Staying at a hotel offers the opportunity to have someone else take care of the daily minutiae. No cleaning, no laundry and — best of all — room service whenever you please. You get complimentary towels, lotions and robes. Who wouldn’t want to stay at a posh hotel for a little R&R?
Nowadays, you’re not the only one who can this “star for a day” treatment — so can your dog.
Some hotels are offering 5-star packages solely for pets. These include private rooms for pets to enjoy with all the amenities, including television, radio, toys and more. But is this really worth the cost? Let’s look at a few of the resorts that offer canine-exclusive packages and what we (they) get.
Suite Pampered Pooch at The Ritz-Carlton — San Francisco, California
This hotel offers quite the package for pets and people. The cost is steep, but your pets experience the same type of luxury accommodations you do.
Amenities:
- Hotel-branded pet tag
- Framed pet bed
- Dog bowl and accompanying room service menu
- Literature regarding local dog-related activities
Cost: $849 per night
There are, of course, a few restrictions. You will have to pay a pet cleaning fee (the price of which is not disclosed). Pets cannot weigh more than 30 pounds and are forbidden in public areas of the hotel, save the lobby, where they must be carried by their humans.
Ojai Valley Inn — Ojai, California
The Ojai Valley Inn welcomes pets with open arms and offers several service options.
Amenities:
- Gourmet pet menu
- Special turndown service just for pets
- Most outdoor areas open for walking and playtime
- Options to hire nannies, dog walkers and groomers
- No weight restrictions
- Most types of animals welcome
- Food bowls, special menus and treats offered
Cost: An additional $150 for the first dog and $50 for the second dog on top of your regular room fee, with a maximum of 2 dogs.
Restrictions for this hotel include a limited amount of rooms catering to pets, so early booking is advised. There are some areas that are off-limits to pets.
The Cottages and Lofts at the Boat Basin — Nantucket, Massachusetts
Cape Cod is one of the most beautiful vacation spots in the U.S., and the Cottages and Lofts does everything it can to ensure that you and your pets have the best experience possible.
Amenities:
- Easy access to beaches that welcome pets
- Pet beds and bowls
- Welcome bag of treats
- Pet turndowns
- Personalized pet tags
- Dog walking services available
- 10 percent of pet fees are donated to a local pet charity
Cost: $45 per night; up to 2 dogs
Restrictions include some off-limits areas to pets, as well as a limited number of pet-friendly cottages.
Whoa. This pet hotel is next-level luxurious:
The Inn at Willow Grove — Orange, Georgia
This hotel spares no expense in making both its human and canine guests comfortable. Dogs are the only pets allowed to stay on the premises.
Amenities:
- Hypoallergenic, organic dog beds
- Food and water bowls provided
- Spring-fed or bottled water
- Special turndown treats
- With prearrangements, dog food provided
- Walking, grooming and puppy playtime services provided
Cost: $65 per dog per day; maximum of 2 dogs
The Inn at Willow Grove has several restrictions regarding their canine guests. Dogs are prohibited from most public areas (although they are allowed at the outdoor dining area). Dogs who display aggressive behavior or create a disturbance may have to leave the premises and be boarded off-site at the guest’s expense.
Dogs must be crated or kenneled when housekeeping staff is in the room. Your dogs cannot accompany you to check-in (public area) and, most important, up-to-date rabies vaccination paperwork is required at check-in.
The Kimpton Journeyman Hotel — Milwaukee, Wisconsin
The Journeyman opens its doors to all types of pets, whether they are a “furry, feathery or scaly family member.” It does not charge an additional fee for pets, and there is no deposit required.
Amenities:
- No extra fees (although it should be assumed that should your pet cause damage, you’ll be on the hook for it)
- No limit on number of pets allowed
- No size restrictions
- Courtesy information listing local pet-friendly businesses and activities
- Pet beds and dishes
Cost: $0 initial extra fees
Restrictions seem to be few and far between at this hotel, and there are none listed on its website. However, it is reasonable to assume that there will be some off-limits areas on the property for animals and that you will be responsible for any damages the pet causes.
These are only a few of the hotels in the U.S. that cater to pets and their humans both. Many hotels do offer pet services but don’t openly advertise it, so if you have a favorite hotel, be sure to ask about pet guests.
It’s amazing to see so many hotels opening their doors to pets — and, after all, our pets really are our family, so why not?
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