Pet-Friendly Hotels: What to Check Before You Book

By Dr Duncan Houston

“Pet-friendly” is a useful search filter, but it does not tell you whether a hotel will accept your particular pet or whether the stay will work with your plans. A property may welcome dogs but not cats, charge a substantial additional fee, or prohibit leaving an animal alone in the room.

The important details are the exact hotel's written policy and the room you are booking. Confirm those before paying for a stay that is difficult to change.

Quick Answer

Before booking a pet-friendly hotel, confirm accepted species, size and number limits, all pet charges, unattended-pet rules and access to shared areas. Ask the property to confirm your specific pet and stay in writing. Then check practical comfort, including a suitable room layout, a plan for meals and outings, and secure arrival and housekeeping arrangements.

What does pet-friendly actually mean?

It means the property accepts pets under its conditions. It does not automatically mean every species, every room category or every part of the building is available to them.

Policies can differ within the same brand. Marriott's current guidance explicitly notes that fees, limits and other conditions are set at property level. A previous stay at a different hotel in the chain is therefore not enough to establish the rules for this booking.

Some brands advertise broader pet welcome policies, such as Kimpton. Even then, check the specific property and the practical arrangements for your dates rather than inferring every detail from a brand slogan.

Check acceptance before comparing amenities

Tell the hotel the species, number of animals and the information it requests to confirm eligibility. Do not assume a website photograph of a dog means cats, birds or small mammals are also accepted.

Ask whether there are size, weight, breed or room-category restrictions. If a listing is unclear, contact the property through its official contact details and request a written answer attached to your reservation.

Decision checkpoint: a general “pets allowed” badge is insufficient if the room description or booking terms say something different. Resolve the discrepancy before booking.

Understand the complete cost

Separate charges that sound similar but work differently:

• Per-night fee: ask whether it applies per room or per animal, and whether there is a maximum per stay
• One-time pet fee: confirm whether it covers the whole reservation, including an extension or room move
• Refundable deposit: ask the amount, release conditions and expected timing of the release
• Cleaning or damage charges: ask what is included in the standard fee and what may be charged additionally
• Optional services: confirm the cost and availability of any sitting, walking or special equipment you intend to use

Request the total in the hotel's billing currency, including applicable taxes or mandatory additions. Compare complete stay costs rather than room rates alone.

Keep the pet-policy confirmation with the booking's cancellation and refund terms. If the policy does not work for your pet, find out whether you can change or cancel before the relevant deadline.

Can your pet stay in the room while you go out?

This is often the deciding question. Some hotels prohibit unattended pets; others set conditions involving a carrier, crate, contact details or housekeeping access. Do not assume that paying a pet fee includes permission to leave the animal alone.

Think through the entire day: breakfast, restaurants, work meetings, attractions and evening plans. If a pet cannot accompany you and cannot stay alone, you need an acceptable care arrangement that is actually available.

A hotel may suggest a service without providing or supervising it. Ask who operates the service, how bookings work and whether it suits your animal. Confirm arrangements before relying on them.

Ask about shared spaces and access routes

Permission to sleep in a guest room does not establish access to restaurants, breakfast rooms, pools, lounges or leisure areas. Ask which routes and spaces you may use and what restraint or carrier requirements apply.

For a dog, check where toileting is possible and how you reach that area late at night. A patch of grass visible on a map may be inaccessible, privately managed or awkward to reach from the hotel entrance.

For a cat or other animal, focus on the room and secure movement through doors and corridors. Do not assume that a dog-oriented amenity package contains suitable supplies for another species.

What room features matter?

• Entry and escape prevention: consider doors, windows and any balcony access
• Usable floor space: allow room for the pet's resting area, carrier and normal supplies
• Location: ask about lift traffic, busy entrances or other sources of repeated disturbance
• Furniture policy: confirm whether pets may use beds or sofas and whether protective covers are allowed
• Housekeeping: agree when staff can enter and how the pet will be secured or taken out

A quiet room request is a request, not a guarantee. Tell the property what matters most and ask what it can realistically provide.

Prepare for the stay without overpacking

Bring the pet's usual essentials rather than relying on welcome gifts: food, bowls, suitable bedding, identification and the equipment you normally use for safe handling or transport. Cats also need their appropriate litter arrangements.

Keep the hotel's rules and emergency contacts easy to retrieve. If your pet has an existing care plan, make sure travel logistics allow you to follow it and discuss travel concerns with your veterinarian before departure.

Test unfamiliar travel equipment in advance. The first time a pet encounters a carrier or resting setup should not be during a busy hotel check-in.

What should you do on arrival?

1. Confirm the reservation details. Recheck the pet count, agreed charges and any forms before settling in
2. Inspect the room. Look for accessible rubbish, leftover items, gaps and unsecured openings before allowing exploration
3. Set up a familiar resting area. Keep the layout simple and avoid immediately adding visitors or activities
4. Agree staff access. Follow the property's process for housekeeping and any pet-in-room notice
5. Review the day plan. Make sure every planned outing still works with the actual policy

If the room or policy differs materially from what was confirmed, contact reception promptly. Ask for the issue to be resolved before improvising an arrangement that could create a safety problem or extra charge.

How do you decide whether the hotel is a good fit?

Good fit: acceptance is confirmed, total costs are clear, everyday needs can be met and your activities comply with the policy.

Needs clarification: the listing omits species limits, unattended rules or charges, or staff answers are inconsistent.

Choose another option: your plans require breaking the policy, the accommodation cannot safely contain your pet, or the stay would involve care arrangements you cannot provide.

A pet-friendly label does not mean travel is the right choice for every animal. Consider the individual and the alternative care options, rather than assuming the pet must accompany every trip.

Common mistakes

• Relying on a booking-site badge without reading the property policy
• Assuming dogs and cats are accepted on identical terms
• Comparing room rates while ignoring pet charges
• Planning restaurant visits before checking unattended-pet rules
• Assuming beds, bowls or sitting services are guaranteed
• Leaving housekeeping and door security to chance

Frequently Asked Questions

Does pet-friendly mean pets stay free?

No. Fees and deposits vary by property. Ask for the complete total for your animals and dates.

Can a hotel accept dogs but refuse cats?

Pet policies may distinguish between species. Get explicit confirmation for your pet rather than relying on a general label.

Can I leave my pet alone if it is quiet?

Only if the property's policy allows it and you can meet the conditions. Quiet behaviour does not override an unattended-pet restriction.

Are pet amenities included in every room?

Not necessarily. Confirm availability, whether you must request them and whether there is an additional charge.

Confirm the details that shape the stay

The best booking is one that works in practice: the animal is accepted, the costs are understood and the daily plan is realistic. Get the specific property's answers in writing and keep your pet's comfort central to the decision.

Sources

• Marriott Bonvoy: Pet-Friendly Hotels and property-level policy guidance
• Marriott: Where Can I Find Pet-Friendly Hotels?
• Kimpton Hotels: Pet-Friendly Hotels policy
• Courtyard New York Manhattan/SoHo: property FAQ and unattended-pet policy example

ASK A VET™ supports practical travel preparation. Discuss your animal's individual care needs before departure, alongside the hotel's written arrangements.