PETS NEED A Break too! (Jan 2025)
- Categories - Pet-friendly Accommodation
BY BRIAN BERKMAN
“LUXURY TRAVEL WRITER, BRIAN BERKMAN, SEARCHES OUT THE FABULOUS AND OFTEN AFFORDABLE OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO YOU AND YOUR PETS. JULIE, HIS RESCUED MIXED-BREED DOGGIE-DAUGHTER, INSISTS ON JOINING THEM.”
Gone are the days when our four-legged friends had to be left behind with a pet sitter. Whether you’re cruising at 30,000 feet or checking into a five-star hotel, you’re just as likely to see a designer dog carrier as a designer handbag. Take Lady Gaga, whose French Bulldogs are such seasoned travellers they probably have more air miles than most humans. Her pup, Asia, has snoozed in luxury hotel suites from Paris to Tokyo, living the true “pawsh” life. Speaking of pets living it up, Taylor Swift’s famous Scottish Fold cat, Olivia Benson, has been known to jet between New York and LA in style, proving that cats can be just as adaptable as their canine counterparts. And let’s not forget Paris Hilton’s Chihuahua, Diamond Baby, a constant companion at fashion weeks, red carpets, and business meetings worldwide.
Cape Town’s magnificent Mount Nelson, a Belmond Hotel, listed at 28 in the World’s 50 Best Hotels, was initially late in introducing a pet-friendly policy but now stands head, shoulders and pointy ears above all other properties we’ve encountered.
“We know that the way we travel is changing, and people no longer want to leave their beloved pets behind when the jet off on holiday,” says Tiago Sarmento, General Manager of Mount Nelson Hotel, in an handout shared with Pet Prints. He adds, “Cape Town is the perfect city to explore with your four-legged family, and we are thrilled to offer this
new opportunity to both pets and their travelling companions. Selected suites in the Green Park and Helmsley wings now welcome both dogs and cats.”
The Mount Nelson Hotel has partnered with Chommies, a local luxury pet brand based near the hotel, to create a special Chommies x Mount Nelson range. Not only is this collection beautiful and highquality, but it also supports the Underdog Project, which aims to connect vulnerable children with dogs from nearby shelters.
In the March 2024 issue, I wrote about Julie’s Dog Afternoon Tea at the Mount Nelson Hotel, and we were recently privileged to be invited back with Julie to experience their overnight pet-friendly accommodation.
We stayed in Suite 501, located in the former Helmsley Hotel — an impressive studio suite with its own enclosed garden area, allowing Julie to be off-leash once inside. The in-room pet amenities went well beyond our experiences at other, equally luxurious hotels and included a dedicated Pet Mini Bar. The items were so smartly packaged that we initially thought the bottled Rooibos teas were for us, but they were actually intended for Julie, along with bottled water, a bespoke cork mat, and elegant food and water bowls.
Julie eagerly devoured the Turkey and Duck flavoured dry food as well as the Game and Lamb option. Tinned food (and freshly prepared items from the kitchen upon request) are available for an additional charge. Julie had her choice of two velvet deluxe beds and selected the large cushion, resting her head on the elegantly embroidered Mount Nelson logo while we enjoyed the sumptuous luxury of the suite and the hotel’s many amenities.
International guests with pets are required to obtain a veterinary import permit from South Africa’s Department of Agriculture, Land Reform, and Rural Development before departure. Pets traveling from the USA, UK, Australia, New Zealand, and certain other countries, do not require quarantine.
