Many hotels allow dogs, but of course, some don’t – and chances are you will always run into the “don’ts” when it’s late and you’re tired and you have not planned ahead.
There is magic in wildly embracing spontaneous travel- but it’s not advisable when Dog is the co-pilot. Planning is everything when traveling with a dog and booking hotel accommodation is no exception. There are many websites devoted to finding dog-friendly hotels. One we have used a lot is www.petfriendlytravel.com, also Dogfriendly.com. There are also many, many books devoted to providing information on Pet-Friendly Hotels and Bed & Breakfasts around the country. Very useful to have one on hand and for planning purposes. We lived in California some time back and we still have our well-worn copy of The Dog Lover’s Companion to California on our shelves.
One of the most reliable hotels for accommodating dogs on road trips around the country is the Motel 6 where they always aim to make family cats and dogs welcome!
According to a USA Today poll, the following hotel chains are the best bets when traveling with your dog, but a fee is required unless noted and they will often have policies with regard to size and number of dogs:
- Kimpton Hotels. They don’t require a pet fee.
- Best Western. Dogs are allowed at most locations.
- Doubletree. But plan ahead for a pet-friendly room.
- Home2Suites by Hilton.
- Ritz Carlton. Many locations are pet-friendly.
- Red Roof Inn. There is no pet fee but please call ahead if you plan on bringing more than one dog.
- La Quinta. Most locations allow pets.
- Super Eight. Most locations allow pets.
Most hotels will not allow you to leave your dog unattended in the room but if they do make sure the dog is either confined in a crate or super easy going and trusted to rest peacefully and quietly in your absence. Nothing screams bad hotel etiquette like a constantly barking dog or a chewed-up remote control!
Most hotels don’t allow dogs anywhere near the pool area either. But sometimes you hit the jackpot!
