For coddled canines needing to get away from it all, three exclusive hotels welcome them warmly – in the style to which they are accustomed.  Up in the Adirondacks, The Point (among the top 10 U.S. hotels in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2004 Best Hotels in the World issue) and Lake Placid Lodge  (on Travel + Leisure’s “T+L 500” once again in 2005) cater to four-legged guests, as well as their human escorts looking for rustic alpine luxury.  There is no bare-bones sense of style to the accommodations at these Relais & Châteaux resorts.  In a traditional “Great Camp” mountain setting, harking back to a time when Man’s Best Friend was the boon companion of every hunting excursion, dogs are as welcome as people.  From the time the historic Adirondack camps and resorts were built, furry guests have had the freedom to wander through the vast, wooded mountain properties with their clear, inviting lakes and miles of trails offering endless opportunities for exploring, game stalking, and raccoon chasing.  Alternatively, toasty hearthsides and quiet nooks offer as many excellent napping opportunities.   

At The Point, the resort’s resident Golden Retriever, Buddy, is always on hand as a canine host, ensuring that others are made right at home.  Warm, cozy beds and handsome ceramic food and water bowls handcrafted locally exclusively for The Point are placed in the room prior to arrival; if a dog gets attached to them, the bowls are available for purchase in the Gallery.  Those who are patient enough to wait the duration of a seven-course dinner will even be rewarded with the real stuff and juicy bones; and to mark a special occasion, the kitchen will prepare an exclusive meal to suit the tastes of the dog of honor.    

Dogs’ accommodations at Lake Placid Lodge are outfitted with comfy beds and plenty of dry food, and dogs are greeted upon arrival by resident Golden Retriever and Buddy’s pal, Maggie, with a personalized Pooch Pouch filled with colorful toys and tasty treats.  A gourmet menu featuring such doggie delicacies as chopped filet mignon, salmon filet, and even a side of anchovies is offered.  Local resources ranging from veterinary services to pet massage are available for Fido’s every comfort, and dogs with creative human companions might persuade them to purchase a personalized dog collar kit in the Lake Placid Lodge Gallery for a unique souvenir of their visit. 

Clear across the country in the picturesque city of Santa Fe, The Inn of The Five Graces (singled out by Andrew Harper’s Hideaway Report as a Grand Award winner in its 2005 Hotel of the Year competition) happily hosts dogs in fine southwestern style, a colorful headquarters from which visiting pooches can frolic in the sunny historic Plaza with plenty of canine companionship.  Santa Fe is an especially pet-friendly community, and leashed guest dogs also enjoy a hearty welcome in many stores, and on late afternoon historic walking tours led by the hotel’s general manager – and his two playful dogs.  The Five Graces greets each visiting pet with a dog-bone welcome, and has a comfy dog bed waiting in the suite, with colorful bowls and a full supply of Iams food.  Numerous local canine services are available to keep Fido happy, healthy, well-groomed, and well-attended on his visit to Santa Fe, and activities and destinations of interest to dogs and humans are a specialty of the house.   

Upon arrival at all the hotels, dogs are encouraged to check-in with their owners as their security deposit triggers a barking order to deliver the canine welcome amenity: a dog bone.  For dogs of discriminating tastes looking for a change of scene without sacrificing luxury, The Point and Lake Placid Lodge in upstate New York, and The Inn of The Five Graces in the desert southwest, are the destinations of choice that host with a canine touch. 

The Point, Lake Placid Lodge and The Inn of The Five Graces, all operated by The Garrett Hotel Group, are members of Relais & Châteaux, the prestigious international association of privately owned hotels and restaurants embodying the highest culinary standards and the French “art de vivre.”