Review of PetsMart's PetsHotel

I am now a faithful consumer of PetsMart for three reasons:

1. They are super close to work (within 2 miles)
2. They match competitor's prices and coupons
3. They have a lot of stuff

They just opened their new PetsHotel a few weeks ago, and I thought I'd get a tour on their grand opening weekend since they were giving free one-night stay coupons.

I was a bit disappointed. But here's the recap compared to PlanetPooch:

Advantage: PetsHotel:

• Cheaper than PlanetPooch (about $20 a day - PlanetPooch is normally $35/day)
• An Overnight Stay is $23/night, but it starts after 7pm and can extend to noon the next day (PlanetPooch requires pick-up by 8:30 or 9am)
• There is a "Bone Booth" where you can "call" to your dog
• Special treat options (doggie ice cream and kongs) for an additional cost
• Flexible hours - fully operational on weekends
• Cheaper grooming ($10 for a bath, $8 for a nail trim)
• Really nearby (PlanetPooch is about 15 miles away if I don't use the shuttle)
• Can be dropped off last-minute (no space restrictions)
• If enrolled in obedience classes at PetsMart, the instructor can teach the dog without the owner's attendance
• Can also allow cats to stay (but who would want that anyways?)
  

Advantage: PlanetPooch:

• More personalized care (you specify if your dog is allowed on the furniture and the staff will maintain that rule during overnight stays for example)
  
• Home Stays with staff (rather than sterile cells)
• Ability to play outdoors (and in the pool!)
• Much bigger play area
• More care in figuring out appropriate socialization area (requires an initial screening to place the dog in the most appropriate play room)
• Web Cams!
• Medicine can be applied free of charge
• MUCH better website (With all the information you need to make any decisions - I am still confused about the pricing and times for many of the PetsHotel options and the printed brochures nor the website help at all)