Westminster 411 – Edition 2

by Amy Fernandez

Avoid Hotel Mayhem

Currently, 90+ NYC hotels accept dogs. You definitely have options, but the Westminster’s perennial favorites earn their keep. The Affinia and the Penn roll out the red carpet for canine guests during Westminster Week. The Penn provides basement exercise pens, treadmills, and bathtubs.

The Affinia provides an outdoor dog run with turf, along with a range of pet amenities through their VIPaws Pet Program. It features everything from dog walking/pet-sitting, gourmet dog treats, pet psychics, and pet taxi services.

All Affinia NYC hotels and their affiliates offer this program including:

•        The Shoreham at 33 West 55th St.

Phone: 800-553-3347

•        and The Mansfield at

2 West 44th Street, New York NY 10036

Phone: 800-255-5167

Both charge a non-refundable $25 fee and potential $250 cleaning/repair fee which encourages guests to supervise their dogs. These are far from the only dog friendly hotels in Midtown. See The Canine Chronicle website at www.caninechronicle.com for a more extensive listing.

Painless Hotel Check-In

Checking into a Manhattan Hotel with dogs in tow can be the biggest Westminster challenge. It’s a two person job because leaving your car unattended is asking for a ticket or tow. Doormen and bellhops are your best resource for a smooth, anxiety-free experience. (To speak to the head bellman at the Affinia call 917-495-1060).

Doormen can help you grab a curbside spot, quickly unload your gear onto a luggage cart, and navigate it to the front desk where you are likely to find all your dog friends at the endless check-in queue. Meanwhile, the doorman can direct your driver to nearby parking garages. You will probably still be in line by the time they return from parking the car.

Tips on Tipping

Be prepared to hand out plenty of tips during your stay. FYI – unless you’re really generous, bring plenty of singles and fives. In the long run, tipping is far more economical than bailing your car out of the tow pound or filing police reports for missing luggage.

•        Hotel Doorman – $1-$5 depending on the service

•        Porters and Bellhops – $1-$2 per bag

•        Housekeeping – $2-$5 per day, depending on services

•        Concierge – $5-$10, depending on request.

•        Room Service Waiter – 15-20 percent (unless tips are added to your bill). Aside from restaurants/bars where tips can be added to the bill, always tip in cash.

Dog Walking in NYC

By the time you get checked in, your dogs will probably be going nuts for a walk and a pee, which brings us to the next Westminster dilemma. The Penn and Affinia provide dog exercise areas. Otherwise, a stack of newspapers on the bathroom floor can suffice for Toy breeds. But most dogs prefer some exercise.

Central Park has 23 designated dog-friendly areas throughout the park where dogs are permitted off lead before 9:00 A.M. and after 9:00 P.M.

DeWitt Clinton Park is near the Piers between 10th and 11th Avenues and 52nd Street. Locally, it’s the preferred dog hangout, spanning two acres along the Hudson with two nice dog runs.

Short URL: http://caninechronicle.com/?p=42305

Posted by chesliepickett on Jan 29 2014. Filed under Current Articles, Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.