Dogs are always treated as family. When you go on vacations, you always find a way to bring them with you no matter what. Looking for pet friendly hotels Denver has been extremely difficult in the past. Today, you can find pet-friendly hotels in almost any state in the United States.
Is this a good thing? Yes, but with more options, you’ll have to spend more time checking what they offer. We always want the best for our dogs so getting the best dog-friendly hotel should be your main priority.
Here are a few simple tips on how you can find a dog-friendly hotel for your upcoming vacation!
1. Where are you Planning to Go?
First things first – location! Where do you plan to spend your vacation? Are you going to the beaches in Miami? Do you plan to go around Los Angeles to check out Hollywood Boulevard?
Finding a dog-friendly hotel should always depend on where you plan to go. When you’re deciding on a place, make sure that you check the attractions that you want to visit. Make an itinerary so you can book a hotel close to these tourist attractions.
You can’t book a hotel just because the amenities are good. What if you have to drive for about 30 minutes to one hour just to get to your destination? Is that a good pick?
Your hotels should only be a few minutes walk from your target destination. This way, you won’t waste so much time traveling.
2. Doggie Fees
Even if you’re only bringing a pet, that’s an extra head. Hotel cleaners will also have a hard time cleaning your room because of the hair. Accidents can happen while you’re in the hotel so you will have to worry about damage costs.
Most hotels will ask for pet fees. Like what I’ve said before, your pet is considered an extra head so you’ll have to pay for him when you enter the hotel. Since there are pet fees included, ask them if the cost of cleaning the room is already part of the fees.
It’s better to ask them about a refundable deposit. You can get it at the end of your stay if the pets did not damage anything on the premises. Not all hotels ask for a deposit so it’s better to ask around.
3. How’s their Pet Policy?
When finding a dog-friendly hotel, they always have a pet policy in place. This is to make sure that the guests will not simply waltz in with their pets and roam around the hotel without following any rules. Remember that pet-friendly hotels also cater to guests without pets so pet owners are not the only people there. We need to respect the other guests.
Most hotels allow up to 2 pets per room. This is to make sure that the guest room will not be overcrowded. Some hotels would allow you to bring as many pets as you want because they know that you won’t really bring 4 or more as it would be too much for you.
Pet-friendly hotels also have breed and weight restrictions. Aggressive breeds are usually not allowed in most hotels for the safety of all guests. Dogs that are too big won’t be allowed as well as they might take considerable space.
Hotels allow dogs up to 75 lbs., but some hotels only allow up to 40 or 50 lbs. It’s better to ask around and weigh your dogs before booking.
Some hotels don’t have any breed and weight restrictions. As long as your dog is well-behaved, they can stay in the hotel.
If you have a large dog, you might want to search a bit more for hotels that don’t have any weight restrictions.
4. Accessible Amenities for Dogs
Since you’re in a pet-friendly hotel, it means that there would be accessible amenities for dogs, right? It would depend on the hotel that you’re going to book.
Some hotels have their own dog play area. This is a small spot in the hotel where you can bring your dog to go potty. You can walk them around or let them play for a while as well. This is accessible to all pet owners.
Some hotels also allow pets in their pool area. This is a good thing, especially if you want to just relax around the pool with your dog. They have to be leashed to prevent any accidents.
How about restaurants? Some hotels would allow you to bring your dogs to their premises. However, they are often placed in al fresco dining for health and sanitation purposes. Hair from your dogs can fly around an enclosed space and cause problems with other guests so they are usually allowed in al fresco dining.
You need to check all the other areas where your dogs can go. It’s better to ask them if you can also leave your dogs unattended in the room if you want to go out alone. Most hotels allow you to do this, but the dogs have to be leashed or placed in a crate.
5. Freebies!
A lot of pet friendly hotels Dallas offer freebies to pet owners. There are free dog bowls, dog beds, toys, waste bags, and treats. For some people, these are just basics, but for those who have to bring everything else on vacation, not having to carry these things would be a big convenience.
Imagine you don’t have to bring bowls and beds, which would free up a lot of space in your baggage. They give out free treats as well so you can save a bit of money for this. Just make sure that you ask them about this.
Choose the Best Dog-Friendly Hotel
You need to consider all the things mentioned above because hotels are claiming that they are dog-friendly when they are actually not. Allowing a dog to the hotel doesn’t mean that it is already pet-friendly.
Hotels need to make that extra effort to make sure that your furry friends would feel at home.