For many pet owners, traveling without their pet is simply out of the question.
Pets are part of the family, and what's a family vacation without them?
But when you're planning a pet-friendly vacation, finding the right hotel that's comfortable, convenient, and has the right vibe is key.
Before you book, it's a good idea to familiarize yourself with the hotel's features to ensure your stay will be as comfortable for you as it is for your pet.
Here's a look at five features of pet-friendly hotels worth asking about, especially if they're not clearly stated on the hotel's website:
Things you should know about a 'pet-friendly' hotel
Rules about whether pets can be left alone in the room.
If you plan to leave your pet for short periods of time, like when you go out to dinner, you'll need to make sure the hotel allows it and learn what protocols, if any, you need to follow.
Some hotels say they are dog-friendly, but only offer limited areas for dogs to roam.
If your pet needs more than a quick potty break here and there, she'll want to know there's ample green space before she arrives.
Rules regarding pets in public areas, such as the lobby, pool deck, and patios.
Most hotels have restrictions and you could be fined if you don't follow the rules.
Pet fee schedule and weight limits.
Some hotels require non-refundable deposits in advance, while others return deposits once you've
checked out
and the room has been inspected for damage.
Pet fees and weight limits run the gamut as well.
Some pet fees are per stay;
others charge per night.
Size also matters, as some hotels don't accept large dogs over a certain weight.
Distance to parks, trails and restaurants.
It's one thing if the hotel welcomes dogs with ample room to roam and do their business, but it's another if you have to drive a long way to get to pet-friendly activities and restaurants.
Knowing all of this information ahead of time will help ensure that both you and your pet have a great trip.
Now here's a look at 15 pet-friendly hotels in America.
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Oregon
If your plans call for a visit to the Northwest, Bend, Oregon is home to one of the highest per capita dog populations in the world, a distinction that previously earned the riverside metropolis a reputation as Dog City USA.
It is the perfect destination for dog lovers who want to take a nature-filled vacation near the peaks and lakes of the Cascade Mountains.
Are you traveling with your cat or dog?
This is what you should know before
Bend has more than 50 miles of pet-friendly trails (not to miss the Deschutes River Trail) and more than a dozen off-leash areas.
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Then rest your head at the Oxford Hotel, where the pet-friendly package includes a dog bed, two dog bowls, organic dog treats, and a map of nearby trails and parks that welcome your pet.
Forgot your leash?
No problem.
They have tons of loaner collars and leashes available.
The fee is USD$59 per pet, per stay, and up to two pets are allowed per room.
Dog walking services are also available for an additional fee.
California
In posh Beverly Hills, it's no wonder pups get the star treatment.
The Peninsula Beverly Hills has a full "Pampered Puppy" room service menu exclusively for dogs, including custom entrees like Bow Wow Beef Burger, Dog Filet Mignon, Chicken Dog Bowl and more.
The spa also caters to pampered dogs with treatments just for them.
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The hotel allows two pets, dog or cat, of any size for an additional fee of $35 per pet, per night.
Nearby Franklin Canyon and Roxbury parks offer plenty of dog-friendly green spaces, and many of the sidewalk cafes and even boutiques also welcome pets and only ask for good behavior.
The iconic Beverly Hills Hotel offers freshly baked puppy cookies, dog beds and bowls for $35 per pet, per night.
Dogs and cats of any size are welcome, with up to two pets in each room.
Nearby at L'Ermitage Beverly Hills, only one dog per room is allowed, but your furry friend will be greeted by name upon arrival and receive a personalized dog bed, plush toys, a leash and food bowls and Water.
Pet owners also get a curated list of pet-friendly cafes, parks, day spas, spas, and stores in the area, so you can maximize your vacation time with your dog.
The fee is USD$50 per stay.
Arizona
Just minutes from Phoenix in posh Scottsdale, the Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Bungalows is a haven for pets, with 23 acres of winding trails and expansive green spaces.
The property's single-story layout and private patios make it easy for dogs or cats to spread out and get comfortable next to you.
The hotel's restaurant, Weft & Warp Art Bar + Kitchen, offers Dinner With Your Dog on the patio with incredible views of Camelback Mountain, and a special dog menu that includes dishes like the Good Dawg (a steak) and the Healthy Hound ( the baked fish of the day).
One dollar from every dog food goes to Lucky Dog Rescue, a local pet shelter.
Although there is no extra charge to bring your pet, the hotel needs at least three days in advance to prepare for your visit.
However, there is a 50 pound weight limit for a dog.
Texas
Young and vibrant Austin is one of the most dog-friendly cities in the country.
You can take your dog for a hike or bike ride along the trails at Lady Bird Lake, or rent a dog-friendly kayak or stand-up paddle board from Live, Love, Paddle to glide across the water.
Other great places to take your dog include Barton Creek Greenbelt Preserve and Red Bud Isle Off-Leash Dog Park.
The boutique Archer Hotel offers a dog-level welcome sign and water bowl at the hotel entrance.
Complimentary Buddy Biscuit treats are always available at the front desk, but there's also a treat in your room waiting for you, along with a comfy bed, a plush green brontosaurus chew toy, and two bowls from Austin's Phydeaux & Friends Pet Store.
The concierge can provide a list of dog parks, groomers, and more upon arrival.
Pet fee is $150 per stay and pets are welcome in all areas of the hotel that are open to the public.
Only one pet dog or emotional support dog per room.
Minnesota
Smack in the middle of one of the most pet-friendly cities in the Midwest, Minneapolis' stylish Hewing Hotel welcomes pets of any size, dogs and cats included, for a one-time fee of $75 per stay.
If they are trained, they can even stay alone in the hotel room while you take a dip in the pool or enjoy a cocktail in the lounge overlooking the city center.
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A large lawn is available for guests and their pets just across the street from the hotel, and treats are always available at the front desk.
Virginia
At the Tides Inn Resort & Marina, in the heart of the Chesapeake Bay resort area, pets are pampered with southern hospitality from the moment they check in, thanks in part to Riley, the resort's friendly retriever.
Dogs will get a custom bed from eco-friendly pet brand Harry Barker, plus a pet bowl.
While your pet sleeps, owners can make a dog bowl in the community's art studio to take home as a keepsake.
Complimentary dog treats in the room and a courtesy bag that includes flashlights for nighttime walks are just a few of the other ways the Tides Inn lives up to its pet-friendly reputation.
Pet fee is $150 per stay and there is a limit of two dogs maximum per room.
The hotel will reopen on March 1, 2022, after a temporary closure.
Georgia
Tucked away in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Barnsley Resort in Adairsville, Georgia is about an hour between Atlanta and Chattanooga and offers pets of all sizes 3,000 acres of lush greenery to roam.
Family hikes take on a whole new meaning when there are 10 miles of hiking trails, architectural ruins, and gardens to explore, plus outdoor lounging areas surrounding fire pits, lawn games that welcome pup games, and dinner parties. outdoors on the front porch of Woodlands Grill.
Pet-friendly rooms are equipped with pet beds, bowls, bottled water and treats for a non-refundable pet fee of $150 for cabin suites or $250 for multi-bedroom cabins.
There are no weight limits in Barnsley, and pet sitting services can be arranged with advance notice.
The community donates a portion of the pet fee to PAWS Atlanta.
Florida
At W Fort Lauderdale, the PAW Program stands for "Pets Are Welcome" and the goods and services live up to the name.
For a $100 non-refundable pet fee and a $25 nightly fee, your stay includes a plush dog bed and a bark box filled with pet-friendly treats delivered to your room.
There is also a special pet menu, food and water bowls, and a supply of bags.
Make the most of the Florida sun with a dog-friendly walk on Fort Lauderdale's famous beaches, where pets are welcome to stroll and jump at designated times of day.
Bubbly is also effervescent in the southern archipelago known as the Florida Keys, where the Marker Key West Harbor Resort welcomes pets with a doggy bag loaded with toys, treats and a Marker Key West pet tag, plus! of champagne for adults!
Pets also get pup turn-down service and, upon request, walks on Smathers Beach, a spa session at Salty Paws, and even dinner under the stars with a multi-course dog food menu.
Paddling with your pup is also doable on an outing with Lazy Dog, a rental company that accommodates four-legged friends on paddle boards, kayaks, and pontoon boats.
And you can take your dog for a walk in the harbor right outside the hotel.
The fee for the Marker Key West Harbor Resort is $75 per pet, per night, with a maximum of two pets per room and a weight limit of 20 pounds each.
Also in Key West, the laid-back Gates Hotel, Key West's first entry point boutique hotel, offers pet guests a Pooch Box at
check-in
that includes toys and treats.
Dogs are also welcome at the hotel's Rum Row's Yappy Hour restaurant, where the money raised goes to the Keys SPCA, a local nonprofit dedicated to protecting abandoned dogs.
Nearby Sunset Green is a huge green space perfect for a game of fetch, and dog lovers also prefer the off-leash Higgs Beach Dog Park and Key West Dog Beach.
Dogs on leashes are even allowed at the Key West Aquarium.
Pet fees at the Gates Hotel are $30 per pet, per day (dogs and cats included), with a limit of two pets weighing no more than 50 pounds each.
Well-behaved pets can be left alone in the room for short periods of time.
Maine
Do you have a bloodhound who loves life in the mountains?
Maine's Acadia National Park has nearly 150 miles of Fido-friendly trails and carriage roads, many with sweeping views of the Gulf of Maine and the quaint town of Bar Harbor.
At the Bayview Harbor Hotel, pet-friendly rooms have stairs that lead from private oceanside decks to the resort lawn, so you don't have to walk around the hotel with your pet every time you need to stretch your legs.
Pets also receive dog beds, bowls, and special treats and toys in their room upon arrival.
Bar Harbor is home to tons of pet-friendly restaurants, breweries, and shops, and the Bayview Concierge can provide a list of all the great dog-friendly places in the area, so you can explore off-property with your pup. and know that you will be welcome.
The Downeast Windjammer, for example, lets you take your pets on a Frenchman Bay boat cruise.
Dogs under 40 pounds are welcome at Bayview, but cannot be left alone in the room.
Pet fees are $50 per pet, per night, with a maximum of two pets per room.
Massachusetts
Visit Boston's historic Liberty, a Luxury Collection Hotel, between May and October, and you can join the locals for "Yappier Hour" on the patio of Clink, the hotel's restaurant (event takes place Mondays and Wednesdays from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.).
The city hotel's "VIPS" (Very Important Pups) program includes a Liberty dog bed, bowls and a personalized dog bone provided by the local Fish & Bone pet boutique upon arrival, plus a bag of treats from another local store, Dog Eat Cake.
In addition to having Boston Common and the Public Garden in the area, hotel guests will find the dog-friendly Charles River Esplanade nearby.
Pet fee is $100 per night for two pets of any size, dog or cat, but neither can be left unattended.
Vermont
The Green Mountain State is home to a number of idyllic towns, but perhaps none gets more attention as a four-season, fur-friendly vacation destination than Stowe.
The town of Stowe is full of pet-friendly cafes, boutiques, and community activities that welcome pets year-round.
At the Lodge at Spruce Peak (formerly Stowe Mountain Lodge), dogs are welcome in studios and suites, where they receive a plush dog bed and chew toys at
check-in
.
Dogs are welcome to socialize with other pets and their owners in the lobby, though you'll have plenty to meet outside.
Take your pup for a walk along the scenic Stowe Recreation Path or let him hop on the SkyRide gondola for a special trip to the tops of the mountains.
A $125 non-refundable pet fee is due at
check-in
, and dogs cannot be left alone in the room.
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