Hotel California: The 10 best dog-friendly hotels in the USA
Your dog is a part of the family, so of course you want to bring them with you on your holiday. Unfortunately, many hotels don’t love your dog as much as you do. But there is hope - every day, more and more hotels are opening their doors to furry guests.
Some hotels charge nightly pet fees, one-time cleaning fees, or both, but some of these hotels let your pet stay for free. Many hotels are also now offering special packages for dogs, which include things like blankets, bowls, and poop bags. Sometimes not every location of a hotel chain allows pets, and some cities forbid dogs from staying in any hotel within their city limits, so you’ll always want to call the particular location you’d like to visit ahead of time and double check. Here are our top 10 picks for dog-friendly hotels: 1. Kimpton Dogs are welcomed at all Kimpton locations with no extra fees, and some locations even have a canine Director of Pet Relations to welcome you and your pet. According to their website: “OK, we admit it. We have an animal attraction. Can you blame us? At every Kimpton boutique hotel, we invite you to bring your furry, feathery or scaly family member - no matter their size, weight, or breed, all at no extra charge. If your pet fits through the door, we’ll welcome them in. There’s more to our pet-friendly policy than just a no-fuss check-in and scratch behind the ear, though. We’ve got all the goodies you need to keep your pet pampered. Plus at certain properties our Directors of Pet Relations are on hand (or paw, as it were) to give you and your buddy a tail-wagging welcome.” Additional perks offered to canine guests include plush pet-bed loaners, food, water bowls, and mats; a concierge list of nearby pet-friendly restaurants, parks, groomers, and pet boutiques; door hangers to alert staff and guests that your pet is in the room; and courtesy bags for walking your dog. 2. Red Roof Inn Not only does Red Roof Inn have more than 500 hotel locations where pets are welcomed with no extra cost, but guests traveling with pets actually get 10% off of their stay! There are some restrictions, though. Only one pet weighing 80 pounds or less is permitted; dogs must be leashed outside of your room, and pets are never allowed to be left alone in a guest room. The locations in Oxon Hill, MD and Queensboro LIC, NY do not allow pets (although service animals are permitted). 3. Nikko Hotel The Nikko Hotel in San Francisco is the home of Chief Canine Officer Buster Posey, who is available for “canine room service” for any traveler who needs a snuggle. They also welcome dogs under 60 pounds on their VIP (Very Important Pet) Floor with stylish doggie beds, water bowls, pet placemats, and a fun welcome bag with toys, a portable food bowl, dog waste bag dispenser, and tennis balls. They also have a rooftop grass dog run. They normally charge $50 a night for each dog, but if you book ahead of time, you’ll save $10 a night. Additional cleaning fees may be applied after you check out, if necessary. 4. La Quinta La Quinta Inns & Suites® allows up to 2 domestic pets per room without any deposits or nightly fees, although they may charge cleaning or repair fees if your dog makes a mess. You need to let the front desk staff know you have a pet and you will be asked to sign a Pet Policy Agreement. Pets must be kept on a leash or inside a carrier when outside the room. They may remain alone in the room if they are well-behaved, but if they are barking or destructive, you will be asked to keep them with you at all times. According to their website: “We count on you to prevent your pet from making excessive noise, being disruptive or aggressive to other guests. If your pet is deemed dangerous, harmful or disruptive, hotel management has sole discretion to require you to find other accommodations. The hotel also reserves the right to contact animal control to have a pet removed." You also need to contact housekeeping to set up a time to clean your room when your pet is not in the room. 5. Motel 6 Motel 6 allows service animals and “well-behaved pets” unless they pose a health or safety risk or are prohibited by law. There are no fees, but there is a limit of 2 pets per room. Some state and local municipalities forbid any pets other than service animals, and some locations have breed or size restrictions, so you’ll want to call ahead to make sure they’re permitted at the location you plan on visiting. 6. Canopy By Hilton Canopy by Hilton is a new boutique hotel chain which just announced that all of its North American locations will offer “Paws in the Neighbourhood,” a new dog-friendly check-in policy. Canopy partnered with Planet Dog, makes environmentally-friendly pet products, to create the Paws in the Neighbourhood welcome kit. It includes a cinch pack, a Planet Dog Orbee ball, a house-made or locally-sourced dog treat, a dispenser with pickup bags, and a guide that highlights neighbourhood parks, vets, groomers, pet supply stores, and dog-friendly restaurants. Up to 2 dogs weighing 75 pounds or less will be allowed to stay with their owners for a non-refundable pet fee of $50. The “Just Right” guest rooms will be prepared in advance to include a dog bed along with food and water bowls. Collars and leashes will be available on loan, and guests receive 20 percent off purchases from Planet Dog. 7. Graduate If you’re looking for a dog-friendly hotel chain that’s more than just another drab room that looks exactly the same no matter what city you’re in, you should check out Graduate Hotels. Each Graduate Hotel is unique and is tailored specifically to the college town it’s situated in, with individual education-themed touches throughout. They have no pet fees, and each dog is welcomed with a themed, complimentary BarkBox. Each dog is greeted in the room with a blanket for use during their stay (which pet parents may purchase if they wish when their stay is over), and a chalkboard bowl with their name written on it. 8. Virgin Hotels According to their website: “Your best friend is more than welcome at Virgin Hotels Chicago with dog-friendly chambers and comfy pet-menities as cosy as your own. Yep, we’re big fans of the fuzz, and think traveling with pets should be just as fun for them as it is for you. That’s why pets stay free with no size or breed restrictions. So unleash, unwind and welcome to our Chicago pet-friendly hotel.” 9. Aloft Hotels According to their website: “Aloft is happy to welcome your dog, up to 40 pounds. Our pet-friendly arf (SM) program offers a special bed, bowl, and a doggie bag of woof-alicious treats and toys, all complimentary to use during your stay. Please make sure they’re on their best behaviour - we don’t want to charge you extra for housekeeping!” 10. Select Disney World Hotels 4 Disney World Hotels recently started allowing pets (for an additional fee). Disney’s Art of Animation Resort ($50/night), a cartoon-themed resort, includes story-themed rooms, 3 themed pools, and casual dining options. Disney’s Port Orleans Resort - Riverside ($50/night) offers everything from “stately mansions” to “quaint backwoods cottages.” It includes Disney character-themed rooms and a “swimmin’ hole hideaway.” Disney’s Yacht Club Resort ($75/night), a lakeside hotel, offers a variety of watercraft for rent at the nearby Bayside Marina and is walking distance from Epcot. The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort ($50/night) - In the midst of 750 acres of pine and cypress forest, this resort will get you back to nature and will give you the chance to see real wildlife. Best Friends Pet Care is available on the property for doggie daycare (for an additional fee) while you’re busy exploring the parks. At check-in, guests with dogs will be given Pluto’s Welcome Kit, which includes a mat, bowls, a pet ID tag, courtesy plastic disposable bags, puppy pads, dog walking maps, and a Pluto “Do Not Disturb” door hanger, which indicates to hotel staff that a pet is in the room. Dogs staying in hotel rooms will be expected to be well-behaved, leashed in public resort areas, and properly vaccinated. For more questions, check out each resort’s website or call 407-WDISNEY. (Article source: I Heart Dogs)
