What should I look for in a pet-friendly hotel?

A hotel listed generally as pet-friendly can still have a weight limit, a cap on the number of pets per room, breed restrictions, or a significant nightly fee that only appears at booking, so calling or checking the specific policy page before reserving avoids a surprise at check-in. Some hotels also restrict pet-friendly rooms to specific floors or buildings within a larger property.

A ground floor room near an exit makes late-night and early-morning toilet breaks far easier than a room on a high floor requiring an elevator each time, particularly for a dog with an urgent need or during a busy check-in period. Hard flooring is easier to keep clean than deep carpet if a dog has an accident or tracks in mud after a walk.

Many hotels have specific rules about whether a dog can be left unattended in the room, sometimes requiring a phone number on file or a sign on the door, and some prohibit it entirely due to noise complaints or safety concerns from previous guests. Confirming this policy before booking matters if your trip includes any activity where the dog cannot come along.

Reviews specifically from other dog owners often reveal details a hotel's own policy page does not mention, such as how close the nearest grass area actually is, whether staff are genuinely welcoming toward pets, or whether other guests have complained about barking in nearby rooms. A quick search of recent reviews filtered for mentions of dogs is usually worth the extra few minutes before booking.