My sister lives in TN and I am 13 hours away in Virginia. I am planning on a car trip to visit her during the week of Christmas-New Years. I am looking at petsitters and they want a minimum of $10/hr. and I want to go for a week.

I am wondering if I should even tackle the thought of taking Bobby and Bonnie with me? I would have to stay 1 night in a pet-friendly hotel because the trip is too long for me in one swoop. Anyone have any experience with this?

I drove out here from Texas with Mandu and Hantu in the car. They bawled and squalled for about the first 10 minutes and then quieted right down. We had to stay in a motel as well but I didn't worry about whether it was pet-friendly or not...I just took them in. It's not like they bark! They didn't have any problem and the bed was on a wooden stand so I didn't have to drag them out from under the bed when it was time to go, either. I had two soft carriers and one large hard one. They were more comfortable together in the large carrier in the car. The only problem I had was that I moved in the summer and it was too hot to leave them in the car to stop and eat so I did only drive throughs. You shouldn't have that problem at this time of year.

I found a Best Western that is in the town she lives in. It is "pet friendly" but the rooms are $254+ per night. That seems high for that area.

She has a cat so I would have to keep B&B at a hotel while there too.

I think they would do ok in the car. They just sleep all day anyway. I don't think I could stand driving for 13 hrs. though.

Joan, Sasha has made a 9 hour trip with me and was great. She never ate or pooped and got out of the carrier like it was a ride to the vet. She cried for about 15 minutes and then gave up and snoozed. I gave her a few treats when I stopped and that was it.

We travel a lot and I have a petsitter who comes once a day. She stays for about 45 minutes minimum (sometimes longer if she is between dog walks and wants to chill) and she charges $18 a day. It is really less stressful for the kitties if you can find that, especially if you have to board them when you get to your sisters. Good luck!!

Do the pet sitters really not have a daily or weekend rate? That's odd - I have never hunted for a sitter but I would think it would make sense to attract more clients.

Sounds like it will be pretty pricey if you have to stay in the hotel for the week as well - maybe the sitter would be cheaper after all.

I think most cats are fine in a car after a little bit - but you never know. I would take them on a test run or two before you go.

Ohhhhhh you're staying in a motel while at your sisters? Hmmmm I guess you'd need pet-friendly then. When David and I moved to Texas we had to stay in corporate housing for a month while we house-hunted and we had a cat and a dog! We just had to put the "do not disturb" sign on the door so that the maids didn't accidentally let the furries out.

I use a petsitter who comes in for a once-daily 30 minute visit. Cost is $16 per day. She's really good with them and can even comb them out.

It seems like the pet sitters that come to the house would run expensive. Could be this area too. I found a pet hotel that would charge $96.00 + $96.00 = $192 for both. I guess that would be the best bargain but my cats would be so unhappy in a cat condo for a week. They don't even have ones that connect so they could be together.

Try your vet. Lots of vets do boarding. My vet has a lovely area.

I also have a couple of people who babysit the cats. Its $25.00 per day. But, they come twice a day unless it is the day I am leaving, or, the day I am returning. I feel more comfortable with this.

I have been searching the net and found Orbitz has a hotel rate at the SAME HOTEL I looked at earlier for only $72/night and they allow pets. Same room that the hotel wants $247 per night for. Geez this is getting messy. I hate the idea of leaving my cats at Christmas.