Hi everyone! I’m Syd, and this is my naughty lil’ puglet, Phoebe!
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Instagram / @pug_milf
With COVID travel restrictions lightening up, and because I’m fully vaccinated, I decided it would be a good time to take my precious Pheebz on a little trip!
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Instagram / @witchpug
I wanted a change of scenery, Phoebe freakin’ DESERVED IT (I mean, just LOOK AT HER!!!), and I also wanted to show people — especially those of us (like myself) who brought four-legged family members into our lives during the pandemic — that traveling with a pet isn’t too hard, and it actually just makes your trip all the more special!!!
I started researching dog-friendly hotels and resorts, and one that kept popping up was Paséa Hotel & Spa in Huntington Beach, California.
I also liked the fact that it would be a long flight from New York to Santa Ana — that way, I’d be able to cover flying with a dog for the first time! (More on that here.)
Syd Robinson
Syd Robinson
Needless to say, Pheebz and I were enticed!!! We booked our room, our flights, and headed across the country for some much-needed dog-friendly R&R.
Syd Robinson
Syd Robinson
We arrived to a BEAUTIFUL room — we had a king-sized bed, oceanfront views(!!!), and our own little terrace! We felt like newlyweds. 💖
Syd Robinson
As far as price goes, rooms at Paséa start around $350+ — and this can range QUITE A BIT depending on what dates you go — with doggy guests costing an additional $150. However, if you opt for the special Paw-Séa Pet Package which requires a minimum stay of two nights — which we decided to go for — the $150 is waived.
Syd Robinson
As far as price goes, rooms at Paséa start around $350+ — and this can range QUITE A BIT depending on what dates you go — with doggy guests costing an additional $150. However, if you opt for the special Paw-Séa Pet Package which requires a minimum stay of two nights — which we decided to go for — the $150 is waived.
While we were sad we didn’t get ALL the goodies* we had been expecting, the front desk did have a cute lil’ dog bed, food and water bowls, and a Paséa plushy sent up to our room AT!!! ONCE!!!!!!!!!!
Syd Robinson
*We had also been expecting the basket of take-home welcome gifts, which included a floating dog toy, reflective leash, collapsible water and food bowls, and a three-course dog meal (chew stick, kibble, and a large crunch dog cookie from Top Dog Barkery, a local pet bakery). Unfortunately, they had run out. 🙁
And even though she got her own bed, my lil’ bean queen still opted to get cozy with me in the king!!!
Syd Robinson
Syd Robinson
Despite no take-home welcome basket, we were still given access to the ✨crème de la crème✨ of the Pet Package: the ADORABLE private dog run!!!!!!!!
The dog run was Pheebz’s favorite!!! She had many Zoomies™ there, and I (selfishly) enjoyed the many photo opps.
Syd Robinson
Syd Robinson
They had a CYOOT lil’ doggy lifeguard stand, which Pheebz happily posed on…
Syd Robinson
Syd Robinson
…and the ✨Big Kahuna✨ was this FABULOUS wave mural, complete with a little “surfboard” for pups. Phoebe indulged me!
Syd Robinson
The dog run also had plenty of poo poo bags and a pet waste basket at the ready, a communal water fountain, a leash-hanging station, and lots of open turf for pups to play on!
TikTok / @bringme
Having this fenced-in run RIGHT DOWNSTAIRS was a serious pet travel game-changer. We were big fans!!!!!!!!
TikTok / @bringme
Having this fenced-in run RIGHT DOWNSTAIRS was a serious pet travel game-changer. We were big fans!!!!!!!!
The whole resort was packed (pun unintended) with dogs too! Phoebe even made friends there with two Frenchies named Twinkie and Fergie, and the three of them had the best time sussing out the other four-legged guests.
Syd Robinson
And they were allowed to roam around in most places in the hotel, just not the pool.
Syd Robinson
And they were allowed to roam around in most places in the hotel, just not the pool.
After we finished scoping out things at the hotel, Phoebe and I decided to head out and go see some other dog-friendly spots in Huntington Beach.
Syd Robinson
Syd Robinson
Our first stop was right down the road: Top Dog Barkery, a local pet-friendly bakery and pet store, to get some treats! (Their treats were supposed to be included in the Pet Package, so we wanted to see what we were missing!)
Syd Robinson
There, we met the groomer’s dog, Zero, who had the coolest rainbow fur EVER!!!!!!!!!!!
Syd Robinson
There, we met the groomer’s dog, Zero, who had the coolest rainbow fur EVER!!!!!!!!!!!
Phoebe got a pink donut, two small “pupcakes” — one bacon-flavored and one peanut butter — and, of course, a poop emoji–shaped cookie.
Syd Robinson
These four baked goods altogether were just under $16, which honestly isn’t bad compared to some of the dog treats I’ve seen for sale in New York. All in all, we were suuuuper impressed by all their pet-friendly baked goods and Pheebz LOVED them, so 10/10!!!
Syd Robinson
These four baked goods altogether were just under $16, which honestly isn’t bad compared to some of the dog treats I’ve seen for sale in New York. All in all, we were suuuuper impressed by all their pet-friendly baked goods and Pheebz LOVED them, so 10/10!!!
Next, we got lunch down the street at Fred’s Mexican Café, which not only allowed dogs, but even had its own dog menu!!!
Syd Robinson
Syd Robinson
I got nachos, a big ol’ mango frarg (frozen margarita), and Pheebz got the small portion of chicken!!!
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(Pheebz clearly wanted some frarg.)
Syd Robinson
(Pheebz clearly wanted some frarg.)
And after lunch and downing that entire frarg, I did, in fact, insist on us taking this pic.
Syd Robinson
Later that evening, we decided it was time to check out Huntington Beach’s main attraction for dog-spotting: Huntington Dog Beach!
Syd Robinson
Huntington Dog Beach is an “off-leash optional” beach where dogs can run free and play in the sand and the sea. Obviously, we went at sunset to make it extra magical. It was also super easy to get there — it was just a short 3-minute Lyft ride!
Something I thought was really sweet about the dog beach was that they had a whole box full of tennis balls you and your pup could borrow!
Syd Robinson
Syd Robinson
The Dog Beach did NOT disappoint. When I say this place was the closest I’ve ever been to heaven, I mean it. Walking around here with Phoebe felt so peaceful and so surreal. Just being there with her will be a memory I’ll always cherish. 💖
Syd Robinson
It was just SO magical…dogs running through waves, looking so happy and free…AND at sunset?! It was unreal, tbh.
Syd Robinson
It was just SO magical…dogs running through waves, looking so happy and free…AND at sunset?! It was unreal, tbh.
After a pretty perfect day, Pheebz and I headed back to our room at Paséa, where she got comfy on the chaise lounge and watched the sun keep goin’ down.
Syd Robinson
Syd Robinson
I also think it’s worth saying that our trip was comp’d by Paséa, but still, this is for sure a trip I would pay for on my own if I was in the mood to spoil my lil’ poochina (and myself, honestly) with ✨sun✨ and ✨sand✨.
Syd Robinson
Yes, this trip definitely ended up being on the pricier side, but if you’re looking to go all-out for yourself and your fuzzy, four-legged kin, Paséa and Huntington Beach are 1000% worth considering!!!
All in all, our stay at Paséa was great and Huntington Beach proved to be just as dog-friendly as expected, if not more. It’s beautiful, full of pups, and extremely walkable! Phoebe and I gave it 4 out of 5 biscuits (for lack of a better term)!!!!!!!!
