Would you leave a son or a daughter behind when going on vacation? You certainly wouldn’t, and many travellers who are pet owners feel exactly the same when it comes to travelling abroad. Therefore, unless they know someone who can be entrusted with the task of looking after their beloved four-legged family member, finding a hotel where pets are allowed becomes mandatory in order to make that holiday trip or business stay with their dog, cat or turtle possible.
But what do we mean by pet-friendly hotel or accommodation? What makes it different to other hotels? Are they more expensive? What are the requirements your pet must meet so that you can enjoy a hotel stay together? Continue reading to find out.
Choosing accommodation where pets are allowed
If you travel with your pet and want it to stay in your room with you, additional charges may apply when you pay for your stay; that being said, this may be the case with any sort of accommodation that has pet-friendly policies regardless of its star-rating, so it would be safe to say that hotels that accept dogs or other pets do not belong to a separate category, but are regular hospitality establishments which are prepared to provide this service.
In case surcharges apply, the amount will depend on the number of amenities your pet will be able to enjoy. Sometimes the hotel simply accepts your pet as another guest, but occasionally they will go the extra mile and offer a whole range of dedicated services that you won’t find anywhere else. Also, a refundable deposit is often required: if your naughty pet breaks furniture or destroys the curtains, the deposit you paid will cover the expenses.
Provided that you make your hotel reservation online and select the “travelling with a pet” option, we recommend that you go through the fine print carefully or, even better, call the hotel and confirm with them that they actually allow pets in the guest rooms as well as everything you need to know before checking in.
The most common policies of pet-friendly hotels
Hotels that accept dogs, cats and other pets may provide amenities such as toys, towels, sitters, specific food menu, beds and blankets. This is frequent when you stay in a pet-friendly hotel rated with three stars or higher. However, every accommodation should at least provide a leash-free area for dogs to play in the communal zones and an in-room pet relief designated area.
Rural houses and villas have a tendency to accept animals and let them run freely around the facilities, yet hotels will probably ask you to keep your dog or cat either inside the kennel or leashed until you get to your room, and show proof of its vaccinations, good health and behaviour.
Take into account that a pet-friendly accommodation also provides service to guests without pets, and so it is likely that they will recommend not to wash your four-legged friend in the bathtub or let it sleep in the bed for obvious reasons. Choose a four or five-star hotel and they will cater to your needs with dog towels, wipes and small tubs so that your pet remains fresh and clean all throughout the stay.
As we mentioned above, some hotels where pets are allowed simply let your dog or cat stay with you in your room, but others can actually supply every amenity you may need so that nothing is missed and you both feel just like at home. This may include specific food and treats, pet beds, blankets, toys, kennels, grooming services, dog-walkers and veterinary care.
All these features might be included in the nightly rate you will pay for your room or be added to the final bill in the form of extras, so we encourage you to confirm with the hotel manager or staff whether these amenities come for free or require the payment of a surcharge in advance.
Have you found the perfect accommodation for your trip? Search for apartments, hostels, guest houses, bed and breakfasts and hotels all over the world and make your reservation here.
Airports and Hotels 