Pet Travel Among Seniors

There are approximately 180 million age 55+ travelers in
the U.S. Their mounting numbers paired with their massive
financial muscle and availability of free time make them a
very lucrative market for the U.S. travel industry. The
average spending by mature travelers on their last
adventure travel vacation was $1,300 compared to $950 for
travelers between the ages of 35-54 and $660 for travelers
between the ages 18-34.

Combine senior citizen's travel habits with the fact that a
growing number of seniors are choosing to become new
parents - pet parents that is. The need to nurture does not
stop when our children are grown. The nice thing about a
pet is that they may grow older, but they will never grow
up. With these new children as part of the family, seniors
look to integrate them into their busy lives. With travel
being such a big part of many seniors' lives, many feel
that they just can't leave their pet behind. So with the
kids out of the house, seniors are taking their new furry,
feathered or finned "children" traveling with them more
often. Whether it's the annual pilgrimage to the winter
home, a family trip or just a get-a-way, seniors and their
pets are traveling together. "Rex is my big baby" states
senior Bill Martin of his 5 year old yellow lab. "My wife
and I travel quite a bit and whenever possible we take Rex
with us. Rex loves to vacation as much as we do and our
trip wouldn't be as enjoyable without him!"

Traveling with your pet can be a wonderful experience if
you plan ahead. Many seniors are turning to the Internet
for help. That's right! More and more seniors are getting
connected. According to eMarketer, the average senior
sends at least 4 emails a day and 46 percent of America's
seniors have been using the Internet for over 5 years. The
number one reason seniors go to the web is to make travel
plans. The challenge has been sorting through lodging
listings and airline websites to find those that will
welcome their pets.

New resources have emerged across the Internet specifically
to help plan pet travel. There is a growing need for
online pet travel information to help seniors find
pet-friendly inns, bed and breakfasts, and hotels where
your dog, cat, or other furry friend is welcome. Traveling
with your pet can be a tricky proposition if you haven't
done it before. You need to plan out the trip and be sure
that you have access to lodging and services along the way
to keep your little friend happy and safe.

About the Author:

Kim Salerno is the President & Founder of
TRIPSwithPETS.com. She founded the pet travel site in 2003
and is an expert in the field of pet travel. Kim is a
veteran of the travel industry - formerly serving as
Director of Internet Marketing for Certified Vacations. Her
mission is to ensure that pets are welcome, happy,and safe
in their travels. Visit her company website at
http://www.tripswithpets.com