Dog-friendly accommodation in the United Kingdom

A gorgeous terrier on a wicker seat looking very comfortable

Dog-friendly accommodation in the United Kingdom

3 August 2022

Finding dog friendly hotels

Bringing your dog on holiday can be so much fun but organising it all can be a drag. We have dedicated an entire section of Doggypedia to helping dog owners find the best dog friendly hotels and other dog friendly accommodation.

Let us know if you feel like we've missed out on a brilliant place!

Summary

Top tips for finding a dog friendly hotel

Find a hotel room that will suit your dog

What facilities can you use?

What are the rules?

Check out reviews

What to bring?

Is a hotel right for you and your dog?

Top dog friendly hotel locations

Top tips for finding a dog friendly hotel

We all love to go on holiday, and what’s great is that more and more places let you bring your pup along with you! But, it can be challenging to know what is the best option for you and your dog. So let’s take a look at how to find a dog friendly hotel just pawfect for you and your pooch.

Find a hotel room that will suit your dog

It’s important to make sure your room works for your dog. For example, always ask for a room on the ground floor, as you might find a stunning hotel, but it has multiple floors, no lifts and you have a pooch that finds stairs a bit hard work. Similarly, if your dog is scared of lifts and you’ll need to go up and down one multiply times a day, then this might not be the best location either. Also ask about the size of the room. A small room, with a couple of humans and a St Bernard, might be a bit too cosy, so see if you can get a bit more space.

What facilities can you use?

Some hotels allow dogs to use all the public spaces, but some will restrict you to your room and reception only. Be sure to check with the hotel before you book to make sure what they offer suits you and your pooch, so you can plan for your trip.

What are the rules?

Most hotels have pretty standard rules for dogs staying including:

Your dog must be house-trained
Your dog must not be aggressive
Your dog must be up to date on vaccinations, flea treatments and worming
Your dog must be clean
Your dog must be well-behaved

But be sure to ask if there are any rules specific to that particular hotel, like not being allowed in certain areas at certain times, not being allowed on beds or furniture, or in some cases where dogs are not allowed in the hotel room on their own, which can change your plans quite a bit!

Check out reviews

Review sites will let you check out how others got on with their dogs at the hotels you are looking at. Most allow a search to let you directly see reviews about dogs and this gives you a good overview of how other people got on with their pups on their howlidays.

What to bring?

Some hotels will provide your dog with bedding and bowls. Some dogs do prefer the familiar sniff of their own bed though. If your dog is crate trained, taking your crate along can allow them to have their own home away from home, and allows you to relax a bit knowing they're not having a midnight snack of hotel soap while you’re sleeping. Bring your dog’s own food with you, as sudden food changes can often cause upset stomachs! And as always make sure to pack plenty of poobags, a towel or two and treats so you can go on pawfect adventures together.

Is a hotel right for you and your dog?

With lots of different accommodation options available now for you and your pooch, it’s important to think about if a hotel is right for you and your dog. All hotels are different in their approach to doggy guests, so do plenty of research through their website and by speaking to them before you book.

For example, if your dog is a big barker when they’re away from home, a room in a hotel next to lots of other guests might not be the best option.

Of course, cost will be an important factor too, as adding a dog or two to your reservation can increase your bill depending on if the hotel charges for dogs, and how much.

Also, as you know your dog better than anyone, be sure to ask yourself

Will your dog enjoy staying somewhere unfamiliar?

Will they be okay with the noise of other dogs and people in the hotel?

Some dogs love the hustle and bustle of a busy hotel, but for some it might be better to find accommodation that doesn’t involve such close neighbours, or maybe staying closer to home with their favourite borrower!