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Top Pet-Friendly Places, Hotels and Airlines

By U.S. News & World Report

Toying with the idea of traveling with your pet in 2016? You’re not alone. In fact, pet travel accounts for an increasing slice of the nearly $61 billion Americans are expected to have spent on their four-legged companions in 2015 according to a survey from the American Pet Products Association. And the travel industry is taking note, rolling out amenities and lodging choices to attract customers interesting in bringing along Fido. Take the ARK at JFK, which is set to open in mid-2016 and will debut the world’s first air terminal for animals, or Kimpton Hotels, which entices pet owners with special privileges, such as treats and pet beds for complimentary use during pets’ stays. Plus, a rising number of cities are becoming increasingly pet-focused with pet-friendly hotels, restaurants and parks, along with a wealth of animal-friendly activities, from dog-friendly kayaking to paddle boarding and surfing. With this in mind, here are the key destinations and companies that are redefining the pet-friendly travel concept with innovative perks and pet policies.

Air Travel

The ARK at JFK

The $48 million, 14.4-acre ARK at New York’s JFK Airport will have a full-service veterinary hospital, an urban jungle 3D mural by pop artist Charles Fazzino and a 20,000-square-foot resort, spa and training center for cats and dogs, operated by Paradise 4 Paws, a hotel company for pets. Paradise 4 Paws offers a myriad of pampering services and amenities, like a bone-shaped dog pool, an adventure jungle gym for cats, pet massages and optional flat-screen TVs and webcams in its suites. Paradise 4 Paws already has resorts at Denver International Airport and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport as well as near Chicago’s O’Hare International and Midway International airports.

JetBlue

JetBlue is the only airline with a pet loyalty program, JetPaws. It offers 300 TrueBlue frequent flier points per flight when your companion animal is your companion onboard. The non-refundable fee for your furry fellow traveler is $100 each way. Also note, only small canine or feline pets are allowed. The weight limit for a pet, combined with its carrier, is 20 pounds. And only one pet is allowed and it must travel in the cabin with you.

Car Travel

The number of travelers who take their dogs on road trips has more than doubled in a decade, from 19 percent to 37 percent, according to findings from the American Pet Products Association. And 85 percent of road trippers travel with their dog and 21 percent travel with their cat, according to a 2012 AAA/Best Western study. Whether traveling by plane, train or automobile, “Traveling with Your Pet: The AAA PetBook,” is a trusted resource, thanks to its listing of more than 15,000 hotels, restaurants and campgrounds that welcome furry guests. The book also provides practical information for prepping your pet for a trip and finding aid in emergencies.

Hotel Chains

Best Western

Best Western stands among the pack of pet-friendly hotels with more than 1,600 hotels accommodating pets. Best Western’s properties allow two dogs (at a maximum 80 pounds each) per room. Some Best Westerns permit other species like monkeys, snakes, birds and cats with prior approval. For the privilege of bringing along your pet, hotels may charge a maximum $20 per day, $100 per week and a refundable damage deposit of up to $50.

Kimpton Hotels

All Kimpton properties welcome pets of all sizes and species to stay at their hotels at no additional fee. Any pet will have a place to stay, so long as it can fit through the hotel room door. In fact, Kimpton’s Hotel Monaco in Seattle once hosted an albino kangaroo and Olive, a pig with Instagram stardom, once graced Kimpton’s Hotel Palomar Philadelphia. Standard pet amenities include beds, toys, water bowls, treats and clean-up bags. Some properties even tout a Director of Pet Relations, or canine concierges, like bichon frisé Charlie at Hotel Monaco Alexandria.

Places

Seattle

The Seattle area boasts more than 70 pet-friendly hotels and approximately 100 dog-friendly restaurants, like Norm’s Eatery & Ale House in the Fremont neighborhood. Some eateries even allow leashed dogs to share a meal with patrons in a booth. Seattle also features 14 off-leash pooch parks. Magnuson Park, for example, has a 9-acre off-leash area, complete with a separate area for small dogs. And getting around to all these attractions is especially convenient and reasonable because pets, in addition to service animals, are allowed on both means of public transportation, the King County Metro Transit system and on Washington State Ferries.

San Diego

Among San Diego‘s numerous dog parks are seven that are off-leash 24 hours a day, including two within the famed Balboa Park and four at the city’s beaches. There’s also surfing and paddle boarding for pooches, plus dog kayaking tours of La Jolla Cove and Mission Bay. If you prefer to tour breweries, about half of San Diego’s 100 craft breweries specifically identify themselves as dog-friendly. And pet-welcoming hotels and restaurants abound in San Diego. The Dog House Bar and Grill’s Saturday brunches even offer doga, or dog yoga. Plus, a few bakeries and health food stores have gone to the dogs and cats, like Paw Pleasers Bakery that delivers its homemade lactose-free pet-safe ice cream to dog parks.

Philadelphia

The City of Brotherly Love might as well coin itself the City of Furry Love. Philadelphia‘s pet-welcoming parks are abundant and historic. You and your pet can follow the footsteps of George Washington and his troops at Valley Forge National Historical Park and Fort Washington State Park. Afterwards, you and Fido can take a jaunt to Rittenhouse Square and head to Rouge Restaurant for dog treats and water bowls, one of the dozens of eateries that offer water bowls for dogs across Philadelphia. What’s more, the Schuylkill River Park Dog Run is made from K9 grass, a revolutionary turf created specifically for dogs, along with small and large dog runs and water fountains. And when it comes to lodging, you and your pet can choose from one of 15 pet-friendly hotels.

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Top Pet-Friendly Places, Hotels and Airlines originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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