Virginia Beach (The Dog’s Vacation) & Hotel Recap: Virginia Beach Residence Inn

You’ll see that short and sweet trips are a theme around here.  DH and I both work full time, in jobs we actually don’t want to quit, so we squeeze in trips whenever we can, including the occasional road trip.One weekend a year, before Memorial Day (since that is when people gaggle like geese & beaches close to canines), we take our dog to Virginia Beach.  Yes, the reason we go there *really* is for the dog.Did I mention princess hates the waves/ocean?  Yup.  So we essentially take her so she can run in the sand.  That sounds a teensy bit ridiculous….[embarrassed face].  But then again, our whole relationship with our dog is ridiculous, so whatever. She loves it there, so, so do we.

We’ve tried March and April, and both are good for our dog that melts in the heat.  April is a bit better for the humans, but both months avoid the can-not-move-our-towels-are-touching beach weirdness.  I don’t do busy beaches, so besides the no-dogs after Memorial Day rule, we also go early in the spring to avoid the people.We spend hours and hours walking on the beach. Digging. Sniffing. Rolling in crabs. It’s our little gift to the dog for all the times she doesn’t get to go with us.  By the end of the weekend, she’s completely wiped.Also, to avoid this being a totally dog-focused post, in terms of human chow, you have to check out the she-crab soup at the Lynnhaven Fish House.  Do you like crab, sherry, and cream? It’s incredibly delicious and I’m sure equally unhealthy.

Residence Inn
We stay at the Marriott Residence Inn, which is a great place if you want to bring your dog to the beach. It’s actually right on the beach, so all you have to do is walk out the door.  There is also a nice patch of grass for dogs for easy morning and evening trips outside.The Marriott Residence Inn is well-maintained (our room this year had been recently updated), the rooms are spacious, all are looking towards the beach, and each has a balcony.  It also is within easy walking distance of a Starbucks, various restaurants, etc.  Our 30-lb dog really appreciates the availability of king sized beds, since she likes to be a bed hog.  This means she gets half the bed while DH and I share the other half.  Yea, we love her a lot.

They do serve a breakfast buffet in the morning if you are one of those people who doesn’t function without breakfast.  The staff is friendly, and there are free dog bones, as well as water and coffee all day (like other Residence Inns).

Parking can be a bit tight (but is free), though the staff valets your car to another nearby lot if all the spots in front of the hotel are already taken. Because they get pretty busy, sometimes it can take 15 minutes or so to retrieve your car, so plan accordingly.

They do have a hot-tub and an indoor pool, which occasionally I’ve used to soak my frozen toes after some cold walking in the wet sand.

Nope, it’s not super luxurious, but it’s a superb location and very pet-friendly (though there is a price for the pet friendliness…$100 for entire stay, no matter how long you are there).

So if you and your fido need a place to stay in Virginia Beach, on the beach, check it out!

[Photos are a collection from the past few years–sometimes I’m better about taking photos than others. Also, I was too busy nursing a serious rope burn from a retractable leash this year to take photos.  Don’t ask, and no, it really wasn’t our dog’s fault. I’m an idiot.]