Book the Purrfect Trip with These Pet-Friendly Hotels
Taking a trip but don’t want to leave your furry friend behind? In honor of National Pet Day, check out these pet-friendly hotels — and even a cruise line — that let your pet take that much-needed vacation with you.
Americans took 2.2 billion trips for business and pleasure in 2016, and this number will only keep climbing. Because more travelers want to vacation with their their entire family — including the four-footed members — more chain hotels and other properties are now allowing pets. But taking your pet along for the ride can sometimes be costly and limited.
Luckily, there are still some hotels and hotel chains out there that are truly pet friendly — some even wallet friendly.
In honor of National Pet Day, April 11, we’ve scoped out some of the most accommodating pet-friendly hotels so you won’t have to leave Fluffy at home the next time you want to get away.
[RELATED: Travel Trends of 2017]
All Motel 6 properties — more than 1,350 of them — accept up to two pets per room with no added fees. Dogs of any size are allowed to stay as long as they are “well behaved” and don’t disturb any other guests.
Almost all La Quinta properties welcome up to two canine or feline pets of any size. (There are a few exceptions because of local laws that prohibit pets.) La Quinta has no restriction on a guest pet’s weight and does not charge additional fees.
Kimpton hotels neither charge extra fees nor limit the number of pets per room. All 60-plus locations welcome pets of any size or breed if the pet “fits through the door.” That shouldn’t be hard for all pet owners to abide by. Each property lends guests pet beds, water bowls and mats for your VIP (Very Important Pet). You and your pet can also meet the other hotel guests — furry or not — at the nightly wine reception.
The Loews Loves Pets program is what the hotel chain calls a “travel essential.” Big dogs, little dogs and cats are all welcome to stay at any of the Loews properties. The chain provides name tags, bowls, treats and, by request, pet beds, litter boxes and scratching posts. Only two pets are allowed per room, but when they get hungry, they can order off the pet room service menu. Fees vary by property, and some hotels may place limits on the animals’ size.
Most Red Roof Inn properties welcome one family pet of any size . (A few hotels in the chain cannot accept pets because of local laws.) Red Roof Inns do not charges no fees for their pet guests.
Although it’s not a traditional hotel, Cunard makes the list because it’s the only cruise line to allow dogs and cats on transatlantic trips. On the Cunard’s Queen Mary 2, you stay in the cabin and your furry friend stays in the kennel — a facility with both indoor and outdoor space. The kennel works best for cats and small dogs. Dogs must be less than 36 inches high and less than 60 inches long. Big dogs and what are considered fighting breeds in the United Kingdom are also banned from sailing. Cats must sail in two upper kennels, one for her and one for her litter box, for a fee of $1,600. Dogs can bunk in upper kennels for $800 or the lower kennels for $1,000. It’s also possible to give your pooch more space to relax by booking two connecting kennels.
