Would you leave part of your family home when you go on vacation? That’s how dog owners (aka dog parents) feel about their furry companions. If you take your dog on your family vacation, you don’t have to pay a dog sitter or a kennel. But you need to find a good place where your pup can stay with you. Our curated list of the best dog-friendly hotels, from pet-friendly hotel chains to welcoming bed and breakfasts, means no ‘ruff’ times on vacation.
As long as you have a dog who doesn’t mind sitting in the car, and who doesn’t get car sick. dogs can be great fun on a trip. And they are a good way to meet locals. And remember, many of the best dog-friendly hotels are also very welcoming to kids.
What to Look for When Choosing a Dog-Friendly Hotel
- Is there a pet fee? Some hotels tack on an additional $25 – $150 for bringing your dog. This pet fee can be per night or per stay – and even per dog. I try to avoid it when I can. But, depending on how much your pet sitter charges, even a more expensive hotel can be cheaper in the long run.
- What happens if your dog has an accident? You should obviously only travel with house-trained pets, but accidents happen. Best to know upfront what the charge (if any) will be.
- Are dogs featured in the social media feed? It’s one sure way to know if a hotel is truly dog friendly — the pups will be featured on their Instagram and X (Twitter) accounts. Those hotels actually want you to bring your dog.
- Can you leave your dog alone in the room? If not, this can make it difficult to go out to dinner.
- Make your reservation in advance. Some hotels have only certain rooms that accept pets, so you have to disclose that you are bringing a dog. Make sure your reservation reflects that.
- Call the hotel directly. Some hotels accept dogs below a certain weight. If your dog is larger, you still might be able to bring her if you call ahead. But don’t just show up with an Alaskan Malamute if the hotel specifies only dogs under 30 pounds.
- Bring a dog cover. We have a waterproof car seat cover that can also be used on furniture. It mitigates the fur from our Labrador Retriever and is a familiar object for her.
- If your dog sleeps in bed with you, make sure the hotel allows it. You may have to sign a waiver when you bring a dog to stipulate that the dog will not go on the furniture.
- Bring an extra leash. We have left ours in a hotel only to realize it hours later.
- Even if the hotel provides a dog bowl and dog bed, you might want your own. Our larger dog doesn’t mind curling up on a small dog bed, but if you have space in the car, her own might make her happier. We usually bring one bowl, for both water and food, and if the hotel offers us a bowl, we use that as well.
SheBuysTravel Tip: Order your pet products from Chewy.com and have them delivered directly to your destination. It’s especially handy if you need bulky pet items. Just call the hotel first to make sure the front desk will accept the delivery and hold it for you.
Dog-Friendly Hotel Chains
Kimpton Hotels
All Kimpton Hotels are exceptionally welcoming to dogs, with no extra pet fees, treats by the door and a dog bowl and pet bed for your room. Dogs are also invited to the nightly happy hours, where owners get free wine or beer and dogs get extra hugs from canine-loving guests.
Canopy by Hilton
This boutique hotel experience by a large chain has free artisan breakfast (for humans) and bicycles at every hotel. I’ve stayed at two, in Washington DC, and in Minneapolis. Both had friendly, enthusiastic employees and a hip vibe. The DC hotel, in The Wharf, gave our dog a welcome package with treats, a ball, and a guide to dog-friendly Washington.
You even get a card to alert housekeeping that the dog is in the room when you leave her there. There is never a pet fee.
Equinox Hotel
The Equinox Hotel, open in Hudson Yards and coming to Houston, Los Angeles and Chicago, offers a luxurious experience for people and pets.
The hotel, an extension of the Equinox gym chain, has exceptional amenities for fitness buffs, with a massive gym, healthy, yet delicious food and a spa. Soundproofed rooms mean your pup’s slumber won’t be disturbed by someone else’s early-rising pooch.
Aloft Hotels
Aloft Hotels is another dog-friendly chain. The Aloft in downtown Philadelphia has a bowl of dog treats by the door and is around the corner from a dog park. Philadelphia is a particularly dog-friendly city, with dog-friendly restaurants and several downtown dog parks.
Standard Hotels
The Standard Hotels, a boutique chain with two hotels in New York City, one in Los Angeles and one in Miami asserts that it is not merely pet friendly but “pet loving.”
Room prices are steep, but there is no added dog fee and the NYC locations go nuts for dogs. The hotel on the west side of NYC overlooks The High Line.
21C Museum Hotels
21C Museum Hotels, another mini-chain of boutique hotels, has locations in Nashville and Louisville, plus five other cities.
I’ve stayed at the Louisville and Nashville locations, which are vibrant, fun hotels. I saw happy dogs at both, along with employees greeting the pups by name.
Homewood Suites by Hilton
All Homewood Suites by Hilton are pet-friendly but fees vary by location. We stayed at the one in downtown Washington, DC, right across the street from a dog park. There was no fee and we kept Karat’s water cold in the full-size refrigerator. If you have your dog on a raw food diet, the fridge is a nice perk.
Extended Stay America
All Extended Stay America hotels allow up to two pets per room. The budget hotel charges $25 per day, per pet, but the maximum fee is $150 so if you’re staying more than a week, this is a great deal. This is a bare-bones (pun intended) place, but clean. Karat has stayed at several.
Residence Inn by Marriott
Residence Inn by Marriott is another pet-friendly extended stay chain. Hotels charge a one-time cleaning fee, of up to $100, when you bring your pet.
Dog-Friendly Hotels in New York City
The Beekman, a Thompson hotel, is a luxury hotel in the Financial District. There is no pet fee, (though room rates are fairly steep) and dogs of any size are accepted. Karat made friends with everyone at the hotel and was allowed to stay in the room without me.
SoHo Grand Hotel: This hip luxury hotel in New York City is pricey but it has incredible amenities for the well-heeled dog. First and foremost is a private dog park, with room to romp, benches, and fire hydrant water stations. There is no extra charge for a dog, who is gifted with organic treats, food and water bowls and doggy bags.
1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge: This luxury hotel, along the water in Brooklyn Bridge Park, has two nearby dog parks and an unofficial dog beach, so your dog can enjoy the outdoors. The Osprey restaurant welcomes dogs on its huge outdoor patio and has great food, too.
Loews Regency New York: Loews is one of the few hotels to allow both dogs AND cats. The Loews Loves Pets program includes room service food for these pampered pets. The Loews Regency is near Central Park, which has off-leash hours (don’t bring your cat!). The hotel will arrange a walk for your dog if you’ll be out all day.
W New York: W hotels have a PAW (Pets Are Welcome) program. Your pup gets toys, treats and a bed and even a cake if it’s her birthday! The hotel arranges grooming and dog walking. A W hotel in Union Square gives you access to great city dog runs.
Ritz-Carlton New York Central Park welcomes two pets up to 60 lbs for an additional fee of $250 per stay. Pets receive treats, bowls, and a bed upon arrival. Again, the Central Park location is ideal for dogs.
Hyatt Union Square New York: The hotel offers dog beds, organic treats and food bowls. Union Square has a dog run and the best farmers’ market in the city. One stand even sells organic bones for dogs.
Gansevoort Meatpacking NYC: This luxury boutique hotel is all paws in for your dog. The dog bed is monogrammed with your pup’s name. He also gets bottled water, bowls and a toy. Dogs cannot, sadly, use the rooftop pool, but bring your swimsuit for the ultimate Instagram pic.
Pet-friendly Bed and Breakfasts
Middlebury Inn: this historic bed and breakfast in Vermont lets you bring a dog, for an extra $25 a night. Dogs can’t stay in the room without you, and are expected not to go on the furniture. This was fine when we brought Karat as a puppy; we trained her not to go on any furniture. But we relaxed the rules and now let her sleep with us in hotels. The breakfast is delicious; we ate on the porch since Karat couldn’t go in the dining room.
Swift House Inn: another bed and breakfast in Middlebury, which has elaborate breakfasts and free afternoon cookies. The Carriage House rooms take dogs for $50 a night. There is great hiking nearby.
Wine Country Inn and Cottages in St. Helena, CA. We stayed here on a trip to Napa Valley. The hotel charges $100 per stay for dogs, and has a 30-pound weight limit (we weren’t traveling with our 60-pound lab). But, there aren’t many dog-friendly hotels in Napa and this one has an incredible breakfast and unparalleled setting.
Dog-Friendly Hotels on the West Coast
Doubletree Berkeley Marina: this waterfront hotel allows dogs of any size and doesn’t charge an extra fee. There is a large park next to the hotel where dogs can romp. There is fantastic hiking nearby. We went with our cousin’s Bernese Mountain dog and met a Bernese puppy at the hotel. The hotel has a great buffet breakfast.
Staypineapple boutique hotels provide a bed, water bowl, treats, and doggie bags. Each Staypineapple room has a stuffed husky that your dog can play with – but you have to pay to keep it. I stayed at Staypineapple in Seattle, which also has robes, free bicycles and pineapple cupcakes at check-in.
Pasรฉa Hotel & Spa in Huntington Beach, has a Paw-sรฉa Pet Package offering three hours of pet sitting and doggie spa treatment, bowls, dog toy and leash. Best of all, the hotel has its own dog park.
More Dog-Friendly Hotels
Hotel LeVeque, part of Autograph Collection, in Columbus, Ohio allows two pets of any size for a fee of $100 per stay. Both dogs and cats are welcome. The luxury hotel, in downtown Columbus, has a very friendly staff.
InterContinental Hotel Stephen F. Austin, is in downtown Austin. The hotel lets dogs under 60 pounds stay. There is a cleaning fee of $100, no matter how long you stay. We were here for a wedding and the groom’s dog (and ring bearer) stayed with us.
Four Seasons Resort Orlando. You can’t bring your dog into
SureStay Plus Hotel by Best Western, in Albany, NY: This hotel charges $20 per pet, per night but rooms are inexpensive enough that this probably won’t be a budget buster. The free breakfast was worth more than $20 for the three of us. Note: not all Best Western hotels are pet-friendly.
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