The holiday season in the Revolutionary City is one of my favorites times of the year. But it’s also a time when many people avoid traveling because they don’t want to leave their pets behind. With Christmas right around the corner, I’m going to show you why Williamsburg is an excellent vacation choice for both you and your fur-legged friends!
COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG IS PET FRIENDLY!
Not only are dogs welcome in some of our hotels, the stores in Merchants Square and stops along DoG Street also provide a pet-friendly environment. Here are some guidelines to keep in mind leading up to your trip along with some useful tips for when you arrive.
PLANNING YOUR TRIP
Whether you’re flying or driving, traveling with your pet can be easy and enjoyable if you prepare. Be sure to choose a crate/carrier that’s the right size for your pup. A good rule of thumb? He/she should be able to stand up and turn around comfortably. Also, don’t forget a travel kit! Be sure that it includes extra food, a leash, bowls, medication, a favorite toy (or two), and a blanket or pillow. We also recommend you include a copy of your animal’s rabies certificate. Some states require proof the vaccination is up to date, even if you are only passing through. You may want to consider microchipping your pooch before you leave. And most importantly, be sure your current address and cell phone number appear on your dog’s tags.
FLYING: Flying with a pet is easier than it sounds. Many airlines have very pet-friendly policies. Small dogs and cats are typically permitted in the cabin. The average fee for airlines is $125 per pet/per route. You do have to alert your airline in advance that you’re traveling with pets. You can do so by calling a reservation agent from your airline. The rep will also be able to guide you further for restrictions/requirements for that specific carrier.
DRIVING: For those long road trips, make sure your pet is always secured in the car when traveling. This can be inside of a crate or carrier or strapped into a pet car seat. Never leave your pet inside that car alone; both heat and cold are very dangerous.
PET-FRIENDLY LODGING
Your pets can stay in the heart of all the holiday action too! Three of our Colonial Williamsburg Hotels are pet friendly. The Williamsburg Inn, Providence Hall Guesthouses, and Williamsburg Woodlands Hotel & Suites. Please note, however, that we do have a limited number of pet-friendly rooms available so plan to book your room in advance (as these rooms go fast!) and specifically mention your needs.
The main rule is only two dogs per room and both have to weigh 50 pounds or less. You’ll be asked to sign a pet policy when you check in and you must crate them when you leave. For a look at the complete list of rules (including fees), click on the links below.
Providence Hall Guesthouses Pet Policy
Williamsburg Woodlands Hotel & Suites Pet Policy
If your dogs exceed the weight limit or you simply don’t want to crate them during the day while you’re out exploring, we have the perfect solution. St. Francis Pet Resort. From doggie daycare to grooming, it’s the perfect way for your pets to pass the time while you enjoy learning about our historic trades, dining in our taverns, or touring our 18th-century gardens. A reminder you do need to make a reservation ahead of time and you will also have to complete the Canine Boarding Packet.
THINGS TO DO
The Revolutionary City is the perfect “playground” with a number of grassy areas perfect for a game of fetch! And there’s nothing more relaxing than an evening walk down DoG Street without having to worry about traffic. You’ll also find water buckets set out just for our canine visitors. But please remember, pets are not allowed in any of our historic buildings!
WHAT ABOUT CATS?
And while cats aren’t allowed in any of our hotels, that doesn’t mean you won’t spot them out and about. Some (like Spencer here) are locals. There’s also a good chance you may run into one of our Colonial Kitties.
We would like to extend a special “thank you” to all of our pet models: Pixel, Vector, Domino, Lizzie, Mazy, Tyson & Spencer!
I wish CW would partner with a licensed, bonded & insured pet sitting service. It’s nice to have the pet resort suggested if you’d like to do things during the day, but what about dinners and evening programs? I was forced to cancel all my plans due to the fact that my dog turned out to be a ‘yapper’ when left in the room.
Also, I wish a clear list of dos and don’ts was available. While I was told over the phone that I could take my small dog into the Visitor’s Center as long as she was leashed, I was yelled at (literally) by someone working in the building.
Otherwise, I found everyone I encountered very nice and helpful and my dog and I loved our walks around the Historic Area.
Barb, thank you for your feedback. The pet resort we listed offers both day and overnight boarding. We know it can be tough to part with your dogs for any amount of time but it could be an alternative if you visit us again and your pet doesn’t adjust well to being left alone in the hotel room. Our pet polices for the hotels that do allow dogs are listed on our website and within the blog post. They do state dogs are not permitted in any indoor public areas.
CW, especially DOG Street, was a favorite walk for both me and my dog back when we were living in Yorktown, just down the road. She really, really wanted to go into Chowning’s Tavern (can’t blame her!) and would start making a beeline towards it as soon as she came close enough to smell it. There were lots of other well-behaved, local dogs being walked there and people working there were friendly to her. I still smile remembering when one of the carriage drivers told me, “That’s one fine hunting dog you have there, ma’am,” as he drove past (she was a great beagle and was probably a hunting dog before I found her). CW is fun all year but I loved the holiday season in the Historic Triangle. My personal faves were our walks to see the decor on DOG Street in the evening (when the windows are illuminated), Christmas markets in the area (dogs are allowed in Yorktown outdoor markets and you can’t beat singing carols with pirate reenactors and sampling roasted chestnuts - not sure about the dog rules for the Williamsburg ones but I’m sure it’s similar), and the Yorktown lighted boat parade (with a beach bonfire and free cocoa/cider). I’d recommend staying in CW lodgings or nearby, especially if you want to be there for the Grand Illumination (parking can be tough - if you stay elsewhere, go to CW earlier in the day and explore until nighttime).
MB,
We’re glad walks down DOG street are you favorite, they are ours too! We always enjoy meeting all the dogs!
For many years I have taken my dog to Colonial Williamsburg. It is extra work/walk because unless in a carier dogs are not allowed in the area buses. Also only outdoor dining is avaliable and in November/December that is pretty cold.
I do enjoy walking my little dog around the area and have been able to sneak him in many places due to his size (about 8lbs) but it would be nice to see an increase in pet friendly accommodations and restaurants.
Sadly, the Prime Outlets in Williamsburg changed their policy a couple of years ago and are no longer pet friendly.
Carie, we’re glad you’ve enjoyed the Colonial Williamsburg experience with your pup. I personally like to take mine for walks down DoG Street on the weekend although it’s getting awfully cold now!
This article is misleading. Williamsburg is not very dog freindly. We visited colonial williamsburg last November largely due to articles like this one. Most hotels will not allow you to leave the dogs in your room unattended. The historic area resturants and outdoor performances are NOT dog friendly. The public resturants at Merchant’s Square only allow service dogs in their outdoor seating. We did find two places that allowed us to dine with our dogs (Corgis), but that was it. We have vacationed with our dogs in Savsnnah GA and Charleston SC both truely dog freindly cities.
Bobbie-Jo,
The three Colonial Williamsburg hotels we included do allow pets to be left in your room unattended. As stated in the pet policies we attached “Your dog must be securely crated when left alone in your room or removed from the room in order for the room to be serviced by the housekeeping staff. Your room will not be serviced if there is a pet out of their crate in your room. A cell phone number where you can be reached during your stay with us must be provided to the Front Desk.” We also included the option of day boarding at the St. Francis Pet Resort for the times when you wish to explore and participate in activities that are not pet friendly.
Where is the “like” button? 😉
Dom is a star!