Jet-setting with your pets at Affinia Hotel

In the days when transatlantic crossings were more common like the QUE2 and the new Queen Mary 2, it was France that was the route for my late friend, Raymonde I. Paul, the international lawyer, and her dog, the Maltese, Professor Fava, who were treated like royalty en route to Paris. Paris was their destination because there was quarantine in effect on all dogs entering London.My biggest problem when traveling was to find a place that welcomed our beloved dachshunds, Mitzi I and Mitzi II. She obviously didn't appreciate the company of her fellow canines at the vet, that it took her at least two days to get re-accustomed to being home. We eventually arranged for our next-door neighbor to come in and walk and feed Mitzi but she was still much happier when we returned. On a few occasions, we snuck her into Grossingers where we encountered a friendly maid who pretended she did not hear the dog. Years ago, she did accompany us to Atlantic City where she managed to find a small green patch in the courtyard of the hotel to leave her mark. In fact, she became so attached to that spot, that my late husband Martin suddenly found himself walking a collar without a dog. Some other boardwalk strollers called this to his attention and he came back laughing with the dog and a great "Marty" story. Therefore, my daughter, Jill Wasser, and her children, Bradley and Maris, are delighted to know that they can visit Manhattan's Affinia Hotels and not to be separated from their Shih Tzu, Genny, even overnight. The Affinia Hotels, The Dumont, Beekman Tower, The Benjamin, Lyden Gardens, just to name a few around the island of Manhattan, has inaugurated a special program to make the furry member of the family feel at home. Genny, named for Madeline's Genevieve, now has an elegant domicile at the nine all-suite Affinia New York City hotels.Imagine, upon check-in Genny will find her own signature food and water bowls ready and waiting for her. In case she's hungry and restless from her trip into Manhattan, she gets an assortment of treats to munch on and toys to play with. She does not have to be confined to a crate, she can roam and sprawl out anywhere in the suite that she wants to. To ensure that she doesn't miss out on any activities in New York City, the program includes an extensive list of groomers, pet day care centers, local parks/dog runs and pet-friendly restaurants so she can dine right along with us. Actually, in France, Belgium, just to name a few of the European countries, it is not uncommon to see Genny's counterparts enjoying culinary delights of Belgian waffles, steak Tatar or escargot at the table with their families. I also remember an experience I had traveling from Venice to Nice on the train when I found my seat companion to be a large Golden Retriever who had a bona fide ticket for the seat. You may not only dine with Fido but travel the continent with him or her as well. Just one word of caution, be careful where you walk on the streets of Paris, pooper scoopers are not as common as they are on this side of the Atlantic. For the jet set pet like Genny, Affinia's "Howlistic Travel Amenity" kit is a must purchase. This ensures that the darling dog has her own New York City spa experience. The kit is shaped like a bone and zips open into a reusable food and water dish. It also includes a leash, temporary ID tag, therapeutic doggie massage cream, relaxing lavender spray, guidebook (the ultimate dogma for dog owners), doggy wipe instant pet bath, a greenie bone and other treats. The Jet Set Pet program is just another feather in the cap of Affinia's well-known hospitality. With nine hotels and more than 2,000 rooms, Affinia is New York's largest luxury all-suite company. With their gracious service and spacious accommodations, the Affinia cannot only claim to be people friendly but pet friendly, too.For information about this unique pet program and to make a reservation, contact your travel professional or call Affinia at 1-866-AFFINIA or visit the Web site www.affinia.com.Copyright © Marcia AbramsonE-mail: mascribe@aol.com