Four-Paw Holidays for Hollywood Dogs

For dog owners, the holiday season can bring with it feelings of guilt and worry. And that's likely to be truer this year.

With an ailing economy and airline fees skyrocketing, that NetJets flight that ever so kindly overlooked your 55-pound English bulldog last year may now be too pricey an option, meaning that either Coconut will be riding in the belly of an Aspen-bound 737 or spending her holidays behind bars at your area kennel.

But short or spending a resentful Christmas morning at home staring down your too-old-to-travel pet, we've come up with some haute dog options born from Hollywood's most-pampered pooches.

Christmas Check-In at Rover Hotel

After visiting the local kennel recommended by our friendly veterinarian, we were horrified to find a caged infirmary or lizards, cackling birds and sad-faced dogs yelping and yipping behind metal bars. After the staff hesitated to show me exactly where my dog would be waiting for Santa, I swore I would never ski a Christmas morning slope in Whistler ever again. Then came Rover Kennels.

Located in a chic warehouse-style loft in Culver City, Calif., a friendly dog trainer's recommendation led to my 9 a.m. consolation with owner Jeff in the espresso lounge of L.A.'s haughtiest dog hotel. Rover is more than just a dog hotel; it also offers cage-free daycare, training and grooming for an array of dogs and cats. All guests and owners are interviewed to assess temperament and ability to play with others.

Overnight guests select from standard rooms, upgraded suites and the presidential suite. Standard boarding includes a self-contained room with glass door, fluffy dog bed and all-day access to the cage-free play area. Upgraded suites offer free-standing platform beds with more sedate color palettes and catering options like doggy tea parties arranged with like-tempered and like-sized dogs. The Presidential Suite offers 24-hour playtime with on-site staff as well as animal-theme movies like Ratatouille and Babe - Pig in the City.