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Traveling with pets can seem like a daunting task. Hotel pet policies are complicated, inconsistent and full of gotcha fees. The good news: with a bit of preparation and an understanding of how the policies work, you can avoid most of the costs and headaches.
You're also not alone in caring about this. A May 2026 survey of 1,000 U.S. pet parents by Rover (conducted via Pollfish) found that 92% plan to travel this summer, and pet travel decisions are getting more deliberate, not less. Nearly half — 49% — said they've rejected a well-rated hotel because the pet amenities didn't meet their standards.
Here's the basics of staying at hotels with your pets.
What 'pet-friendly' means (and doesn’t)
A pet-friendly hotel is generally one that allows some animals on the property under some conditions. However:
- Many pet-friendly hotels charge an additional fee. Sometimes this is a flat per-stay fee, sometimes it varies by the number of pets or number of nights stayed.
- Not all pet-friendly hotels allow all pets. Most allow dogs only, and many of those have size and breed restrictions.
- Most hotels don't allow pets to be left unaccompanied.
- Each individual hotel, even within the same brand, often has its own pet policy. Staying at one pet-friendly Courtyard, for example, doesn't mean every Courtyard property is pet-friendly.
Make sure to check the specific policy for the hotel property you’re considering before clicking “book.”
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How to find hotel pet policies
Generally, each hotel property has its own pet policy. There is no blanket pet policy for, say, every Holiday Inn. Every Holiday Inn location has its own policy.
These policies have become so complex, a mini-online industry has sprung up around providing clear, easy-to-understand information about specific policies. Sites such as BringFido and Petswelcome host individual pages for each hotel property with reviews from pet owners and a simple summary of the pet policy.
These sites are a great resource. The only drawback is that they are updated manually, so if a property changes its pet policy, it may not be immediately reflected. To ensure you’re getting the correct information:
- Use a site like BringFido or Petswelcome to check the basics.
- Search the name of the property plus "pet policy" to find the official policy and make sure the details match.
- If there is any discrepancy or confusion, call the hotel.
Go-to hotel brands for pet owners
Although individual hotel properties often have their own pet policies, some hotel chains and brands are generally more pet-friendly than others.
- Kimpton Hotels is considered the best overall hotel chain for pets (and, well, their owners). Kimpton, which is part of IHG, allows all pets — no restrictions on size, species or number of pets. Even better is the fact that there are no pet fees. Other IHG hotels, including Holiday Inns, are pet-friendly, though many carry a fee.
- Aloft Hotels, part of Marriott, allow dogs up to 40 pounds for free, but the number of dogs allowed varies by each hotel.
- The number of pet-friendly Hilton hotels has grown in recent years, as more than a half-dozen Hilton brands are pet-friendly — something relatively new for the company. Approximately 80% of all Hilton hotel locations accept pets, though many charge a fee.
- b allows one pet up to 80 pounds for free.
- Motel 6 allows up to two pets weighing 150 pounds combined for free.
- La Quinta, a Wyndham brand, accepts pets at nearly all properties. Pet fees are capped at $40 per stay — far below the industry norm.
Which major hotel brands have the lowest pet fees?
As traveling with pets becomes more common, more brands are pitching themselves as pet-friendly while charging fees that can rival the room rate. NerdWallet compared dozens of properties to see which brands charged the lowest pet fees and ultimately identify the best hotels for pets.
Note that some of the other pet-friendly brands like Motel 6 and Red Roof Inn were not considered in NerdWallet's rankings because they didn't meet certain criteria to be rated, such as not enough nationwide availability or no loyalty program.
» Learn more: Which hotel brands have the best (and worst) fees?
Worth knowing: the cheapest pet fee isn't always what travelers actually want. The same Rover survey found that 87% of pet parents would pay extra for accommodations if it meant less stress for their pet, and 22% would spend up to $500 more. Pet-related expenses make up an average of 23% of total trip budget, excluding human airfare and lodging. So the question isn't just "which brand is cheapest" — it's "which brand delivers the right experience for the fee."
Tips and best practices during your stay
- Inform the staff during check-in that you've brought a pet. Some properties have specific pet-friendly rooms set aside, and others have special amenities for pets.
- Keep your dog on a leash while inside the hotel. Your dog might be well-behaved, but it could encounter another guest’s dog that isn’t, leading to barking or fighting.
- If you must leave your pet unattended for a short time, bring a crate. Nervous pets can wreak havoc on an empty room, racking up expensive damage fees. If your dog barks when left, don’t leave it by itself for other guests’ sake. Some hotels won't let you leave your pet unattended at all — so have a plan if you're heading to a museum, show or restaurant that also won't allow pets.
- Inform housekeeping if your pet has an accident. You could face a fee if you don’t, and most hotels have specialty cleaning supplies that can take care of the mess in a hurry.
Is staying in a hotel with a pet worth it?
Pets are part of the family — Rover's data shows that 39% of pet parents have canceled an expensive trip at the last minute because of their pet, and 78% would willingly stay in a lower-rated hotel themselves to make sure their pet is taken care of properly. That tells you something about how seriously most pet owners take this decision.
The good news is that hotel pet policies are easier to navigate once you know the basics. Use a third-party site like BringFido to check individual property policies, target brands like Kimpton, Aloft and La Quinta that have stronger track records, and watch out for sky-high pet fees from brands where the cost can rival the nightly rate.
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