The Best Hotel Chains That Welcome Our Furry Friends
If you’re looking for a pet-friendly place to stay while traveling with your dog or cat, you’ve come to the right article. As someone who frequently travels with their companion Maggie the mini schnauzer, I’ve had my fair share of experiences trying to find accommodations that will let us both spend the night. In this post, I’ll breakdown some of the major hotel brands that are super chill about letting you bring your pet.
Choice Hotels
- Choice Hotels (including brands like Quality Inn, Comfort Inn, EconoLodge) – Basically all Choice properties allow dogs under 50 lbs for a modest nightly pet fee, which is awesome if you’re on a budget. I’ve stayed at probably a dozen different Choice hotels over the years with Maggie in tow and never had any issues. As long as your pup is well-behaved, they’re usually pretty laid back about the pet policy. Just be sure to clean up after Fido so you don’t give the next guests a stinky surprise!
- Best Western – You gotta pay up for your pet at Best Westerns, usually $20-30 per night depending on the specific hotel. But when you’re desperate and it’s midnight, sometimes you gotta spend the dough to get a room. The staff have always been very gracious about Maggie joining us, even if she sometimes steals a leftover sausage from the breakfast buffet when they’re not looking. Oops!
- La Quinta by Wyndham – La Quintas allow dogs under 25 lbs for free! As a budget brand, it’s awesome they don’t charge extra for well-mannered small dogs. Just don’t try sneaking in a Great Dane and telling them he’s only 20 lbs…they’ll see right through that lie like they’ve got pet psychic powers or something.
In general, the big hotel chains are pretty accommodating of pets nowadays. Even the fancier brands seem to be getting more relaxed about letting furballs join the vacation. But of course, it always pays to double check pet policies on their websites before booking just to avoid any awful surprises.
Mid-Range Hotel Brands
Moving up from budget hotels, there are also some mid-range chains that do a phenomenal job making pets feel welcome too.
- Hyatt House – Hyatt is top-notch when it comes to their pet policies across brands like Hyatt House and Hyatt Place. They’re usually $75-100 per stay for dogs, but you get a plush pet bed, bowls, and treats waiting in your room! Talk about service, that’s some five-star treatment for rough and rowdy Rufus. The staff always dote on my pup when we check-in too, which is a nice treat for a lonely dog mom like myself.
- Hilton Garden Inn – A totally solid and affordable mid-range option. Hilton Garden Inns tend to have compact but stylish rooms and charge around $50 max for pets. Always clean with friendly staff too. I just wish they served pupcakes at breakfast instead of just pastries, know what I mean? A girl and her dog can dream.
- Marriott – It’s no secret the Marriott brand rocks when it comes to welcoming dogs. Most properties allow up to two pets for a $100-150 fee. The rooms are enormous too, which is perfect for getting some zoomies out after a long car ride. And don’t even get me started on the luxury pet amenities like beds, bowls, and doggie waste bags – truly amazing! You’d think you were staying at the Ritz Bark-lton, not just a run-of-the-mill Marriott.
Luxury Hotel Chains
When money is no object, these top-tier hotels treat you and your pup like royalty.
- Four Seasons – I mean come on, it’s the Four Seasons. Of course they’re dog-friendly and will literally cater to any pooch’s needs. Expect a plush dog bed, bowls, snacks, and a menu of luxury services like private training, spa packages, or doggy daycare. Just pray you can afford the $150-250 nightly pet fees! To be fair though, for hotels of their elite caliber, it’s totally worth it.
- Ritz Carlton – The Ritz spoils pets as much as people. Each furry guest gets their own squeaky toy and biscuits, along with bedspreads washed between stays for allergy-free bliss. A mere $150 per pet feels like a steal for the levels of five-star pampering here.
- Aman Resorts – Pampering patrons and their pups to the maxlevel, Aman welcomes dogs with hotel-branded collars, leashes, beds, and treats. Even has areas for walks, playtime, and doggy day spas. I mean c’mon, if mans’ best friend can’t join the vacation, what’s the point anyway, right? Amazing service for the hefty $200-300 pet fees though.
All in all, most major hotel chains have got you covered if you want to bring your furry BFF along for a getaway. Just be prepared to pay a nightly charge that usually tops out around $150 in my experience. And as long as Fido is well-behaved and doesn’t tear up the room or carpet, I’ve found hotel staff are quite gracious about letting dogs roam free off-leash too. I mean, a weary pooch needs to stretch just as much as us humans, no?
From my experience, the only annoyance can sometimes be other human guests who don’t appreciate dog hair on furniture or noises in the hallway. So just be extra vigilant about cleanup and keep rowdy retrievers from howling at 3am if nearby doors creak open. Overall though, with a little planning and common courtesy, having your pet along on trips makes the whole experience 100x more fun if you ask me!
What’s been your experience finding lodging that allows the whole fur family? Did you have any close calls where properties almost didn’t allow pets that other suggested? Let’s get a dialogue going in the comments below!
Top Pet-Friendly Hotel Chains
| Hotel Chain | Pet Fee | Pet Limit | Amenities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Western | $15-20 per night | 2 pets max | Food/water bowls, dog beds, bags/boxes |
| La Quinta | $15-25 per night | 2 pets max | Food/water bowls, dog beds, bags/boxes |
| Red Roof Inn | $10-25 per night | 2 pets max | Food/water bowls |
| Motel 6 | $10-15 per night | 2 pets max | Food/water bowls |
| Hilton Garden Inn | $75-100 per stay | 2 pets max | Food/water bowls, outdoor area |
FAQ
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Which hotel chains are best for bringing pets?
Some of the major hotel chains that are pretty pet-friendly include Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, and IHG. At the same time, there are also some great smaller chains like La Quinta Inns & Suites and Best Western that allow furry friends too.
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Do you have to pay extra fees to bring a pet?
Most definitely. While it’s amazing that they let pets come along basically, the chains still charge a fee per pet per night. These are usually anywhere from $25-$100 or so. I guess that basically covers any potential cleaning or damage costs if accidents happen, right?
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Are there any size or breed restrictions?
Sometimes yeah. A few chains only allow dogs under a certain size, like 25 pounds or something. The rules also might ban certain breeds like pit bulls or rottweilers at some spots too. So it always pays to check their pet policies online beforehand just to be safe.
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What if I have more than one pet?
Most places are fine with multiple pets as long as you pay separate fees for each one. Although, chains may impose limits like a max of two pets per room. But who travels with that many pets anyway? Maybe I just don’t have enough friends, human or otherwise!
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Do pet-friendly chains have extra amenities?
As a pet owner myself, I can tell you from experience that the top brands will provide things like food/water bowls, little bags for waste pickup, and maybe even a doggie bed. A few chains also offer pet sitting services if you want to go out. I think that’s awesome – a room just for you and your furry friend.
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Does allowing pets hurt cleanliness?
It’s possible there may be more pet odors or residue in rooms where pets are permitted despite cleaning. However, many experts argue that established brands have strict protocols ensuring proper sanitation between guests. I’m sure not all pets cause problems either. Still, clean freaks might wonder, is it worth it?
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Should I ask for ground level rooms?
Perhaps asking for a pet-friendly room on the first floor or ground level is a good idea. This may help your dog feel more secure if you take them outside for walks. It also avoids worries about spilled water or accidents rolling down flights of stairs. Sometimes the little things make a trip more enjoyable, right?
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How do employees feel about pets in hotels?
Who knows – employees probably have mixed feelings. On one hand, pets can be adorable. But they may also cause extra work like cleaning up more laundry or repairing damage now and then. Maybe if guests clean up properly and pay fees without fuss, that goes a long way in making everyone happy. Including the workers!