Because sometimes, the best travel lessons come from the moments that don’t go as planned.
I’ll be honest — our first hotel stay with Max, my son’s service dog, didn’t exactly go as smoothly as I imagined.
I had pictured a calm, relaxing night after a long day of travel: cozy beds, soft lighting, and maybe a warm cup of tea while Max curled up at my son’s feet. Instead, we got a fire alarm, a confused front desk clerk, and a whole lot of “well… now we know for next time.”
But here’s the thing — that first trip taught us more than any travel blog or packing checklist ever could.
💬 Lesson 1: Always Expect the Unexpected
It all started about fifteen minutes after we unpacked. My son was unwinding, Max was lying quietly on his mat, and I had just begun to relax when the fire alarm went off — blaring, flashing, and echoing through the entire building.
For my son, who’s on the autism spectrum, that sudden noise was overwhelming. He covered his ears, panicking, and I could feel my own heart racing. But Max — calm, focused Max — pressed against my son’s legs and grounded him like an anchor.
We followed the crowd outside, found a quiet corner away from the chaos, and just breathed. The moment passed, and everything was okay. But it reminded me to always plan for surprises, no matter how prepared you think you are.
🐾 Lesson 2: Not Everyone Understands — Yet
At check-in, the front desk clerk glanced at Max and asked, “Is he a therapy dog?”
It’s a small thing, but it happens a lot. I explained, kindly, “He’s a service dog trained for my son’s disability.” The clerk hesitated, unsure whether to charge a pet fee.
I stayed calm and explained our rights under the ADA, that service dogs aren’t pets and can’t be charged fees. To their credit, they apologized quickly — and even offered a ground-floor room near the exit for easier access.
It was a good reminder that every trip is a chance to educate with grace. People rarely mean harm — they just need understanding.
💙 Lesson 3: Bring Comfort From Home
That night, after everything had settled, Max kept pacing the room. I realized I’d forgotten his blanket — the one that smells like home and helps him settle at night.
It was a small mistake, but it made a big difference. Since then, I have never traveled without it. My son even joked, “Max needs his bedtime blankie too.”
Now it’s part of our checklist — a soft reminder that comfort matters, for both the child and the service dog.
✨ Lesson 4: Progress Over Perfection
We didn’t get a perfect first night. But we got something better — experience.
The next morning, my son said, “Max helped me be brave.” That one sentence made every stressful moment worth it.
Travel with a service dog is a journey of learning, patience, and teamwork. Every trip gets a little easier, a little smoother, a little more “us.”
So if your first hotel stay doesn’t go perfectly, that’s okay. None of ours do. What matters most is the love, the lessons, and the courage it takes to do it again. 💙🐕🦺
