The Best Pet-Friendly Hotel Brands in 2024

Pet-friendly hotel brands don’t just allow cats and dogs. They may offer extra perks for pets like plush bedding and special treats such as dog-walking services and pet sitting.

It’s not always clear, though, how to stay at hotels with your pet. Many hotels that market themselves as “pet-friendly” aren’t really pet-friendly. "Pet-friendly" generally is used in the hotel industry to refer to rooms that allow pets. But even at such hotels, many charge hefty pet fees, require a deposit or accept animals under a certain size only.

That said, hotels that welcome dogs, cats and other pets are out there. We combed through the fine print, fees and policies of seven major hotel brands to not only find hotels with no pet fees or size limits, but also hotels that offer exceptionally delightful amenities, like pet room service, custom dog treats and more.

As part of our annual best hotel rewards program analysis, NerdWallet reviewed pet policies, availability and fees across Best Western, Choice, Hilton, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott and Wyndham.

Here are the results.

So, which hotels are pet-friendly? The simple answer is that IHG easily wins as the most pet-friendly hotel brand, while Marriott and Hilton also often offer pleasant stays for travelers with pets in tow, according to NerdWallet analysis.

Our best hotels for pets analysis considered seven categories, including average pet fee and consistency of pet policies across the chain.

While IHG won the best overall hotel company for pets (largely due to its Kimpton brand that accepts all animals at no additional fee), other companies stand out for various reasons.

For instance, you'll have the easiest time finding Hyatt hotels that accept dogs, cats and other pets, and you’ll also probably have to pay top dollar for it. More than 90% of Hyatt properties welcome pets based on our analysis — far higher than any other hotel brand. But, it also had among the highest average pet fees at $105 (only Marriott is higher), and inconsistent pet policies across brands.

With hotel pet fees, it's a mixed bag of whether fees are charged per night or per stay. A $50 nightly pet fee could quickly add up after a week of vacation. Meanwhile, a $100 per visit pet fee might not be that bad if you're staying for many nights. For this analysis, NerdWallet calculated all pet fees as per night, since the length of stay varies by traveler. Before booking, understand whether you're paying a nightly or one-time fee.

Here are some data points NerdWallet gathered in its pet-friendly hotel research to help you plan for travel lodging with your animal companions.

The average pet fee across all hotels in NerdWallet’s analysis is $76.01, representing, on average, a 24.2% fee as a percent of the overall room rate. Choice has the lowest average pet fee, but IHG has the lowest average pet fee as a percent of the room cost.

» Learn more: Pro tips for hotel travel with pets

IHG won by a landslide, and that’s due in large part to one brand: Kimpton. Kimpton’s pet-friendliness traces its roots back to 1981, when founder Bill Kimpton insisted upon bringing his dog, Chianti, to work. Naturally, you can easily bring your pet to Kimpton hotels, too.

There’s no additional pet fee, and there aren’t any size restrictions beyond that your pet must fit through the door (so presumably no pet elephants). You can also theoretically bring the whole menagerie, as there’s no limit on the number of pets allowed.

Kimpton hotels also provide pet-friendly amenities, including plush pet beds, bowls, mats, waste bags and door hangers to alert other guests and staff that a pet is in the room.

Bringing pets to other IHG properties

Kimpton is easily the best brand among the large hotel companies for pets, but a few other IHG brands are pretty good, too.

Staybridge Suites accepts pets, across all its locations, that are under 50 pounds — though fees vary and there are some restrictions where pets can roam. Candlewood Suites accepts pets under 80 pounds, though it also charges a fee (up to $75 for stays of six nights or fewer).

Still, IHG’s average pet fee across brands ($60) is less than the average across all seven hotels in NerdWallet’s analysis ($76).

Keep in mind that not all IHG properties are pet-friendly. Just under a quarter (24%) of the IHG properties we reviewed don’t accept pets.

Hilton climbed the ranks for most pet-friendly hotels, as it’s recently added more transparent, consistent pet policies, as well as extra amenities for pet owners — including its partnership with Mars Petcare.

Hilton has more than a half-dozen pet-friendly brands, which means that any property within these brands will accept pets. Like Mariott though, the terms with which they’ll accept them (species, maximum weight, number of pets per room and pet fees) can vary, which can make for an inconsistent experience. Perhaps unsurprising given the high number of pet-friendly brands, but 80% of all Hilton properties accept pets based on NerdWallet’s analysis.

Hilton got dinged because of its high pet fees, which average $85.

Hilton’s pet-friendly brands include:

Canopy by Hilton: While pets are allowed at all Canopy locations, exact rules vary. However, a $50 fee for your entire stay and a weight limit of 75 pounds is fairly common. You’ll be able to use dog beds, food and water bowls, and you’ll get to take home a bark bag filled with toys and treats.

Embassy Suites by Hilton: While all Embassy Suites accept pets, Hilton pet policies vary by location. However, a fee of $75 for stays of four nights or fewer (or $125 for stays longer than that) is common. Most also limit pets to dogs and cats.

Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton by Hilton and Tru by Hilton: These properties are newcomers to the pet-friendly hotel game. While some individual locations may have long allowed pets, it was only as of April 2022 that they consistently joined the ranks of hotels where pets are allowed. Note that each property still has individual restrictions around species and weight, and pet fees vary.

Homewood Suites by Hilton: As of January 2022, Homewood Suites by Hilton is 100% pet-friendly across the U.S. and Canada. However, each property has its own rules around fees, size limitations, etc.

Home2 Suites by Hilton: Home2 Suites by Hilton has long been one of Hilton’s pet-friendly brands. All locations within this brand accept pets in some capacity, though again, exact policies vary.

Hilton’s partnership with Mars Petcare gives guests at any of those aforementioned hotels access to virtual support from the Mars Pet Expert Team, which can answer questions about your pet’s health, wellness and behaviors.

Marriott’s high score is mostly attributed to the fact that it has about a half-dozen brands that accept pets across all locations. Marriott’s pet-friendly brands include:

• Aloft Hotels.

• Element by Westin.

• Moxy Hotels.

• Residence Inn by Marriott.

• W Hotels Worldwide.

• Westin Hotels & Resorts.

But within those brands, policies can be inconsistent. While one location might accept a larger dog, other locations of the same chain might have a weight limit. Fees also vary, creating a confusing experience if you’re used to rules from a past experience at one property, only to find different rules at another property. Also, some of Marriott’s “pet-friendly” brands accept dogs only.

Marriott also has among the highest rate of properties that don’t accept pets. According to NerdWallet’s analysis, 42% of Marriott hotels don't accept pets.

And while Marriott will treat your pets kindly, you’ll have to pay for the privilege. The average Marriott pet fee is $121.82, amounting to more than 30% of the overall room rate, according to NerdWallet’s analysis. That’s the highest price (both in amount and relative to room rate) of any hotel in NerdWallet’s analysis.

Here’s what you can expect from some of Marriott’s pet-friendly brands:

Aloft Hotels: Aloft Hotels’ Animals R Fun (abbreviated as ARF) program promises an Aloft bed, bowl, complimentary treats and toys.

Aloft pet fees vary, but we found one as high as $75 per night at the Aloft San Francisco Airport. Additionally, Aloft restricts the size of allowed dogs to 40 pounds or less.

Element Hotels: The Element Hotels Love that Dog program promises a dog bed, food, water bowls, clean-up supplies and more. Like Aloft, there’s a 40-pound weight limit, and some properties charge fees.

Moxy Hotels: Pets are welcome across all Moxy Hotels, and they're offered a bowl and bed during their stay. However, Marriott is inconsistent in terms of pricing, pet size and number of pets allowed. One Moxy hotel we looked at limited pets to two per room, weighing no more than 100 pounds each. But another property had a cap of two pets per room with a combined maximum weight of 70 pounds.

Westin Hotels & Resorts: Midsize and smaller dogs (typically defined as 40 pounds or less) can stay at Westin hotels, though fees vary. Some — like The Westin St. Francis San Francisco on Union Square — let you bring pets for free, while others will charge you. For example, the Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa charges $150 per stay, with a maximum of two pets per room. Fee or not, dogs visiting most Westin properties (except those in the Asia-Pacific region) are granted use of a plush dog bed at no additional cost.

Other brands: The Marriott brands listed above guarantee pets are allowed — at least in some capacity — at any location. But that’s not to say other Marriott hotels outside of those brands won’t also allow pets.

For example, at The Clancy in San Francisco, there are no size restrictions on pets (though there’s a cap of two per room). Pets are offered a doggy robe, on top of other local dog treats. Head to the outdoor lounge for Yappy Hour, where you can purchase dog cocktails — which is bone broth in a cute serving container.

While Hyatt has inconsistent policies across brands, it’s also the most likely of any hotel brand to accept pets; 94% of all Hyatt properties accept pets, based on NerdWallet’s analysis.

What’s more is that certain Hyatt properties are ridiculously pet-friendly, offering over-the-top experiences for pets.

At the Andaz Mexico City Condesa, you might bring your pet to the Wooftop Beer Garden & Canine Club, where humans can sip crafted beer and creative cocktails as their pups drink a special "dog beer." Pets are allowed to roam free around the open-air playground.

Other Hyatt properties allow pet lovers to get their animal fix even if they didn't travel with their own. The Hyatt Centric Park City is home to Ellie, the property’s Golden Retriever “Canine Concierge" who greets guests in the lobby and is available to join guests on their hikes and other mountain activities. Similarly, the Park Hyatt Chicago is widely known for their one-eyed pug named Parker, who recently retired from her role as Bark Hyatt Director and was adopted from the animal rescue organization PAWS Chicago.

And though Hyatt tends to have high pet fees (fees average $105 based on NerdWallet’s analysis), here's one standout benefit over at the Park Hyatt Chicago: the property’s pet fee is donated to the PAWS animal shelter.

We only ranked the biggest hotel chains here, but, many boutique hotels and small chains are pet-friendly, including:

Red Roof Inn: Pets are free

An excellent option for pet owners on a budget, one domestic pet under 80 pounds at Red Roof Inn and Red Roof Plus+ locations, and under 40 pounds at Red Collection locations, can stay for free per guest room at most locations (and sometimes more than one pet, per management discretion).

You’re usually only charged if your pet damages hotel property. There may be some limitations, including that pets may not be left unattended and they aren’t allowed in some areas, such as the pool deck.

Loews Hotels

While many Loews properties charge pet fees, Loews offers posh amenities at some properties, including a room service menu designed especially for dogs and cats. Pets will also receive leashes, collars, litter boxes, litter, litter scoopers, place mats and water bowls.

Plus, hotels provide customers with local dog-walking routes (and doggie pick-up bags for the walk). Proof of up-to-date vaccinations are required.

Pet-focused boutique hotels

Other hotels are specifically designed for people who want to travel with their furry friends. Here are some pet-focused hotels:

Best Friends Roadhouse and Mercantile (Kanab, Utah): If you’re exploring Utah and Arizona national parks on a road trip, stop at the Best Friends Roadhouse and Mercantile in Kanab, Utah, which specifically encourages travelers with pets. Rooms have built-in dog beds, and you can expect amenities like complimentary self-serve washing facilities and cleaning products, and a fenced-in park.

Palihouse West Hollywood (Los Angeles): Pets are so welcome at the Palihouse, that the upscale brand has created its own "Pawlisociety." The hotel treats guests well, and it treats their pups perhaps even better with organic treats upon arrival, luxurious dog beds and plush pet toys. The hotel even touts its "pet-loving staff." However, there is a $150 pet registration fee per stay, and the hotel only accepts one pet per room, up to 30 pounds in weight.

Staypineapple: Staypineapple — a brand of 10 upscale, boutique hotels in ​​Boston; Chicago; New York City; Portland, Oregon; San Diego; San Francisco; and Seattle — allows pets for an additional fee. You can purchase extra pet packages that include extras like water bowls, dog beds and treats.

When booking a hotel with your pet, watch out for these other policies and amenities:

Which pets are allowed? Breeds, size and type can matter

Not all hotels allow the same kinds of pets at each of their properties; often, these policies and allowances vary by location.

For instance, Best Western's pet policy states: "Best Western pet friendly properties will allow up to two domestic dogs per room, with a maximum size of 80 lbs per animal. Other pet types such as cats, birds, monkeys, snakes or other animals are allowed at the discretion of each property and require prior approval."

This may mean that you have to leave your bull mastiff behind. And Ross from "Friends" wouldn't have been able to bring Marcel the monkey to the hotel without advance consent, either.

CalI ahead of booking to double-check that your furry (or feathered) friend is welcome — sometimes prior approval is required.

Can you leave the pet unattended?

Some hotels allow pets, but only if they’re with you at all times. That could be a problem if you’re heading to a show, theme park or restaurant with a no-pet policy. Others let you leave your pet unattended, but only if they’re contained to a crate.

Pet owners who want a few hours of vacation from their pet should consider hotels that allow pets to be left unattended in the rooms as long as the “pet at rest” and “pet in room” signs are hung. That signals housekeeping to not enter if there is an animal present.

Can pets join in all common areas?

If you can’t leave your pet unattended and you can’t bring it to the pool, will you enjoy that hotel? Before booking, understand all the restrictions.

Is paperwork required?

Some hotels require proof of up-to-date vaccinations, veterinarian proof that your pet is flea-free or other health documentation.

Know what paperwork you need. And if you’re a spontaneous hotel booker, you might want to pack it just in case.

A benefit of taking pets with you on a trip is that you can avoid pricey boarding costs — while ensuring you don’t miss a day without your furry friend. If you like the Kimpton brand specifically, pledge loyalty to IHG One Rewards, so you can guarantee extra amenities, plus no pet fees or other annoying limitations.

When it comes to finding pet-friendly lodging, you may not always have your pick of the litter and instead may find yourself bound simply by whether a hotel allows pets. But many hotels are delightfully pet-friendly, which means it is possible to skip the pet boarding (or begging the neighbor to pet sit), and bring your furry best friend on vacation with you.

We analyzed more than 100 hotels across seven major hotel companies based on factors including whether pets are allowed, average pet fee both in terms of dollar figure and what it cost relative to the overall room rate, and whether the booking website had a pet-friendly filter to search locations.

Distinguishing hotel companies and their brands

The major hotel companies (e.g., Hilton, Hyatt, IHG and Marriott) don’t have standard pet policies. Instead, policies typically vary by sub-brand so expect a different policy at Candlewood Suites versus Staybridge Suites, despite both being IHG brands. And policies can vary by location.

Our rankings prioritize hotels with brands that have consistent policies nationwide, so you can expect similar service no matter where you’re staying. Only a few brands had a consistent “yes” for accepting pets at all properties, and even fewer had consistent policies around size limits or the cost of bringing them.

We gave each hotel a score between 1-5 in seven categories, with 1 being the worst and 5 being the best. Some categories were given more weight than others (e.g., we gave the most weight to whether a hotel allowed pets). Then, we calculated individual category scores to determine an overall score.

We looked at more than a dozen individual properties (and sometimes many more) across all hotel companies. Here are the factors we considered:

• Allow pets: Whether they allow pets, in any capacity. Of the properties we looked at, we calculated the percentage that allows pets.

• Fee: How much the pet fee was at hotels that allow pets.

• Relative fee: To normalize for fancier hotels, we looked at what the fee was relative to the overall room rate.

• Potential for $0 fee: Extra points were given to hotels with brands that explicitly don’t charge pet fees at all properties within that brand.

• Search feature: If a hotel offered a user-friendly search feature to filter for pet-accepting hotels.

• Consistent policies: If the pet policy was the same at every property, versus if there were variations in terms of size limits, price, etc.

• Extra amenities: If a hotel offers amenities like bowls, pet beds or treats.