There is a substantial increase in hotels that claim to be dog friendly. Unfortunately, there is no clear definition of what makes a property dog friendly, I’ve stayed in dog friendly hotels where pets are treated like VIPs and others where they are barely tolerated. This wide variety makes choosing dog friendly hotels very difficult. Here are some tips and tricks for finding a hotel that fits your definition of dog friendly:
Things to Consider When Choosing Dog Friendly Hotels:
- FEES – Does the hotel charge a fee for pets? If so, is it per night, per stay, or per animal (if multiple pets are allowed)? I have seen pet fees that run the gamut from $0 per stay to $300 per night, per pet!
- SIZE LIMITS – Hotels often place a limit on the weight or measurements of the pets they allow. I’m not sure why my dog’s dimensions matter more than my own, but there are rules about it.
- DEPOSITS – Some hotels charge a deposit that is refundable if there is no damage to the room. Others charge what they call a “non-refundable deposit”, which is really just an extra cleaning fee.
- UNATTENDED PETS – Many hotels prohibit guests from leaving pets unattended in their rooms. If you need to go someplace without your dog, ask the hotel if they offer petsitting services.
- PUBLIC AREAS – I love hotels that have a lounge area where you can sit and have a drink or snack alongside your dog. Hotels that forbid dogs from even crossing through the lobby, not so much.
- AMENITIES – An increase in dog friendly hotel choices have prompted some properties to offer special pet amenities. It’s very common to find a hotel that will supply you with dog beds, bowls, even treats. This can save a lot of space in your luggage.
Additional Details:
- POTTY TIME – Another amenity some hotels now offer is a fenced area where dogs can go potty. Otherwise, look on Goggle maps (using the satellite background) to see how far it is to an area with appropriate landscaping. This is especially important if you are staying in a city.
- FURNISHINGS – To avoid any unexpected cleaning charges, I try to choose hotel rooms without carpeting. I also like to find out in advance if there are any prohibitions about dogs on the bed.
- THE BEDHEAD FACTOR – I know this may sound silly, but I love hotel rooms with private entrances. Having to wander through a chic hotel lobby to take your dog out first thing in the morning is the worst!
Sources for Dog Friendly Hotel Information:
You can usually find information on pet fees and policies listed directly on the hotel’s website. If not, it’s essential to call or email before you make a non-refundable booking! Websites like BringFido.com or Hotels.com are great resources, but please don’t rely exclusively on them for up to date pet policies and fees.
Lastly, when choosing a dog friendly hotel, I always look up the property up on Tripadvisor.com. I recommend searching the hotel’s reviews using keywords like “dog” or “pet.” Reading about other guest’s experiences while staying with a pet can tell you a great deal about how dog friendly a hotel really is.
For a list of dog friendly hotel chains, please CLICK HERE
I would love to travel with Layla and this is great information for those that are planning cos as you say the more you know in advance the easier it is when you get there.
I am guessing that they want to know the size of the dog in case someone needs to go into the room in an emergency. Not every dog welcomes strangers coming it (in spite of their owners saying the dog is a total saint) and while for sweet Louie it would not be an issue for bigger dogs, it gives me pause for thought.
I would not want to leave a dog alone in a room too long because it’s a strange place and I would want them to have something of mine that was comforting to reassure them. A local dog here suffered from separation anxiety and caused a lot of issues before it was diagnosed and helped. People in neighbouring rooms would not be happy at a constantly barking dog I think.
It is down to the owner to know their dog really well and accustom it to travel like Louie does, isn’t it? A loving owner needs good places to stay (although $300 seems a bit steep!) and your guide will be a big help for anyoen travelling, especially for the first time.
Put a cat into the mix and it’s even more of a challenge. These are really good tips for finding a great place to stay with a pet. I definitely recommend calling ahead to double check the policy. I found that out the hard way.
Great tips – especially about the fees.
I’ve gone to a number of motels that allow dogs, usually with a separate entrance. I don’t think I’ve ever had to pay more than $25 extra for my dog, but I usually go to cheap motels. One thing of critical note is the potty area. I’ve been to some places where there is almost no grass for dogs to go potty.
My first experience in a motel with my dog was in Florida when our car broke down. The campground wouldn’t allow dogs, but the motels did! This was back in the late 1980s.
I’m glad that more hotels are becoming pet-friendly! It is really disappointing that so many of them still restrict what size of dog can stay in the hotel. Hopefully, that will change also.
Great round-up advice on how to assess a dog-friendly hotel. We mostly considered only cottages or motels where there is direct access to the outside.
I completely agree- sometimes dog friendly can mean dog tolerant and it isn’t the nicest experience! Great tips.
Love this! I’d love to be able to travel with my dogs some day so I always appreciate tips. Unfortunately my dogs are way over most weight limits I’ve seen so far, lol.
For me the hardest part of taking a dog to a hotel is when you need to go somewhere but can’t take the dog with you. I wish more hotels offered sitting services. Louis looks like a lovely hotel guest!
We’d love to have you as a guest on the PawsGo pawdcast We record via zoom, but only use the audio. We are on the East coast. And it typically takes less thank an hour.
You can find all of our pawdcasts on our website http://www.PawsGo.com.
That sounds great! We are also on the East Coast. The next week or so will be pretty hectic but let me know when you would like to schedule a Zoom. It’s probably easiest if you send me a message through Twitter since we follow each other. Thanks!