Jill MedingerYou don’t have to leave your four-legged friends at home anymore when you travel. Imagine bringing your dog on that incredible hike you’ve only read about. Or not needing to stress as you leave those long notes for your catsitter. With a reservation at one of the following hotel chains, you and your pet can both get some rest and relaxation on your next trip.
Kimpton Hotels
Kimpton’s pet policy started 36 years ago, with founder Bill Kimpton’s miniature collie, Chianti. The pair were inseparable regulars at the front desk and lobby, greeting each new guest as they came through the door. Today, the pet policy remains pretty simple: if the pet can fit through the hotel doors, they’re welcome to stay.
Unlike other hotel chains, there’s no size, weight, or breed restrictions, and no additional charges. Pet amenities at all of their 60 hotels include water bowls, treats, pet beds, toys, and pooper-scooper bags. Typically, pets are greeted with treats and their name written on a chalkboard in the lobby. But many of their locations dial up unique offerings which differ from place to place. For example, at the Kimpton Onyx Hotel in Boston, pet beds have a Fenway Park theme, decorated with pictures of Kenmore square. At the Kimpton Brice hotel in Savannah, Georgia, the hotel has partnered with the local Woof Gang Bakery to make custom dog treats with the hotel’s logo.
Some hotels even have a four-legged “Director of Pet Relations,” whose job it is to ensure pet amenities are up to snuff and provide a very personal welcome. Don’t have a pet? The hotel will outfit your room with a fish, who can act as your companion for the duration of your stay.
Topnotch Resort
Topnotch Resort in Stowe, Vermont, is a family-friendly, luxury resort in the green mountains. The “Serve, Fetch, Love” package makes the tennis courts available for dogs to chase a ball around, and when they’re worn out sends a therapist to give them in-room reiki massages.
“It’s very calming and nurturing for the dog,” Topnotch spa director Alexandra Sharpe-Keene told the Boston Globe.
“Dogs are a very important part of people’s lives,” Sharpe-Keene said. For owners, she said, more and more, “The idea is that you come and enjoy a vacation involving your pet. This is a proper vacation for people. It’s not just a matter of bringing your dog and leaving them. We’re not looking for you to come and leave your dog with dog-walkers or dog-sitters.”
As for the trend of catering to pets across the travel industry, “It’s definitely on the upswing,” Sharpe-Keene said.
Graduate Hotels
Another fee-free option for pet-lovers! Graduate hotels has also teamed up with BarkBox, a monthly subscription box for dog owners, to make your pet’s stay extra plush from the moment they arrive.
At check-in, they’ll ask for some basic information about your pooch, and once you and your dog have settled into your room, they’ll come knocking with a BarkBox, a water bowl, and a blanket. The fun toys and other items in the box are yours to keep, and the water bowl and blanket are available for purchase at the front desk.
Canopy By Hilton
These hip and trendy hotels feature open, welcoming lobbies, mobile check-in, and free-wifi. In addition, Canopy has partnered with Planet Dog, a company that supplies sustainable doggy accessories and promotes canine health and welfare, to create the ultimate hotel experience for your four-legged family members.
Their pet program comes with a welcome gift bag, full of surprising extras, including a local neighborhood guide for your dog; on-site doggy gatherings for guests and locals, plus local animal welfare partnerships; Pet-friendly rooms with “Just-Right” dog beds and Planet Dog food and water bowls.
Gary Steffen, global head of Canopy by Hilton, told Travel + Leisure, “We’ve found that in recent years, more people are choosing to travel with their dogs than ever before and why not? Dogs are part of the family and travelers consider their needs as much as their own when choosing a place to stay.”
Canopy by Hilton’s first American location (and second overall) is open in the Wharf district of Washington, D.C. The first location is located in Reykjavik, Iceland, and upcoming locations are planned for Rockville, Maryland; Portland, Oregon; Dallas and San Antonio, Texas; Ithaca, New York; London, England; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Atlanta, Georgia; Toronto, Canada; West Palm Beach, Florida; Charlotte, North Carolina; Baltimore, Maryland; Columbus, Ohio; and Hangzhou, China.
Sherry-Netherland Hotel
Boook the “Lap of Luxury Pooch Package,” at New York City’s upscale Sherry-Netherland from now until the end of 2018 and receive a BarkBox filled with all-natural treats and innovative toys as well as a gift certificate for one complimentary month to the subscription service upon check-in.(Humans get a box of Louis Sherry chocolates and mineral water.) Of course, they will also provide dog bowls, a comfy dog bed and natural treats, which will all be waiting in the room for your arrival. Dog-walking services can be arranged through the front desk so you are free to explore the Big Apple, without the worry.
Loews Hotels
With program called Loews Loves Pets, this hotel chain leaves no doubt as to their feelings on your bringing your buddy along on your next trip. With hotels in 18 cities in the U.S. and Canada, the fees can vary, but usually land at about $25 for up to two pets.
Expect to your pup to be pampered with amenities that include pet mats, food and water bowls, treats, beds, and even litter boxes. But your pet will really know he’s arrived when you order him special room service with vet-and-chef developed recipes for cats and dogs.
Here is a guide that includes helpful tips on booking your stay, utilizing a pet trip checklist, and how to avoid additional fees during a stay. It also includes a detailed chart of several hotel chains along with their fees, the number of pets allowed, and any breed or weight restrictions.