If you’re planning on traveling during the holidays this year, you might be hoping to take your pet with you. Taking Fido or Fluffy along often makes sense: Your furry friend will be happier by your side than at a boarding kennel, and you won’t have to pay high fees or worry about his or her care. Sometimes it can be difficult to find pet-friendly hotels, though. While a few chains accept pets at all or most locations, other hotel chains have policies that vary from location to location. For this reason, it’s important to contact the individual hotel and read up on their pet policies before you leave home. Here are a few chains that are usually pet-friendly, along with pertinent details:
- Motel 6. This popular budget hotel chain allows you to have one pet per room in every one of its locations, making it a very pet-friendly bet. Your one pet stays for free, except for Studio 6 locations, where you’re charged $10 per day (up to a maximum of $50). The policy is pretty standard: If you leave your pet alone in your room, it must be crated or otherwise restrained, and if the pet is a nuisance or creates a safety or health hazard, he might be asked to leave.
- La Quinta hotels allow pets with no deposits or extra charges. They expect, of course, that your pet will behave himself and won’t create any disruption for other guests. Not every single La Quinta hotel accepts pets, but almost all of them do. Call the one you’re interested in to be sure.
- Econo Lodge is another budget-friendly hotel offering service to pets in 380 of their hotels. Although this does not include every Econo Lodge, it’s a large enough percentage that you’re likely to find one in the vicinity of where you’re heading.
- Candlewood Suites accepts pets as long as they’re under 80 pounds. They do charge a fee, which might vary depending on the location. You must bring your pet’s vaccination records with you, because they might be checked.
- Clarion is a luxury hotel line that offers pet-friendliness at 60 of their locations. There are extra fees, ranging from $10 to $50 per pet, and your chosen Clarion hotel might have a weight limit on your pet, too.
Some other chains that allow pets to stay at some of their locations include Best Western, Red Roof Inn, MainStay Suites, Quality Inn, Homestead Suites and Comfort Suites. Always call ahead to find out if you need to bring a crate or vaccine records, and remember that your pet will need to be on a leash or in a carrier when outside of your room.
For more upscale hotels, several Novotel, Westin, W Hotels, Lowes and Four Seasons Hotel and resorts throughout the country accept smaller dogs. They often have special beds and treats included for your pet as well. In some cases you can arrange walking, puppy sitting and even an in-suite massage.
