Letters: Story on high-priced pet-friendly hotels is called ‘disgusting and narcissistic’

Regarding “Bow & Wow!” by Rosemary McClure, July 7: I don’t think people who have enough money for $500-a-night pet-friendly hotel rooms need to read your Travel section for tips. But silly me, a high school teacher on a budget, I thought I did. I’m looking for something on a budget for my husband and me and our darling Bernese Mountain Dog.

What weird, rarefied air do you think average people in L.A. traverse to appreciate an article in which every lodging place described ranges from $400 to $610 a night? For vicarious live-it-up pleasure, I read the Wall Street Journal’s Mansions section. From your Travel pages, I expect something I might reasonably be able to act on. Do you know just how stupidly out-of-touch you seem?

Why don’t you solicit reader suggestions for reasonable pet-friendly motels and hotels, with charming pictures of them and their dogs? That would be genuinely useful and fun.

Lori Pike Uebersax

Los Angeles

Only two words come to mind to describe your story on pet hotels: disgusting and narcissistic. It is appalling to think that obscene sums (room rates from $350 to $550, plus pet fees) will be spent on animals. Dog owners would pay $120 for a 30-minute dog massage (have Darby and Lillie forgotten how to stretch or use a back paw to scratch their heads?), bottled water, $16 for a turkey burger and monogrammed bath towels (dogs can read now?). Your cover photo is ridiculous! Tablecloth, napkins and silverware plus water in drinking glasses. Really?

With all the disease, illiteracy and so many other problems in the world, pet owners who indulge their narcissistic selves in pampering dogs in this fashion truly have a broken moral compass. So I lift my leg on this article.

Kevin Avery

Tarzana

Although it’s nice to know my dog can check into hotels that cost $350 a night or more, this human who would be at the other end of his leash cannot afford to do that. C’mon, L.A. Times. How about an article about pet-friendly hotels with rates in this stratosphere? This info is always a challenge to find in not-so-hospitable areas, and I would appreciate an article about moderately priced lodgings on this coast and the East.

Having said that, on a business stay at the beautiful Peninsula Hotel in New York City, my chihuahua Tino Martinez was not going to let the young female bellhop in the cute little hat into our room, never mind let her walk him. She fled and refused to do it. Joe, the veteran and venerable doorman, took matters into his own hands. In full doorman regalia, he walked Tino, and when I asked how he had managed it, he said in his best New York accent: “Tino and I had a little talk, and we came to an understanding.”

Theresa Corigliano

Los Angeles

As I read McClure’s article about high-end hotels that welcome dogs, I was reminded of our recent trip to Denver. My wife and I stayed at the Brown Palace Hotel, one of the city’s finest. Unfortunately, we were awakened one morning to the sound of a dog howling and barking in a guest room down the hall. I hope the hotels in McClure’s story have the courtesy to segregate rooms occupied by dogs and their owners from the rooms of guests who are looking for a peaceful, dog-free experience.

Mike Vail

San Clemente

Pros, cons of PreCheck, Global Entry and Sentri

Regarding “You Don’t Have to Be a VIP” by Catharine Hamm (On the Spot, June 30): To use PreCheck (for domestic flying), the airline and the airport must be part of the program (many aren’t). The airline also must code your boarding pass properly (you have your profile entered correctly on its site), and the PreCheck line must be up and running (the same holds for Global Entry, if available, for international travel). Frequently, those lines are “not available at this time,” and you are directed (by a sign) to go to the regular line. I would say that we have been able to take advantage of our Global Entry status for less than 50% of our domestic travel.

Also, to use the Sentri lanes for re-entry from Mexico, your car (or the car in which you are riding) must be registered and have a front window bar-code label, and all its occupants must have Global Entry or Sentri status. To get this, you must take the car to a Mexico-U.S. border station where it is inspected and the label issued and applied. For folks in SoCal, both the Global Entry interview and the car registration can be done in one appointment. Registering the car is $80 extra, on top of the $100 Global Entry fee. We found that interviewing at LAX was pro forma, whereas the personnel at the border station assumed we were trying to pull a fast one, asking more questions of a sensitive nature.

Tom Wolf

Los Angeles

I enjoyed reading Hamm’s column on Global Entry. After standing in line for more than two hours upon returning home at LAX two years ago, I saw the sign that read something like, “What are you waiting for?” touting the Global Entry program.

I immediately signed up — yes, a bit of a cumbersome online process. But it has been worth it. Actually, I do not mind the security process of removing shoes, jackets, etc., when I’m leaving because I arrive early enough to go through the process without having to be rushed. But I do mind the lines when returning to the U.S. from foreign travel, especially when I have a connecting flight to L.A. Thus, being able to bypass the lines at passport control, immigration and customs has been a wonderful benefit of the Global Entry program.

As for the PreChecks, at times, the airline person will allow me to go through the PreCheck passenger line but at other times and airports, not. But again, because I usually arrive early enough for my departing flights, I don’t get too upset about having to stand in lines.

When I flew into Chicago O’Hare for a flight to Dublin in March, I was surprised that I had to go through immigration and customs before leaving O’Hare to board my flight. I had a short layover and was concerned about missing my connection. Here again, Global Entry allowed me to bypass the usual lines and I was able to get to my transfer gate quickly.

The only “problem” I see with Global Entry is that so many people know about it and have access that in the near future I see lines backing up at the kiosks.

Jo Ann Lee

San Gabriel

My response to the Global Entry article is this: The best antidote for U.S. citizens: Do not get caught up in all this garbage where they are going to make things easier and better for you, but entangle you in so much red tape and details and additional stress that you must wonder whether it is all worth it.

I have had similar experiences with my telephone company, my computer, etc.

Sol Liebster

Los Angeles

We received our conditional approval last week. We then tried to get an appointment at LAX. The first available appointment was Sept. 26. I then tried San Isidro. The first available time was the following day (probably due to a cancellation), and the third and following days were mostly open. Please suggest to your readers that trying another location may yield a much quicker appointment. In our case, as we live in Orange County, San Isidro is not that much farther than LAX.

Ebbe Banstorp

Yorba Linda

Silence, please!

Regarding Ruth Kramer Ziony’s tip (“Your Tips,” June 30) about singing along on road trips for a “fun” way to pass the time: Fun? Nightmares recalling hours on buses while chaperoning field trips ... not to mention a major distraction for the driver.

Marsha Thackery

Los Angeles¿