The Westin St. Francis in San Francisco knows how to treat people and their dogs as VIPs. With the hotel’s Heavenly Dog package, you can bring your best friend along on a San Francisco sojourn, sniff out great dog-friendly parks and restaurants, and relax in luxury with pup-pampering amenities. Did you know that we like pampering and attention?

Photo Courtesy of The Westin St. Francis

The package includes:

• A silver platter with gourmet dog treats and VOSS water (served in a silver bowl). People get a platter of chocolate chip cookies as well.
• A comfy Westin Heavenly Dog Bed for your pooch to snuggle up on.
• A keepsake book, Francis: The Earthquake Dog, which tells the story of the terrier found in the hotel’s basement days after the 1906 Great Earthquake. Named Francis, the dog became the mascot for the The Westin St. Francis.

Rates for the Heavenly Dog package start at $269 per night. For more information on how to pamper your pooch at The Westin St. Francis, call 800-917-7458 or visit www.westinstfrancis.com.

Have I mentioned that we pets like to go along on family vacations? I have? I guess I can’t say it enough. We really, really do. And that’s partly why I love Joie de Vivre hotels. Nearly half of its 35 boutique properties are pet-friendly, welcoming your best friend to stylish digs from San Francisco to Huntington Beach.

But now, the hotel collection has announced that pet surcharges and weight restrictions at its 15 pet-friendly hotels are a thing of the past—unless Fido decides to trash your hotel room in the manner of a cranky rock star. So not only do you have to pay less for your pooch, but you can even bring the large dogs. And, being somewhat of a mooselike chocolate Lab, I appreciate that.

The hotels also include in-room dog beds, water bowls and dog food, as well as a sweet canine turndown service. Some can even arrange a dog-walking concierge for you.

Check out Joie de Vivre’s Something to Bark About package, with savings built in so you can enjoy the summer with your buddy.

And Joie de Vivre, thanks for thinking about me. Kisses, Marley.

A little to the right … more … yeah, that’s the spot! With our hectic lives of eating, playing and sleeping, even dogs need a massage every once in a while. So why not pamper us when you bring us along on vacation?

The Cliff House Resort & Spa in Ogunquit, Maine, is helping canine guests by offering two 25-minute dog massage treatments. The Aromatherapy Massage ($60) incorporates essential oils to de-stress pups with yummy smells (I rub my face in fresh rosemary daily), and the Customized Massage ($50) focuses on those muscles that need a little extra attention. Each massage is performed in one of the resort’s eight pet-friendly Ledges Rooms.

Photo: The Cliff House Resort & Spa

After the massage, your best buddy can enjoy his own dog bed, water dish, natural dog treats and ground-floor access to an enclosed exercise area. Of course, he’s sharing the Ledges Room with you, but while you’re on vacation on Maine’s rocky seashore, you can rest assured that your pooch is having fun too. Dogs are even welcome to walk with you (on leash) through the resort’s 70-acre property, including woods, beach and lawn.

The Cliff House Resort & Spa, on the south coast of Maine, is just 75 miles from Boston. Each of its 194 rooms has a balcony with an ocean view, which allows you to get great salty smells of the sea (What? I’m a dog!). Although the resort is popular for spa getaways, guests can also enjoy golf, shopping and wine tasting. But for me, the best thing is that it’s dog-friendly, and I can get pampered with a massage. Really, who cares about all the rest?

The Cliff House Resort & Spa. Open seasonally, mid-April through mid-November. Tel. 207-361-1000, www.cliffhousemaine.com

At 95 pounds, I’m a little too big to fit under an airplane seat. And my family is uncomfortable with bringing me along in an airplane cargo hold (Hello?!?! I’m a dog, not luggage!). So that’s why we’re all doing a little dance over the possibility of sending me along as a “pawsenger” on an airline dedicated only to pets.

Pet Airways is scheduled to begin flights on July 14 as the “first pet-only airline,” allowing your best friend to chill out in a temperature-controlled airplane cabin, get ample food and water, bathroom breaks before and after the flight, and attention from attendants during the trip. Pet Airways was created by Dan Wiesel and Alysa Binder to provide a safe and comfortable solution for the transportation of pets. Inspiration for the airline came from the difficulties they encountered when shipping Zoe, their Jack Russell Terrier, across the country.

Photo: Pet Airways

Just five cities are on Pet Airways’ service list for now (with weekly service to Chicago; Denver; Los Angeles; New York and Washington, D.C.), however the airline plans to expand nationwide. One-way service starts at $149. My family has already voted for San Francisco to New Orleans service. I want to get to the Crescent City for Marley Gras (Fat Marley)!

While Pet Airways doesn’t take entire families (pets and their people) together on flights, people can track their pet’s flight status by e-mail, phone and the airline’s Web site. And when dropping their buddies off at Pet Airways’ Pet Lounge, families can be assured that their pet will get a comfortable travel experience—far better than being in the belly of a plane.

Well-behaved dogs are invited to the Hotel Indigo in Atlanta’s Midtown when their people visit, with no weight limit and no deposit necessary! I can’t tell you how much that means to me, a big bruiser of a Labrador. If you mention you’ll be bringing your canine pal when making your reservations, the hotel will even include a dog bed, food and water bowls, and a dog-focused magazine in your room.

Visit the Hotel Indigo between Memorial Day and Labor Day, and your pooch gets a special treat—the Canine Cocktail Hour. Every Tuesday from 5 to 8 p.m., bring your pup to enjoy complimentary treats and water, while people indulge in more traditional libations. You can even order a more substantial meal for Fido from a doggie menu, which includes chicken and steak entrées.

Stay for pet photo ops from the pupperazzi, in the signature Hotel Indigo chair. Sounds like the perfect place for me: a chair, some food and drink, and camera attention!

Standard room rates start at $149 (weekend) and $179 (weekday) per night. 683 Peachtree St., tel. 404-874-9200. www.midtownatlantahotel.com

Courtesy of Hotel Indigo Atlanta Midtown

What completes a holiday scene better than you and your pet in the middle of family, food and festivities? It’s not always a perfect picture when you bring your pet with you to your holiday destination. If you’re planning on being a guest and are carting Fido or Fluffy along, consider these tips before you pack the car:

Ask ahead. If you’ll be staying with friends or relatives (or even just spending a day in their home), ask if your pet is welcome too. Just showing up isn’t polite, and if your pet’s habits or fur may endanger furniture or allergies, it’s best to consider those situations in advance. While we definitely love to be included, no pet wants to feel unwanted when everyone else is partying.

Training is key. Make sure your cat or dog has the skills needed to be a beloved guest. I know, it’s easier for dogs, because we’re so skilled. Your dog should know how to sit, stay, come and drop it—and all pets should be trained away from habits that will bother hosts, such as excessive scratching, barking or jumping up. If your cat or pooch knows any special tricks, this is a great opportunity to wow spectators.

Consider the change for your pet. Some pets, while well-behaved at home, may be nervous in new locations and with new routines. See my note on training, but also try to maintain a solid routine for your buddy, as close as possible to that at home. And if your pet tends towards bad habits when nervous, such as chewing on clothing or jumping on furniture, try to focus on prevention in advance. Keep clothes off the floor, keep your pet only in certain areas of the house, or consider bringing a crate.

Pack and prepare well. Bring favorite treats and toys to keep your pet occupied and make him feel at home. If your pet has a favorite bed, or is used to a crate, bring that too. Ensure that your pal is microchipped and also wearing a collar with tags, so if someone accidentally leaves the door open and your pet gets lost in an unfamiliar place, it’ll be easier to find him.

Travel isn’t always the answer. If your buddy isn’t welcome where you’re going, it’s better to not bring him. Look for comfortable and reliable pet-sitting services or kennels, or make other holiday plans for yourself. I know that my family’s planning on staying home instead of leaving me alone, and that’s the best holiday gift I can ask for. Woof!

With my hectic schedule of eating, playing, sleeping and writing—I recently needed to get outta Dodge for some nice downtime. Luckily, my people decided to take me to Carmel, Calif., for a weekend treat.

Talk about treats! Hotels, restaurants, store owners and even people on the street offer Scooby snacks to deserving pooches. Business establishments have water bowls just outside their doors for thirsty canines like me. And one of the sweetest leash-free (and clean!) beaches is just walking distance from dog-friendly hotels. Carmel is a dog’s dream. Well, besides mountains of kibble.

Here are a few of my favorites from my Carmel weekend:

Cypress Inn. With this elegant hotel’s comfortable rooms, courtyard, library bar and living room all open to pets, I had plenty of places to chill out. The front desk even has a large bowl of biscuits for your buddy.

PortaBella. I was treated like a king at this Mediterranean restaurant, and was given a sparkling silver water dish placed on a white napkin and dinner plate to quench my thirst. Now, that’s service!

Diggidy Dog. I couldn’t decide between all the edibles at this dog and cat boutique, so my people got me some luscious peanut butter biscuits. Besides all the food, there are more pet accessories and toys than you can imagine.

Carmel City Beach. The white sand crunching beneath my toes, the body-surfable waves, the friendly people and their dogs—what more could I want in a beach? The city takes great care of this pretty, leash-free beach, leaving it one of the cleanest I’ve ever seen (remember to bring a bag to clean up after your pal). If your pup isn’t friendly, please keep it on leash. The people and other dogs will thank you.