Tips for Finding a Pet-Friendly Hotel
If you’re planning a vacation with your pets, you will need to do a bit of extra planning and research. You can find a pet-friendly hotel that will allow you to bring your pets along, but you need to do some research first to find out which ones are best for you.
Below is our dog Little Zeus (aka LZ) who thinks he should be pampered wherever he goes. He has been spoiled by many a pet-friendly hotel and we appreciate them letting us bring our beloved dogs with us. 
Don’t worry we didn’t let LZ sleep on the bed even though he tried but we did give him a few minutes of snuggle time and since he’s only 5lbs we figured no harm. We would never let our bigger dog on a hotel bed.
Most pet-friendly hotels will allow dogs (check out BringFido to search for places), but some do not allow cats. Some don’t allow birds or rodents, either. Some will allow any pet that is kept in a cage or a tank, but not pets that run free. Again, you need to look into the details of their pet policy, not just whether or not they allow pets.
We even had an amazing pet-friendly hotel in Seattle the Sorrento (read our review here) welcome our two dogs Luna & LZ with this fun sign. They even had dog beds, dog dishes and treats for our pooches. Now, I wouldn’t expect that from every pet-friendly hotel (in fact few do this) but the Sorrento which is not a large chain hotel, it’s more a boutique hotel was amazing when it came to our dogs.
Here’s what you can do to find a pet-friendly hotel:
- The first thing you need to do is know where you’re going. You can’t look for hotels when you don’t know where you’ll be.
- Then you want to find out the pet policies of hotels you’re considering staying at. If there is a specific hotel or chain your family likes to stay at, you need to find out if they accept pets before your planning goes any further.
- Call them up and ask any questions about their pet policies, fees, and more. It’s not enough just to read their website, since sometimes info can be outdated. Call the exact branch you’re wanting to stay at and make sure you have all the details.
- Once you find the hotel you want to stay at, you may need to book your reservations early. Many pet-friendly hotels have limited rooms and space available for pets, so you will want to be sure you get one of them.
- Once you pick a hotel, you’ll also want to pack your pet’s supplies and have everything your pet(s) needs before you go. Bring favorite toys, blankets, or other special items to make your pet feel more comfortable even while away from home, too.
When investigating the right hotel for you and your pet, look at more than just the fees. You should also look at what amenities they may offer, and how convenient it is for your pets and the rest of your family.
Our dog Luna enjoying the plush dog bed provided at a pet-friendly hotel.
Some well-known pet-friendly chains include:
- La Quinta
- Hotel Indigo
- Red Roof Inn
- Four Seasons
- Kimpton Hotels
- Fairmont Hotels and Resorts
These are just a few to consider, but there are certainly many more out there, sometimes it’s a boutique hotel, or cabins at a resort, there might b more options than you think. Do your research, plan your trip, and find a great pet-friendly hotel in the area of your choice.
Make sure to check out our travel and pet sections for more great articles and reviews!
Darren Scrubb says
Great to see there are Hotels that are kind to pets.
Leanne Davis says
I didn’t even know there were pet friendly hotels . Always get my mom to babysit the dog . Will have to look into it next time we go .
stacey says
I cant stay anywhere unless they are pet friendly
kelly tupick says
Great tips, it’s always important to make them feel as comfortable as possible being away from home. I love my fur babies and wouldn’t want them to be scared, i try to make trips as easy as possible for them.
Mia Rose says
I’ve noticed that there are more hotels lately that our pet friendly which is such a plus. How nice to have a nice plush doggy bed.
Amy Walker says
Great tips. I have never travelled any long distance with my beloved canine boys. I have a new cocker puppy that I plan to take with me. I just don’t believe I can leave him! I am saving this post for future adventures.
Christina Almond says
Thanks for sharing your tips! We have booked pet-friendly hotels a few times and always appreciated the option of it!
vickie couturier says
very interesting,,ill be traveling 1200 miles with my dog next month and this is sure good to know,,he travels well
Margaret S Porter says
Great tips. We always board our dogs and this last trip they all got sick. I was heartbroken. I want them with us. Thanks for the tips!
Julie Myles says
I would love to take my dogs on vacation. We boarded them once and I felt horrible about it. They are used to being with people all day not in a cage. I would definitely consider a pet-friendly hotel for our next vacation.
belinda bell says
love all the tips. We always travel with our fur baby
Letessha Williams says
Good thing our dog is quiet because we never seem to mention that we have a dog when staying in a hotel at night. So far so good. You do have great choices here. I’m sure to check them out next time we are needing a hotel with our pet.
Shea Balentine says
Thanks for the tips! We usually travel with 2 elderly dogs and it’s difficult finding places that will take both of them in. A lot of places will take one dog but not 2. Can be frustrating at times!
marlene a harris says
this would be wonderful love to travel and love my dogs. its hard to find a place so we stay home a lot thank you
Tina Reynolds says
Great tips we usually travel with two dogs and it can be a real challenge finding some where that will accept them,
DeAnna Keller says
That is so nice that alot more hotels are dog friendly. In my past experience, the dog friendly hotels would up their rates, which can be annoying. Glad there are more choices than there used to be for dog owners.