You’ve booked your flight and hotel for the family vacation, but what about the family pet?

Angie's List is the nation’s premier provider of consumer reviews on local service companies including animal boarding.

An animal boarding kennel/facility can be a great option for vacationing pet owners or for consumers who need pet daycare.

Angie’s List tips for picking a pet boarding/daycare facility:

• Visit the facility: A reputable facility will ask that you bring your pet in to gauge how he/she reacts to the other pet. Use this time to get to know the staff and introduce your pet to the staff.
• Take a look: The facility should look and smell clean. Do employees regularly clean up? How is the facility set up? Is it safe for your pet? Are indoor/outdoor runs available? Is there enough space in the sleeping areas?
• Proper supervision: Ask how many pets the facility accommodates. Do they have enough staff to ensure proper supervision? Do they staff the area 24/7? Do they have a veterinarian on staff?
• License/certification: Check if your state requires boarding kennel inspections. If so, the facility should display this information.
• Are they a member? Ask whether the facility belongs to any trade associations that promote professional standards of pet care.
• Ask about rates: Some facilities have a checkout time. If you don’t pick up your pet by that time you could be charged an additional day. Are there additional fees for administering medication or taking extra walks?
• Vaccination requirements: A reputable facility will require all pets to be current on their vaccinations and ask for proof of that information.
• Schedule setup: Ask about the pet’s schedule. Most facilities have specific times set up for the pets to eat, play and sleep.
• Additional services: Some pet boarding facilities now offer grooming and training services. Others even have web cams on their website so you can watch your pet from a computer.

Angie’s List Tips for Preparing Your Pet for Boarding:

• Book early: Make your pet’s reservation as early as possible; especially during holidays when many kennels tend to fill quickly.
• Test run: Give your pet a trial run at a boarding facility for a short trip, like a weekend. That allows you to work out any problems before boarding your pet for an extended period should you go out of town on vacation.
• Be prepared: Be sure to provide the facility with your pet’s food and medications, if needed. They should also have your vet’s information and a couple of phone numbers where they can reach you in case of an emergency.
• Consider other options: If your pet has an aggression problem, a boarding facility may not be the best idea. Another option would be to consider hiring a pet sitter to come to your home.