How to Choose the Best Pet-Friendly Airbnbs or Hotels: Our 9 Top Tips
After traveling with our dog, Cali, to 9 countries and counting, we’ve learned a thing or two about how to choose a pet-friendly Airbnb or hotel that’s actually friendly. Read on for our 9 top tips for picking the best accommodations and optimizing your stay with your pet.
We’ve traveled with our dog, Cali, to 9 countries across Europe, Asia, and North America – so far. Traveling with your pet comes with a lot of joy, but a lot of challenges as well. One of these is how to pick a pet-friendly hotel or Airbnb for your stay. Finding a pet-friendly hotel or Airbnb that will make your stay easier – not harder – requires more than just selecting the pet-friendly filter. Other factors like noise level, availability of green space, and added pet fees are also important considerations. In this guide, we’ll share everything we’ve learned about how to choose a pet friendly Airbnb or hotel around the globe. With these tips in hand, you’ll be well-prepared to make the best choice for you and your pet!
Does your pet-friendly vacation include a flight? Make sure to check out our ultimate guide to flying with your dog and all the dog travel essentials you need to pack to make your flight a success.
Note: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. If you visit a link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products and services we trust, and all opinions are our own.Â
How to Choose a Pet-Friendly Airbnb or Hotel
Without further ado, let’s jump into all of the things you should consider when picking the best pet-friendly Airbnb or hotel for you and your pup.
Use the Pet-Friendly Filter
Using the pet-friendly filter on Airbnb and popular hotel websites like Booking.com is your first line of defense when choosing the best pet-friendly accommodations for your stay. We’re so grateful websites like these have added this feature, as it makes finding pet-friendly hotels and Airbnbs so much easier. To use this filter on Booking.com, click the slider that says “Traveling with pets?” underneath where you’ve chosen the number of adults, children, and rooms you need. On Airbnb, you can add the number of pets joining your stay in the Guests section, underneath adults, children, and infants.
Send a Follow-Up Inquiry
Unfortunately, using the pet-friendly filter is not enough, especially when traveling internationally. While we haven’t had any problems with this filter being inaccurate (yet) on Airbnb, we have frequently found it to be inaccurate when it comes to hotels. Before you book the hotel you’re interested in, double check the “House Rules” section of the Booking.com page, and then follow a few extra steps to confirm the pet policy directly with the hotel. There isn’t an obvious “message the hotel” option on Booking.com, but you can get there with a little work, following these steps. Scroll to the “Travelers Are Asking” section of the page, and then choose “Still Looking? Ask a Question.” In the text box, provide details about your pet and ask them to confirm whether pets such as yours are allowed. For example, we would write something like this:
Hi! We are looking to visit your property with our 3.5kg cavapoo, Cali. She is four years old, non-shedding, well-behaved, and up-to-date on all vaccines and parasite medications. Can you please confirm whether your hotel allows pets, and if you charge any additional pet fees?
Note that the layout of Booking.com’s website may change over time, but you should be able to always find a way to ask a question to the hotel if you dig for it.
Research Pet Fees
Hotel and Airbnb pet fees can be sneaky, and increasingly expensive. It’s important to research whether your desired accommodation charges a fee and whether that fee fits in your budget. Thankfully, these fees are much less common internationally than they are in the US, where they can be upwards of $150 and nonrefundable! When choosing a pet-friendly Airbnb, make sure to read all of the house rules and then proceed to the Reserve step and review the “Price breakdown” to see whether any pet fees have been added. When choosing a pet-friendly hotel, check the “House Rules” section of Booking.com for the Pets line, which will state whether extra charges are required. You can also email the hotel directly, and for larger hotel chains like Hilton or Marriott, you can check the pet policy on their websites.
Pro tip: When choosing a pet-friendly hotel in the US, aim for known pet-friendly brands like IHG, Kimpton and Red Roof Inn. Check out this post from the American Kennel Club on pet-friendly hotels in the United States and Bring Fido’s top pet-friendly hotels rankings for more recommendations.
Read Reviews
Reviews can be one of the most powerful tools at your disposal for picking the best pet-friendly hotel or Airbnb. Use the search function on terms like “dog” and “pet” to see what people who actually stayed there thought of the experience. Researching things like a unit’s walkability and noise levels can also be hugely helpful. Thin walls can be tough on dogs, and can lead to issues with anxiety or barking that could impact your stay.
Find Green Space
One of the biggest lessons we’ve learned when choosing a dog-friendly Airbnb or hotel is always checking that there is green space nearby for daily potty-breaks. While a handful of particularly dog-friendly hotels may have a small dog park attached, this is pretty rare. So, Google Maps is your friend here. However, just seeing a spot of green on the map is not enough. We once chose a stay in Naples near a large green park, only to realize once we arrived that it was actually a gated botanical garden! Use Google Maps’ street view tool to check out the accommodation’s surrounding blocks. Make sure there will be places for your dog to use a restroom that don’t require a 20-minute walk!
Pro tip: If you can manage to pick an Airbnb or hotel with a terrace or other private outdoor space, this will do wonders to improve your pet’s quality of stay. No dog wants to be cooped up inside all day. Our dog Cali loves to sunbathe, so we always try to book a unit with a patio when possible.
Consider Noise Levels
Noise can be a big issue for pets when staying somewhere new. Hotels, in particular, can be tough, with the sounds of closing doors and people moving through the hallways. However, even Airbnbs can be tricky if you’ve picked a unit in a rowdy nightlife zone or with a lot of street traffic. Research where key traffic and nightlife zones in the city are and try to stay at least a couple of blocks away. Read reviews as well to see what people thought of noise levels in the unit, and whether the walls were thin.
Make Sure It's Accessible
Accessibility is another important thing when considering how to choose a pet-friendly Airbnb or hotel, especially if your pet doesn’t do well with stairs. We like ground floor units when possible to make getting out for potty breaks easier. However, if you’re staying on a higher floor, make sure the accommodation has an elevator.
Build Trust With Your Airbnb or Hotel
A nice touch to build trust with your chosen Airbnb or Hotel is to send them a message with your pet’s picture, so they know what to expect when you arrive. We also like to send relevant details like Cali’s breed, size, age, and temperament. In addition, we recommend having a picture of your pet’s vaccination records available in case it’s requested, especially rabies. If you’re flying, you’ll need this to board the airplane anyways, so it’s good to have it handy for your travels regardless.
Pack Your Pet's Essentials
No matter how much effort you’ve gone through to find the perfect pet-friendly Airbnb or hotel, it’ll all be for nothing if you don’t pack the essential pet travel gear you’ll need to make your dog’s stay comfortable. Below are the top dog travel gear we recommend:
- A dog bed, blanket, or carrier to sleep in – we recommend the Sherpa Original Deluxe Travel Pet Carrier, which Cali loves. Plus, it’s accepted onboard for Pet in Cabin by essentially all major airline carriers.
- A humane bark collar with vibrate mode – we recommend this bark collar, which is adjustable to fit nearly any dog size and includes a variety of beep, vibration, and sensitivity modes to ensure optimum effectiveness. This is especially important for hotel stays. No one wants to get an angry call from management or a penalty on your bill!
- Apple AirTag – just in case of a runaway dog situation, we’ve sewn an Apple AirTag into Cali’s collar. You can also buy an AirTag carrying case that attaches to the collar like a dog tag.
- Travel food and water bowls – we like these collapsible silicone bowls with lids to avoid spilling food on the journey.
- A leash, poop bags, and poop bag holder – we like this sturdy leather leash, these poop bags for their biodegradability, and this poop bag holder for its minimalist design.
- A comforting toy or CBD supplements to help with anxiety – we like this toy for its lavender scent and these calming supplements from trusted brand Vet IQ.
- Dog food, treats, and any necessary medication
If you’re flying to your destination, make sure to check out our post Dog Travel Essentials for Flights – Top Dog Travel Carrier and Gear for more information on all the accessories you’ll need for a safe flight.
Final Thoughts: Choosing a Pet Friendly Airbnb or Hotel
How to choose the perfect pet-friendly Airbnb or hotel isn’t as obvious as it may seem, but with these tips you should be set up for success. Traveling with your pet is a unique and special experience that we hope everyone can enjoy one day. We’re here to peel back the curtain and demystify pet travel so that you can see the world with your pup too! Let us know if you have any questions about picking a pet-friendly hotel in the comments below, and make sure to check out our other Dog Travel Guides, including:
Related Posts
