Sherman's Travel

I’ll admit, with only the tiniest amount of shame, that there are times when I turn into a crazy cat lady. Meeting Fa-raon, the fluffy, white Birman (pictured), at Hotel Le Bristol in Paris may have been one of those times.

Embarrassing girlish squeals and baby talk aside, hotel pets add to the unique character of a place and make it seem that much friendlier – especially for the kiddos. And who doesn’t like looking at cute animals?

Some hotel brands make pets an official part of their staff, like Kimpton’s “Directors of Pet Relations” (also known as playful puppies) or Fairmont’s Canine Ambassadors.

Others are less “pets” and more “animals that happen to live at the property,” such as the ducks that parade through the Peabody hotels each day, or the giraffes that hang out at Giraffe Manor in Kenya.

Whether feathered or furry, teeny-tiny or two-stories tall, we can’t get enough of these hotel pets. Check out all the adorable photos on our new Pinterest board!

High-end wheels need not have motors. At Fairmont hotels across the globe, guests may pilot their very own BMW – a BMW Cruise Bike, that is. The brand rolled out the loaner wheels at Canadian properties in 2009, and the bikes will make their international debut at nearly all Fairmont locations in the next few weeks (only a handful of hotels are excluded). As with the German manufacturer’s cars, these cruisers (valued at $1,119 a pop) are top-of-the-line: Hydro-forming manufacturing creates a light but sturdy aluminum frame; an integrated braking system allows for quick stops; and the Suntour suspension system supplies a smooth ride on pothole-strewn city streets and dusty park trails alike.

Use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find the lowest rates on flights, hotels, packages, and more travel deals.