at our pet friendly family resort, on Peninsula Lake, between Huntsville and Algonquin Park, Hwy 60. Relax, renew, and rediscover. Explore Algonquin Park, Play on 1,000 feet of beach, go boating, snowmobiling, golfing, skiing, or hiking. Special: Jan.2 to Feb. 25: 2 nights: $160 to $198 pp, 3 nights: $218 to $269 pp, taxes extra, based double occupancy. Breakfast & Dinners included.