Pet hotels – top tips on how to find a truly dog friendly hotel

Around 50% of Americans have a dog as part of their family, enjoying the companionship, fun and loyalty their pet provides. Quite naturally, many dog owners want to travel or take a vacation with their furry friend, only to find that locating a hotel which is dog friendly can be a challenge.

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Why settle for a pet friendly hotel that will just tolerate your dog, rather than a place which offers a genuinely warm welcome? If you are looking to pack your pooch along with a suitcase the top tips featured below will help you find a place to stay that is perfect for all the family.

What to look for in a good dog friendly hotel

Hotels which advertise themselves as pet friendly can range dramatically from those offering only the basics, say dog bowls for food and water, and a bed of some kind, to high-end establishments where dogs have dedicated spa treatments and room service options.

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Whatever the price range may be each hotel or chain will have its own pet guest policies, although these may not always be clearly displayed on their website. For peace of mind, and a positive experience make sure to ask about the following:

• Weight limits. Lots of places place a 25 or 50 pound ceiling on dogs, but this may not be obvious when you make a reservation.
• Extra fees. Ranging from deposits (often non-refundable) to additional daily cleaning fees, these soon add up. Not all hotels apply these surcharges, so it is usually possible to avoid, or at least minimize them.
• Room rules. Some hotels insist dogs are never left alone in a room. This can make family mealtimes impossible.
• Off-limit zones. Often random, but if your dog is not allowed in the grounds it makes exercising a chore.

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The good news is that there are plenty of hotels with a flexible and welcoming attitude, with staff keen to share information on everything from dogsitters to local, dog friendly eateries.

How to find a fantastic dog friendly hotel

Word of mouth is a great way to source the real gems, so make the most of your friend networks and relevant discussion forums or Facebook groups. If that is unrealistic or you simply want more choices an alternative method is to go straight to a specialist website.

Pettravel has a comprehensive website with details of over 35,000 pet friendly hotels, and a clever search engine which makes it easy to find the best place for you. A similar service is offered by Petswelcome. Although the results all feature dog friendly places it is best to call and check on the tips mentioned above, or check any policy statements available carefully.

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Finding a true dog friendly hotel really makes a vacation, so enjoy, as you can be sure your faithful friend will.