More people are now traveling with their pets, including them on vacations, getaways and weekend trips. Every pet owner has concerns when considering traveling with pets: Where to stay? How to travel? What should you expect from a hotel that claims to be pet-friendly?

The list of questions to answer can become quite lengthy, but with a little bit of common sense and these tips, you can plan a trip that will be fun for all. With research and planning, working your pet's needs into every step of the itinerary is easy and conducive to a good trip for everyone. If your pet feels stressed out or poorly cared for, no one will be able to enjoy the trip.

First, consider where to stay. Look for pet-friendly hotels on the Internet and travel sites, ask friends who have traveled where they have stayed. Hotels that claim to be pet friendly are often only pet tolerating — charging more money and sticking you in a smoker's-only room.

Phone hotels and find out what their policies are regarding pets — will they provide a bed and other useful items such as maps to local dog parks? These are the hotels to look for — the ones with few restrictions, who view the pets as guests in their own right and will provide things to meet their needs as well as their human guests, but without focusing solely on the profit. Look for not only pet-friendly hotels, but pet-friendly restaurants, too. Do your research!

Consider how you are going to be traveling. Are you driving? Flying? Hopping on a train? Odds are you will use one of the first two methods to get to your vacation destination. Each of these methods of travel comes with its own concerns for transporting your pet.

If you need to fly, time of the flight and size of the pet will likely impact your plans. Most airlines will let you know when they transport pets for maximum comfort, but if you have a pet small enough to fit under the seat, you can fly any time.

Car rides are a little different. The most important thing to keep in mind in this case is that your pets will need to stretch their legs and move around about once every three hours — much like you do. In either case, remember to hydrate your pets and avoid feeding them a full meal before in order to avoid upset stomachs during the journey. If your pet is kennel- or crate-trained, bring it with you, your pet will feel more safe and secure.

When travelling with pets, keep them on your schedule — meaning even with time changes your pet will have to adjust just like you, but do it gradually for them. Bring their food and bowls, bedding, toys and leash to ensure that they are comfortable and have familiar items to ease their travel anxiety.

Never leave them alone in a hotel room, cabin or other space. Remember, pets are like children — not everyone likes them. Keep them on a leash at all times, and never let them be bothersome. Pets are part of our families, and they need to be taken care of with love, attention and discipline.