Travelodge: dog allergy? warning!

luxor4t

I had a nasty surprise last night while staying at a Travelodge.

I woke about 2am with swollen, inflamed eyes, runny nose and itchy skin - classic allergic reaction to a dog. The problem was, I was in bed, in a Travelodge,with no dog anywhere near. I spent a very uncomfortable, wheezy and cold night with the window open.

This morning I discovered it is company policy to allow dogs in the rooms - any rooms - so if you have an allergy and are allocated the room for the next night, hard luck! As I had booked on line, I was only given the choice of a smoking or non-smoking room.

Although I was offered a refund, I would have prefered to have had the comfortable night's sleep I had paid for. I am concerned that Travelodge does not appear to have considered the Health and Safety issues, nor publicised their policies adequately.

Please note, I love dogs, and did not choose to suffer from this restrictive allergy, I just think that customers should be offered a safe night's sleep.

mum2one

Travelodge do mention it in their terms and conditions about dogs, that they are accepted, its like all companies, unless you go through the small print then these points dont come to light.

trinidadone

luxor4t, u poor thing, spent all that money for a room with a view, to find out you got the allergic reaction you prefer not to have. i think I am on your side with this one. Travellodge should have some dog free rooms, or completely sanatize each room. for yourself, dont use them again, and carry some piritan with you "just in case". I am nut suffer, so cant have any foods with traces of nuts in. if a resturant said "sorry, all our foods have nuts in" i copuld not eat there. At least you got a refund, you poor thing

pboae

It is illegal for hotels to have dog-free rooms, as no hotel is allowed to refuse access to service dogs, and a service dog will trigger the same allergic reactions as a pet will.

If you have a serious allergy it would be best to speak to the hotel before you stay. That way they can at least try to give you a room that hasn't had a dog in it recently.

lynzpower

IM sorry you had this experience OP, but Im also pleased that travellodges allow dogs- we had no idea and that is brill for us.

budgetflyer

pboae wrote: »

It is illegal for hotels to have dog-free rooms, as no hotel is allowed to refuse access to service dogs, and a service dog will trigger the same allergic reactions as a pet will.

If you have a serious allergy it would be best to speak to the hotel before you stay. That way they can at least try to give you a room that hasn't had a dog in it recently.

I dont see why they cant just keep so many rooms for "service dogs" use.Would that be "guide dogs ? is "service dogs the new politically correct way of saying guide dog ? " Unless theres a "blind person convention" maybe 10% should under normal conditions be suffice.Pets Id like to see banned altogether, but if they are to be allowed, make it within the 10%.
Im sure MOST people would prefer this.
If a blind person turns up at the last minute and all the dog rooms are taken, Im sure they could be accommodated on a one off basis in a normally "pet free" room.

trisontana

There are other types of service dogs apart from those that help blind people. There are "hearing dogs" who alert their owners to such things as door-bells and smoke alarms. Then there are others who can sense when a person is about to have an epileptic seizure and warn that person to lie down and relax. Hence the new name of "service dog".

luxor4t

Thanks for the interesting points! I appreciate the need to accommodate service dog users, but in this case, there had been some kind of rural / outdoors event in the area.

I have used Travelodge in the past, and never had this problem before - maybe it was down to bad cleaning!

Now I know the health risk this policy could cause me, I will have to find another source of cheap accommodation... not easy! ... as I won't be able to book online via Quidco etc etc. It has also been a timely reminder that I shall have to carry all my medical kit too!

Incidentally, my research suggests that Travelodge charge dog owners £10 extra per night just for the dog.

pboae

budgetflyer wrote: »

I dont see why they cant just keep so many rooms for "service dogs" use.

Because that's the law, it's covered in anti-discrimination legislation. If you think it's wrong then you can complain to the government and try and get it changed. But in the meantime hotel owners have no choice in it. They have to comply with the law.

budgetflyer wrote: »

is "service dogs the new politically correct way of saying guide dog ? "

As trisontana says, dogs help a much wider range of people. Guide dogs are just the most well known type of service/assistant/support dog.

pboae

Sorry luxor4t, I missed your post when I replied. Premier Travel Inn don't usually allow pet dogs, so you could try them. But most chains allow pet dogs in at least some of their hotels including, Best Western, Comfort Inn, Ibis even the Hilton and Ramada do.

But as you say, the problem with the Travelodge was probably the standard as cleaning, which is frequently a problem with that chain.

mum2one

lynzpower wrote: »

IM sorry you had this experience OP, but Im also pleased that travellodges allow dogs- we had no idea and that is brill for us.

If your going with a dog, just book as normal and them ring the travelodge to say your bring a dog with u.

In theory its £10.00 per night for the dog, but to be honest! we stayed Oct for the night in Travellodge, even through I had told them about the dog they didnt charge me - so I did not volunter the extra money!