As the number of people who consider bringing their pets along on vacations rises, so too do the concerns of those travelers.

More than half (51 percent) of travelers with pets would have their furry friends accompany them on every vacation if they could, a AAA/Best Western survey of people who traveled with their pets in the last year revealed.

However, many factors need to be considered before committing to the idea, not least of which is choosing the right accommodation.

Finding places that accept pets remains the obvious priority for guardians (95 percent), followed by properties with appropriate policies such as size limits and fees (49 percent) and available pet services (22 percent).

As well as cleaning up after their pets, owners need to be mindful of how much noise their dogs are making, ensure their pets are on leash (when necessary), are well trained and of course, not aggressive.

According to the survey, 93 percent of guardians said their pets made for good travel companions, saying they:
• Are good cuddle buddies while away from home (27 percent)
• Always let the owner select the destination (18 percent)
• Don't hog the hotel remote (12 percent)
• Snore less than owner's significant other (7 percent)
• Help attract dates (1 percent)

The top vacations enjoyed with pets were visiting friends and family (78 percent), road trips (50 percent), beach excursions (33 percent), camping (27 percent), city tours (23 percent) and hiking (17 percent).