If your pet prefers an Atlantic crossing, Cunard's Queen Elizabeth 2 is happy to oblige. The QE2 allows canines on board in a shielded open deck area for an extra $500, while cats and birds are $300 and $200, respectively. And just so an ocean-borne dog feels at home, he'll find a fire hydrant and lamppost on deck.

Because nearly 60 percent of U.S. households own at least one pet according to the American Veterinary Medical Association, many hoteliers agree that happy pets mean happy guests. "At Loews, we've found that taking care of pets is the best way to build customer loyalty and give our guests and their companions a good night's sleep," says Charlotte St. Martin, executive vice president of marketing at Loews Hotels, which permits pets at all of its hotels in the U.S. and Canada.

Upon arrival, a Loews guest with pet in tow is handed a map of the area listing dog-walking routes, pet-friendly restaurants, pet shops, and veterinarians. A toy, treats, food and water bowls, place mat, and room-service menu (bow-wow burgers, anyone?) await. After that, Fido can crash and watch a pet video, or go out for a walk with hotel staff.

At The Point in Saranac Lake, New York, a small Adirondack Mountains resort built by a nephew of John D. Rockefeller IV, dogs can romp the 10-acre grounds, swim in the lake, and sleep in Architectural Digest-worthy log cabins with their owners. "We say dogs don't go to heaven when they die, they go to The Point," says manager Tim Thuell, whose own two dogs live at The Point (800-255-3530), where rooms start at $1,000 per night, three meals included.

At the Grove Isle Club & Resort (305-858-8300), Miami's only Relais & Chateaux property, Fido can gobble up grilled sirloin and mushrooms with a side of bones or lap up milk on the outdoor patio. Of course, there's room service if Rover prefers to eat in. Louis Vuitton carriers and Coach leather collars are available for purchase for furry fashion victims, who sleep on Frette sheets with their owners, in rooms decked out with mahogany furnishings and Italian marble baths.