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Traveling with pets requires navigating a maze of inconsistent policies, surprise fees and arbitrary weight limits. Among hotels, individual properties often set their own rules, even within the same brand or parent company.
NerdWallet analyzed pet policies across major hotel companies to identify brands that make traveling with pets easiest, and found that only a handful of brands have consistent, transparent policies that let you book pet stays with confidence.
How we named the best hotel brands for pets
NerdWallet evaluated 13 major hotel companies: Best Western Hotels & Resorts, Choice Hotels, Drury Hotels, Hilton Hotels and Resorts, Hyatt Hotels, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Loews Hotels, Marriott International, Motel 6, Red Roof, Sonesta International Hotels, Staypineapple Hotels and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. From there, we examined individual brands within each portfolio, since most hotel companies operate multiple tiers ranging from budget to luxury.
We only included brands where every property allows pets. Fees and details could vary, but pet acceptance had to be consistent across all locations. We considered brands that did not charge the same fees across all properties as long as the core policy of whether pets are allowed was standardized.
Learn more in our methodology.
On this page
- How to maximize your rewards
- How we named the best hotel brands for pets
- Best luxury hotel brand for pets: Kimpton
- A budget hotel brand for pets: Motel 6
- Honorable mention: Loews Hotels
- Honorable mention: Sonesta Hotels
- What about other major hotel brands that allow pets?
- The challenge of weighing pet-friendly hotels (and how to find the best one for your next trip)
- Best practices for booking hotel rooms for your pet
- Methodology
Best luxury hotel brand for pets: Kimpton
Kimpton stands alone as the only major hotel brand that doesn’t just allow pets, but actively welcomes them — without restrictions or fees. Kimpton has maintained this policy since founder Bill Kimpton started bringing his dog, Chianti, to work in 1981.
No additional cost to bring a pet: The fact that Kimpton doesn’t charge pet fees is significant. Most of the other "pet-friendly" hotels we analyzed accept pets but charge a fee, often $50 to $150 per stay. Although Kimpton hotels tend to be more upscale (and therefore more expensive) than average, the complimentary pet policy can make them a surprisingly cost-effective option for travelers with animals.
No caps on species or size: Kimpton’s no-restrictions policy also sets it apart. Many hotels cap pet weight at 50 pounds, and some limit the species to dogs only. In contrast, Kimpton says it accepts any pet that can fit through the door, whether that’s a bird, reptile or any other species that many hotels would flat-out refuse.
Amenities for pets: Kimpton provides amenities to make pets more comfortable, including food and water bowls, mats and pet beds in your guest room.
A budget hotel brand for pets: Motel 6
Motel 6 offers a straightforward pet policy: Pets stay free at all locations. Up to two pets per room are allowed, and most properties have designated pet-walking areas. The brand primarily accommodates dogs and cats, so call ahead if you’re traveling with another species.
The no-fee policy makes Motel 6 significantly cheaper than competitors. Red Roof Inn, for example, charges $15 per night for a second pet. Motel 6 allows two pets for free.
Keep in mind that Motel 6 is a budget-focused brand, but its lack of fees and limitations can make it a viable option for some travelers.
Honorable mention: Loews Hotels
Loews Hotels didn't qualify for our official ranking because they operate fewer than 50 properties, but its pet program deserves recognition. Loews' national hotel-chain pet program, "Loews Loves Pets," also provides amenities specifically tailored to animals.
For example, Loews offers room service menus designed for cats and dogs. These aren’t basic bowls of kibble. Instead, they’re gourmet meals prepared by the hotel’s culinary team, such as fresh salmon filet for cats for $18 and beef filet with eggs and rice for dogs for $22.
Guests can also request a wide array of in-room amenities such as bedding, leashes, litter boxes, dog-walking route maps, placemats, water bowls, treats, doggie pick-up bags, rawhide bones, catnip and scratch poles.
Pets are consistently allowed at every Loews property, though fees vary by location ($100 per stay is common).
Honorable mention: Sonesta Hotels
Sonesta Hotels didn't quite make our top picks because it does charge pet fees, but the company's PAWS (Pets Are Welcome At Sonesta) program deserves recognition for eliminating two of the most frustrating restrictions in hotel pet policies: breed discrimination and weight limits. This is significant since many hotels cap pet weight at 50-75 pounds, which excludes many common dog breeds.
Sonesta accepts pets across its entire portfolio with up to two pets permitted per room or suite. Fees vary by hotel, and some properties may require a larger pet security deposit.
When you check in, Sonesta provides complimentary dog treats, water dish, feeding bowl and a waterproof mat for your room, and some hotels also offer pet beds. Other items such as leashes, tennis balls and waste bags are sold on site.
What about other major hotel brands that allow pets?
Here are other major brands that allow pets and may be worth considering depending on your budget, destination or existing hotel rewards points. They didn’t win, but they still stand out as pet-friendly in one way or another.
Choice Hotel brands for pets
Comfort Inn and Comfort Suites hotels and Quality Inn allow pets at all properties, though fees and individual policies vary. The lack of standardization kept them off our winners’ list, but they’re worth checking if you already participate in the Choice Privileges rewards program.
Drury Hotels
All Drury properties accept pets (capped at two per room, with a combined weight of no more than 80 pounds), though specific fees vary by location.
Hilton brands for pets
Hilton brands that accept pets include:
- Canopy by Hilton.
- Conrad.
- Curio.
- Embassy Suites by Hilton.
- Graduate by Hilton.
- Hampton by Hilton.
- Hilton Garden Inn.
- Home2 Suites by Hilton.
- Homewood Suites by Hilton.
- Spark by Hilton.
- Tapestry Collection by Hilton.
- Tru by Hilton.
Although Hilton’s transparency can help with planning, none of these brands have standardized fee structures or consistent size limits. One Hampton Inn might have no weight restrictions, while another Hampton Inn just a few miles away might limit pets to under 75 pounds. This inconsistency may be frustrating if your large dog was welcome at one hotel but not at another property of the same brand.
Hyatt brands for pets
Hyatt is tricky because not a single Hyatt brand accepts pets across all properties. Hyatt recommends calling individual hotels before booking to confirm weight limits, fees and restrictions.
This advice also applies to most brands outside our top picks.
Among Hyatt brands, Hyatt Place and Hyatt House are the most likely to be pet-friendly, though policies and fees still vary by location.
IHG brands for pets
While Kimpton is IHG's premium pet-friendly option, Candlewood Suites serves the extended-stay market and accepts pets across all properties. Fees and size limits vary by location, but the brand consistency makes planning easier than with brands that only accept pets at select properties.
Marriott brands for pets
Like Hyatt, there is no Marriott brand that accepts pets across all properties, though many individual hotels are pet-friendly. The best way to find a Marriott pet-friendly hotel is by using the 'Pets welcome' filter available on Marriott’s website or mobile app.
If we had to choose the best Marriott brand for pets, it’d be Aloft Hotels. Pets receive a bed and bowl, plus complimentary treats and toys. Still, these properties range in fees and size limits. Fees tend to be lower than average ($20 to $50 nightly pet fees with caps of about $100 per stay are common across Aloft hotels).
Red Roof Inn and Red Roof Plus
Red Roof Inn was Motel 6’s closest competitor, and it only just barely lost out given its fee for a second pet. At Red Roof, the first pet stays free, but there’s a $15 nightly charge for a second pet, capped at $105 per stay. That's still far cheaper than most brands, and only applies to pet owners with two pets.
Red Roof limits guests to two domestic pets per room, with a maximum weight of 80 pounds per pet.
Wyndham brands for pets
La Quinta is Wyndham’s most pet-friendly hotel brand. Pets cost $20 per night at properties that charge a fee, and the total is capped at $40 per stay. That’s a bargain compared to the $100-plus fees common elsewhere. Pets (limited to two domesticated animals per room) are accepted at nearly all properties, with a small number of exceptions clearly listed on La Quinta’s website.
The challenge of weighing pet-friendly hotels (and how to find the best one for your next trip)
If you’re looking to find pet-friendly properties within a broader hotel company, your best bet is to use filters when browsing properties on that company’s own website. Most big chains, including Hyatt, Marriott and Hilton let you narrow down pet-friendly hotels via filters on their hotel search pages.
Still, a “pet-friendly” filter won’t tell you whether your 60-pound dog will be accepted, whether you’ll pay $25 or $200 in fees, or whether the hotel offers a basic relief area or a full dog run. To find that information, you’ll usually need to dig into the individual hotel’s website, often under pages labeled “About,” “Policies” or “Fees.”
Best practices for booking hotel rooms for your pet
If you’re staying with a pet, call the hotel before booking to confirm weight limits, pet capacity and available amenities. This is important even at chains that claim consistent policies.
Make sure you understand the full fee structure. Does the hotel charge per night or per stay? Is there an additional cleaning fee or deposit? Doing this homework can help you avoid surprises on your final bill.
Finally, book early. Many hotels cap the total number of pets allowed on a given night. Letting the hotel know you’re traveling with a pet as soon as possible can help you avoid running into capacity limits during busy periods.
Until more hotel brands follow Kimpton’s lead with truly standardized policies, traveling with pets will continue to require extra legwork. For now, if you’re planning a trip with your dog, cat or bearded dragon, Kimpton is your best bet. If you’re on a budget, Motel 6 is a solid alternative.
Methodology
We evaluated qualifying brands on several criteria:
Policy consistency: Does every property follow the same rules? Are weight limits, species restrictions and the number of allowed pets clearly defined on the hotel’s website, and are they universal across every hotel in that portfolio?
Footprint: To qualify for consideration in NerdWallet’s final ratings, brands needed at least 50 properties, including a minimum of 10 in the U.S. We excluded all-inclusive resorts, vacation clubs and apartment-style brands since these don’t serve the same travel needs as traditional hotels.
Species acceptance: We gave baseline consideration to brands accepting dogs, moderate points for those welcoming both dogs and cats and highest marks to brands accepting all domesticated animals.
Weight and quantity limits: What's the maximum weight per pet? Can you bring multiple pets? These restrictions significantly impact which travelers can actually use the brand.
Fee structure: We calculated the total cost for a three-night stay and noted whether fees are charged per night or as a one-time payment.
Amenities: What pet supplies are guaranteed at every property? Are designated pet relief areas standard? Do brand-wide pet programs offer additional benefits?
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