Maggie in Venice

Croatia may not directly related to Maggie (or to Venice, for that matter), but we can't resist telling you about Doggycheckin.com, an attractive and easy-to-use Web site with the theme "We make it easier to travel to Croatia with the dog!"

Here's what the Croatian National Tourist Board has to say about Doggiecheckin.com:

"If dogs could speak, they would tell you that we are best friends and that we should never part. And best friends go on holiday together! Croatia is a country where both you and your dog are welcome, so pack your bags and take your dog to the Adriatic or Continental Croatia. Doggycheckin.com is the first website dedicated to tourists who come to Croatia with their dogs, and it is unique not only because you can find all the necessary information in one place, but also because it offers direct bookings in pet friendly hotels, through their partnership with Booking.com."

Doggiecheckin.com isn't just for bookings--it also has practical information about topics such as veterinarians, pet shops, groomers, dog-friendly parks and beaches, public transportation, and required travel documents.

To visit the site, go to:

Doggiecheckin.com

For general travel information about Croatia (which is just across the narrow Adriatic Sea from Venice), see: 

Croatia.hr (Croatia National Tourist Board)

Note: Venezia Lines operates a ferry service between Venice and Croatia. Pets are allowed, but with limitations: Cats must be in cages, and dogs must be no larger than 60 cm in length and 50 cm in height (measured from head to floor).

In late January, we launched a new travel-planning site called QuickVenice.com. The new site is built around the theme of "All the basics for shorter trips," and it has a mobile-friendly responsive layout for quick loading and optimum display on computers, tablets, and smartphones.

In the "Tips & warnings" section, QuickVenice has a page about pet travel in Venice. The page, which talks mostly about dogs, covers such topics as hotels, restaurants and bars, shopping, and what you need to know before taking your pet on public water buses, Alilaguna airport boats, and water taxis.

To read the page, go to QuickVenice: Pets.

From the street, the Palazzo Abadessa (residenza d'epoca) looks like the perfect boutique hotel for dog owners: On the lintel above the entrance gate, a stone carving of a dog welcomes visitors, and the grassy courtyard is big enough for a game of fetch.

Unfortunately, the only dog allowed on the premises is the petrified pooch above the entrance. If you want to bring Fido or Fifi, you'll need to find another hotel.

Still, if you're visiting Venice without your cane, the four-star Palazzo Abadessa is worth considering. It's loaded with traditional Venetian spendour, has its own water entrance, and is located in a pleasant neighborhood within convenient walking distance of the Piazza San Marco and the Grand Canal.

For details, including a satellite map, see the Palazzo Abadessa (residenza d'epoca) page in our Venice Hotel Directions at Veniceforvisitors.com.