PetsWelcome
Traveling with a large dog can be challenging. Certainly, if you’re planning to fly, there are a host of issues you need to take into consideration, including being separated for the duration of the flight and hoping that your dog is coping with the altitude as well as being alone in the cargo area of the plane. But even if you stay earthbound, you still need to do your homework to find hotel chains that welcome large dogs. Many of us at Petswelcome are large dog owners and we are sympathetic to what’s involved when heading out with your big ol’ buddy. To that end we have dedicated a page on our site to finding hotels that will welcome him with open arms. You can also use our Petswelcome Passport program to input the weight of your dog and save it so that anytime you return to find a lodging, you won’t have to wade through tons of hotels that only allow small dogs.
It’s also good to become familiar with hotel chains that welcome large dogs across the board, as opposed to those with different pet policies for each property. That comes in handy if, for example, you’re driving late at night with your big dog and need to find a hotel but are not sure they’ll accept your pet. If you see a La Quinta or a Candlewood Suites, for example, you can be pretty sure you’ll have a place to stay.
Obviously, it depends how big your dog is but we’re judging any animal over 75 pounds as a large dog. Some of the chains we list allow dogs up to 80 pounds so they’re not going to accept really big dogs, but they probably won’t have a scale on hand so if your dog is 100 pounds you’ll likely get him in. However, it’s better to be safe than sorry, so we recommend double-checking with the hotel ahead of time to make sure. Still, it’s nice to know that these brands are making the effort to provide peace of mind and a good night’s sleep for large dog owners (and their dogs) everywhere.
Here are some pet friendly chains that allow large dogs:
Owned by InterContinental Hotel Group, Candlewood Suites allows pets up to 80 pounds and charge a fee of $25 for the first night and $10 for additional nights not to exceed $150.
Talk about pet friendly, Kimpton, an upscale boutique hotel chain with 70 properties, tops everyone with their pet policy, which is: If your pet fits through the door, we’ll welcome them. Enough said.
La Quinta’s official policy is “Cats and dogs are accepted in all guest rooms (unless prohibited by law). Up to two pets allowed per room. No fees or deposits are required.” And while they don’t state a size limit, we’ve found that La Quinta is one of the most pet-friendly medium-priced chains out there and almost all of their properties accept large dogs.
My Place Hotels is a relatively a new chain that is rapidly expanding. Their pet policy is as follows: “Max number of pets per room: 2; Max allowable weight of pet: 80 pounds. We understand the relationship that our guests have with their pets, which is why we are pleased to accommodate you and your pets with minimal boarding costs. Nightly: $10 nonrefundable nightly fee not to exceed $50; Weekly: $50 nonrefundable weekly fee not to exceed $100; Monthly: $100 nonrefundable monthly fee.”
Red Roof Inns allow one well-behaved pet per room allowed. No fees or deposits. All sizes welcome. Guest must notify front desk upon arrival and guest is liable for all damages. In consideration of all guests, pets must never be left unattended in the guest room.
Also owned by Intercontinental Hotel Group, Staybridge has the same size policy as Candlewood Suites but with a different pet fee: Max weight: 80 pounds, with nonrefundable fee of $75 for 1 to 6 nights, or $150 for 7 or more nights. Additional fees may apply if excessive cleaning or repair is required. Pet Policy Agreement must be signed at check in. Vaccination records must be available upon request.
Also, be sure to check out Inns, Bed & Breakfasts and nonchain affiliated hotels, too. Since many of the proprietors are pet owners themselves, they can be the most pet friendly lodgings out there. Some great examples are the Seahawk Inn & Villas, in Atlantic Beach, NC; Land’s End at Cannon Beach, Cannon Beach, OR; and Fairbanks Inn, St. Johnsbury, VT, all of which have no weight restrictions.
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