Archives for April 2022

Chamberlain Hotel West Hollywood

April 21, 2022

A boutique hotel in the heart of West Hollywood…

When you pull up to the Chamberlain Hotel on it’s tree-lined street, you might feel like you’ve just missed it. This dog-friendly hotel in West Hollywood is tucked away in a residential area for ultimate peace and privacy.

The highlight of this charming hotel is definitely its location. Get the best of both worlds with its quiet neighborhood, while you’re just steps away from the infamous Sunset Strip and Santa Monica Blvd. Walk to the best restaurants in LA (Nobu, Norah, Laurel Hardware + more) and even a shop for your pet, Healthy Spot, is just down the street.

Features 115 newly redesigned suites, a rooftop pool and Hollywood glam interiors. The hotel’s tag line is “Live like a local” and it definitely lives up to it. I enjoyed my staycation and had the best sleep ever (thank you, blackout curtains!). It was such a lovely neighborhood to walk Fira around in and super easy to find something to eat.

Tip: if you live in SoCal like me, take advantage of their California Resident 15% Discount!

1000 Westmount Dr, West Hollywood CA 90069. One dog (under 25 lbs) is welcome with no additional pet fee!

DTLA Dog-Friendly Guide

April 12, 2022

Is there anywhere to take your dog in downtown Los Angeles?

It may not feel like the most dog-friendly with its high-rise buildings and hustle bustle, but as DTLA is growing, it’s becoming a vivacious city with tons of things to do with your pup.

I find the hip Arts District area to be more dog-friendly, as the vibe is more chill and there is way more space. Ready to explore downtown LA with your dog?

Manuela. Walk into the beautiful Hauser & Wirth (an art gallery featuring contemporary works) and find yourself inside an open-air courtyard and restaurant/bar that is Manuela — a gem in downtown Los Angeles. 907 E 3rd St.

Wurstküche. A staple in Los Angeles serving Belgian fries and unique sausages — flavors like rattlesnake + rabbit, duck + bacon and mango jalapeno. Don’t worry, you can count on classics like bratwurst, hot Italian and chicken apple sausage. I always order the vegetarian Mexican chipotle — so satisfying, spicy and delish. Plenty of outdoor seating. 800 E 3rd St.

De La Nonna. Ambience. Decor. Pizza. Drinks. That’s all we really need, don’t we? De La Nonna means “from the Grandmother”, and you’ll feel like you’ve been whisked away to Sicily with their scrumptious square pizzas! Crispy on the bottom + edges and completely doughy + fluffy inside (like focaccia). One of my favorite pizzas ever. 710 E 4th Pl.

Bavel. One of the best upscale Middle-Eastern restaurants you can find in America with a chic outdoor patio. Make sure to reserve a table beforehand — it’s been known to be booked a month in advance! 500 Mateo St.

[ photo: LA Eater ]

La Cha Cha Cha. Delicious, modern and stylish dishes from Mexico City! Enjoy a meal with your pup on the rooftop terrace overlooking the city. 812 E 3rd St.

Check out my post: 8 Dog Friendly Restaurants in DTLA

Arts District Brewing Company: award-winning brewery with an on-site 15-barrel brewhouse! The space is expansive and plenty of room for your pup on the outdoor patio. 828 Traction Ave.

Weston met a Frenchie friend!

Arts District Dog Park. If you’re in the area and your dog needs a little socializing, check out this spot. It’s not the biggest (or prettiest) but it’s a much-needed spot for the neighborhood. Formed by LARABA and funded by donations, bring your pup on by! You do need to scan the QR code at the gate and sign up with your email (free) to get the door code. 1004 East 4th St.

[ photo: Do LA ]

Grand Park. Los Angeles dog owners looking for a clean dog park in downtown, look no further. This gated off-leash dog park across from City Hall provides benches, a water pump and is also well-lit at night. 233-299 N Spring St.

Dog Drop is a modern and clean doggie daycare with their own line of products. They offer daycare, training and even have pop-ups for dog parents! 905 E 2nd St #110.

[ image: Latino Foodie ]

Pali Wine Co: Independent family owned + operated winery with 5 tasting rooms in Southern California, including Santa Barbara, Lompoc, San Diego, Anaheim, and the newest, in the Arts District! Perfect for a glass of Pinot Noir with your pup. 811 Traction Ave Unit 1A.

[ photo: Hotel Figueroa ]

Fig at 7th: outdoor shopping center located at Figueroa + 7th St. You’ll find stores like Zara, Sephora + Victoria’s Secret. All shops are dog-friendly except Target. You’ll also find restaurants and quick food options, like Mendocino Farms), with plenty of outdoor seating. 735 S Figueroa St.

Arts District is very walkable! Weston and I walked from the Arts District Dog Park to Dog Drop and the brewery mentioned before. Along Traction Ave and on 3rd St, you’ll find Le Labo, Salt + Straw ice cream, a couple boutiques and more.

Bone Sweet Bone offers doggie daycare, grooming and is conveniently located down the street from the Arts District Dog Park. They also have dedicated parking spots and this super cool mural. 435 Molino St.

ROW DTLA is an urban enclave of creative, forward-thinking retailers, restaurants and boutiques. Think super cool Japanese pottery shops, Korean-owned brands (fashion + market goods) , pop-up shops and adorable food spots. You’ll definitely feel like an LA native! 777 S Alameda St.

Proper. Designed by internationally renowned designer Kelly Wearstler, the Proper hotel is a proper feast for the eyes. Filled with art from local artists, this is my top pick in DTLA. $50 pet fee per pet/per stay and 10% of pet fee is donated to the Best Friends Animal Society. 1100 S Broadway.

Hoxton. Right next to the Proper hotel, the Hoxton is brand new and super stylish. Creatives flock here for its rooftop pool, bustling lobby and views. Another perk? Pets stay free! 1060 S. Broadway.

Nomad. Another beautifully designed hotel in downtown! 1920s building with a sumptuous, grand lobby and gorgeous mezzanine level. Walking distance to restaurants, bars and Whole Foods. Two dogs of any size are welcome for no fee! 649 S Olive St.

Ace Hotel. Boutique hotel with an industrial, gritty touch. Albeit the small rooms + bathrooms, this is the hotel you want to be at for entertainment. The rooftop bar is always packed and they have a venue with performances and comedy shows, etc. Walking distance to the Orpheum Theatre. $25 per pet/per night. 929 S Broadway.

Here’s How To Get Through The Eurotunnel With Your Dog

April 1, 2022

Traveling with your dog to England when you’re already in Europe

How the hell do you get a dog into England once you’re already in the EU? Are you trying to travel with your dog between Europe and the UK? Answers below.

Truthfully, the Eurostar passenger train is not dog-friendly. A private car service could cost upwards of $600, and who really wants to deal with renting a car and the hassle of city parking and more? Oh, and there are ferries you can take from France to England, but your dog is not allowed to be with you at your seat. Dogs must stay in a separate “pet area,” which is just a cluster of dirty crates — the thought of the Frenchies down there all alone, or worse, someone stealing them, freeeaked me out. No way. (And the ferry is not cheap, either)

But what about taking your dog through the Eurotunnel? Instead of traveling by passenger train, you can go by car. Makes it way easier to get you and your dog from the EU to the UK. Our brave friend Coco + her frenchie Elle shared with us their journey going through the Eurotunnel (London to Paris) last year via the ferry and on the way back took a ridesharing service called BlablaCar.It’s almost like an Uber but for planned trips.

You can look up rides like Paris to London or Paris to Nice and you can carpool with drivers which ends up being very cost-effective (anywhere from €20-60 one-way and pay for a second seat for the pooch)!

You just need to ask the driver beforehand if they allow dogs.

Perfect! This seemed like the way to go but there were no available rides during my dates. When a ride did pop up, it seemed to get booked right away or wasn’t pet-friendly. After waiting and crossing my fingers for a week, I bit the bullet two days before the trip and decided to go via trains/Folkestone Taxi Co.

From EU to UK with my dogs: Paris to Calais – Eurotunnel – Calais to London

First, buy a ticket from Paris to Calais. French trains are dog-friendly (up to two dogs per passenger) as long as your dog is in a bag. If your dog is more than 13 lbs then no bag is necessary — you can walk them on a leash and muzzle.

Find routes on Loco2 and Trainline. Cost: varies; mine was €42 (with a connecting stop) and the ride takes less than an hour. With a connecting stop, it’s a bit longer. It’s €7 for a dog in carrier or half the 2nd class full fare if your dog is over 13 lbs and on a leash.

Book this sooner than later as they book quickly!

This option is way better than traveling on the Eurostar with your dog. Thankfully, Weston didn’t have to wear the muzzle, as I kept it in my bag just in case someone asked for it. Nobody did — in fact, no one even asked to see my ticket or the dogs’ tickets!

This is where Folkestone Taxi comes in. You can book their taxi service to ride onto the Eurotunnel and arrive in Folkestone Central Train Station in England. This is the easiest and most comfortable way to bring your dog from the EU to England.

Your pup(s) get to sit with you and you never have to leave the car. They meet you at the Calais station with a sign, help you with your bags and then you settle into the car. They even provided blankets! Cost: £125 + £96 for the Eurotunnel ticket and the ride is thirty-five minutes.

The taxi drives to pet clearance first where you go in and have your pet’s passport + documents looked over. Make sure everything is correct and you have backup papers as they are very strict. There is also a local vet (cash only) nearby in case anything is missing and you need new paperwork or treatments.

Wow, lots of pets!

Then you drive through the Passport Control where they look at your passport, then onto the Eurotunnel shuttle! The car gets turned off and you sit in the car for thirty-five minutes. A good time to charge your phone, have a chat with your friendly driver and give your dog a treat. 🙂 A pretty hassle-free way to travel with your dog to the UK from France.

Once you arrive in Folkestone, you’ll need to book another train to get from Folkestone to London. They run every half hour. Find tickets on National Rail. Cost: on average £20 and takes 55 minutes. Pets travel free (up to two). If you want to to skip the train and continue the ride with Folkestone Taxi, it’s another couple hundred pounds extra but may be worth it if you have a lot of luggage and want to make your journey easier.

All pets entering into the UK need a tapeworm treatment within 5 days of traveling and a pet passport.

What to bring: your passport, your pet’s passport(s), tickets (mine were all on mobile) + Folkestone keeps a hard copy of your Eurotunnel ticket for you, treats and pet wipes.

Did you find this post helpful? You know what to do – please leave a comment!

Want to read more? Check out articles on my How to Fly With Your Dog page or stay connected by following along on Weston and Fira’s travels on Instagram.

Archives for April 2022

A boutique hotel in the heart of West Hollywood…

Is there anywhere to take your dog in downtown Los Angeles?

Traveling with your dog to England when you’re already in Europe

From EU to UK with my dogs: Paris to Calais – Eurotunnel – Calais to London

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