FOUR PAWS, FIVE STARS, ZERO APOLOGIES
For years, traveling with a pet felt taxing. Literally, hotels with pet policies were charging taxes on a member of the family. You paid a fee per night, there was a weight limit, and they would do everything they could to get you to avoid bringing your pet into the lobby. I remember when I was 18, trying to travel to California with my new puppy, who just before the trip poked his eye on a rose bush and couldn’t be left alone. It was a nightmare between his defensive barking from temporary blindness and trying to live life at the same time.
Somewhere in the last decade, the math has changed. Hotels seemed to have worked out that a dog isn’t an obstacle to booking. The dog could be the whole booking. It’s like if he can’t come, I’m not going. And while my first traveling companion, who lived to be 15, is now gone, I’ve learned I’d rather spend my money somewhere that welcomes my new furry friend than somewhere that doesn’t.
This isn’t a list of hotels that “allow” dogs. Allowing is the bare minimum. These are the hotels that are clearly expecting dogs and planned for them. All places that seemingly know a dog’s name before they know the humans. Prioritize their happiness and behaviors. The places that want your dog to have as good a time as you’re having.
Sand, Salt, and Room to Run
Chileno Bay Resort, Los Cabos
Baja luxury with the volume turned down: white stone, hard sun, and water visible from most of the property. The pet program is called Pups in Paradise and is built for small dogs. The perfect booking for little ones who run hot and want to be outside by 6 a.m.
WHAT TO KNOW
Tidy kit at check-in with a map of the pet-relief areas and waste bags
Food and water bowls plus an all-natural chew toy
Organic vegan paw soap made in Querétaro
A personalized Chileno collar tag to take home
Dog resort wear and photo session (for an added fee)
Concierge help planning dog-friendly outings
Splendido, A Belmond Hotel, Portofino
The Italian Riviera is at its most theatrical, perched above the harbor. A custom bed, a dining menu, and massages if your furry friend is the type to lie still for one. A doggy concierge will walk you both down into the village and through shops selling leather travel bowls and dog perfume, with a completely straight face, if you so choose. Not that unusual for Portofino.
WHAT TO KNOW
A doggy concierge for shopping runs to the village’s pet boutiques
Swedish massage from trained pet therapists in an open-air massage area
A lesson in massage techniques you can do at home
Dog-sized fluffy bathrobes
A dog taxi to the grooming salons in the village
Rosewood Mayakoba, Riviera Maya
Cabo is bright and exposed. This is the shaded version with lagoons, jungle, and everything can be reached by boat or bike. Leashed dogs of any size can come to restaurants, bars, and pools. The only place they aren’t welcome is the beaches, so bring a dog who likes to nap somewhere green.
WHAT TO KNOW
No size limit on dogs
Up to two pets per stay
Leashed dogs are welcome in restaurants, bars, and pool areas
$150 per pet, per stay
No dogs on the beach, and they can’t be left alone in rooms
Hotels That Get the design right
Santa Monica Proper, California
Kelly Wearstler did the interiors, and you can see it in the bones. Plaster, raw wood, and the sandy palette people have been copying for years. The dog bed even matches the room. That sounds ridiculous until you’ve stayed somewhere that drops a crate onto a beautiful floor running the vibe.
Hotel Saint Cecilia, Austin
An old Texas house with deep private grounds and a rock-and-roll streak running through the whole thing. It works for dogs because of the architecture. The patio suites are enclosed, so pets can wander around without a leash or an audience.
WHAT TO KNOW
Food, water bowl, and treats are waiting in the room
10% of every pet fee goes to Best Friends Animal Society
$100 per pet, per stay
Dogs only
Beach walks start right at the door
WHAT TO KNOW
Dogs of any size are welcome
Treats, bowls, and toys
$25 per pet, per night, which is low for this level of hotel
Lady Bird Lake is close by for a proper walk
Cities That Don’t Make You Apologize
The Mark, New York
Jean-Georges Vongerichten wrote the dog menu with the same care as the one for people. It comes on a custom placemat next to a Molly Mutt bed. A kit with a collar, leash, and bowl shows up when you do. The lobby is black, white, and very Parisian. Nobody on the staff blinks at a dog in the elevator. On the Upper East Side, that’s just a Tuesday.
The Greenwich Hotel, New York
Quieter Tribeca vibes, a Japanese hush to the rooms, and a courtyard for the dog who’d rather sit than parade around. No size cutoff, which removes the most annoying obstacle for anyone traveling with a big dog. The streets around it also go calm at night - a major plus.
The Peninsula, London
Pale Portland stone on the edge of Belgravia with fresh flowers and cedar in the lobby. Smaller dogs can come into the bar and restaurants with you. The pet rooms come with beds and bowls, and someone will walk them if you ask.
Hotel de Russie, Rome
The reason to book here is the secret terraced garden. You can walk dogs on the property, in the middle of Rome, before anyone else is up. Villa Borghese is right up the hill for the long walk.
WHAT TO KNOW
The Spoiled Dog’s Menu by Jean-Georges, with gourmet entrées and dog-safe desserts, is served through in-room dining
A Molly Mutt dog bed, signature water bowls, and a custom placemat
The Woof Woof Kit: a leather pouch holding a collar, leash, waste bags, and to-go water bowls
Central Park is one block west
WHAT TO KNOW
Any size welcome, up to two pets
No pet fee
Treats, bowls, and a bed
Heads up: there isn’t much green space on or near the property
WHAT TO KNOW
A plush bed, feeding bowls, a dog towel, and a serving tray
A tailored menu
Dog walking on request, when staff are available
Dogs under 10kg can join you in bars and restaurants
Hyde Park is right across the street
WHAT TO KNOW
Terraced Secret Garden for walks without leaving the hotel
One dog up to 20kg or two dogs if each is under 10kg
€150 one-time deep-cleaning fee
Must be leashed or carried in public areas
Dogs aren’t allowed in indoor restaurants, spas, or the gym
The long flight is worth it
Capella Singapore
Restored colonial buildings on Sentosa with rainforest on one side and Palawan Beach on the other. The spa has a package for both humans and pets: Ayurvedic treatments for pets, a ninety-minute massage for you. Book a villa if your pet is noise-sensitive. The whole place runs at half speed, on purpose.
Kimpton Shinjuku, Tokyo
East Asia doesn’t have many luxury hotels that actually want dogs, so this one matters. Bigger dogs are welcome; they just need bigger rooms. Dogs can come with you to cafés, the brasserie terrace, and the rooftop bar. The Manhattan-in-Tokyo energy feels like a real hotel and not a concept. Tokyo is a hard city to bring a dog to, but this hotel makes it doable.
WHAT TO KNOW
Thirty acres of tropical grounds and a private trail down to Palawan Beach
A pet bed, a food bowl, and treats
Cushions for furry friends at the outdoor tables at Fiamma, Cassia, and Bob’s Bar
Help finding a vet or groomer
One pet per room, up to about 15kg
Leashed outside of the room and must be kept away from the pools
WHAT TO KNOW
Food and water bowls, a blanket, toys, and treats
A ¥10,000 dining credit and breakfast on the pet-stay plan
Dogs are allowed at The Jones Café & Bar, District’s terrace and lounge, and the 86 rooftop bar
Birthday and pampered-pet packages
Dogs 11kg and up need a Premium King room or suite
The Boring Details That Matter
When traveling with a dog, it’s important to know that in a lot of places you’ll need a rabies certificate, a microchip number, and a health certificate dated within the window of your destination. For the EU or UK, it’s recommended you start the pet passport process months ahead, not weeks. Every country has its own rules, and none of them care that you meant well. A lot of people recommend bringing something familiar, like a blanket, that will make your dogs feel more comfortable in a strange room, despite the amenities. Also, bring their food if you can. No reason to switch brands in a foreign country.
Some places cost what they cost. I’ll still take any trip where my dog is asleep and enjoying himself while I finish a second glass of wine, because the alternative of being in a beautiful room three thousand miles away watching him on a pet-cam app sounds horrible.
