From a retro motor inn in Prince Edward County to a 19th-century Roman palazzo, these properties go well beyond a water bowl at reception. Think wagyu room service, custom-sized dog beds and forest trails designed for four legs.
Somewhere in the past decade, “pets welcome” stopped being a concession and became a selling point. The best hotels no longer tuck dogs into a single ground-floor room block and hope nobody notices. They put a bed by the fireplace, hand over a treat at check-in and print a room service menu with the dog’s name on it.
Here are 10 properties, from Wellington, Ontario to Nasu, Japan, that have thought hardest about the second guest on the reservation.
Drake Motor Inn, Wellington, Ontario
In Prince Edward County, the Drake Motor Inn is the ideal spot for a getaway with your pup in tow. Twelve rooms sit on Wharf Street in Wellington, a few steps from the lakefront and a short walk from the more polished Drake Devonshire (which is ideal for dinner but not dog-friendly). The design is roadside nostalgia: bold colour, contemporary art, a general refusal to take itself too seriously.
The pet package is the reason to book. Dogs arrive to a welcome snack of small-batch treats made with local ingredients, and the stay includes a 45-minute session at The Sniffery, an enclosed outdoor sniff space at The Ranch at Bloomfield built around a dog’s foraging instincts. Staff will point you toward the dog-friendly cafés, wineries and beaches that make Prince Edward County such an easy weekend.
Kimpton Saint George, Toronto
Kimpton built its reputation on pets, and the Kimpton Saint George in the Annex holds the line more generously than most: no deposit, no cleaning fee, no weight limit and no cap on how many dogs you bring. The hotel’s own framing is that if it fits in the elevator, it’s welcome.
Dog beds and water bowls arrive on request, treats are handed over at check-in and courtesy bags are stocked for walks. The property also partners with Doggy Bathroom, a Canadian-made indoor relief system for small breeds, available on request. It is a small thing that matters a great deal in February. The location does the rest: Toronto‘s ravine trails and the leafy streets around Bloor and Bedford are a decent substitute for a backyard.
Fairmont Empress, Victoria, British Columbia
The grande dame on Victoria’s Inner Harbour has one of the more thoughtful pet setups in the country, and it doesn’t charge for it. Dogs at the Fairmont Empress receive a bed sized to them, water and feeding bowls, treats, a toy and a welcome card. There is no pet fee at all. Flag the dog in the special requests field when you book.
Victoria may be the most walkable dog city in Canada. Dallas Road, a ten-minute stroll from the hotel, runs along the water with the Olympic Mountains in the distance and includes one of the longest off-leash stretches in the country. Beacon Hill Park is equally close. One rule to respect: dogs can’t be left alone in rooms.
The Plaza, New York
Central Park is directly across the street, which is most of the argument. But The Plaza makes its own case with the Canine Companions Package, included with any stay: a plush bed, dedicated food and water bowls, and an in-room dining menu of dog-safe meals and treats. There’s an upgraded Pampered Pup Package for guests who want to go further.
Dogs of all sizes are welcome at no additional cost, up to two per room, and there are no designated pet floors, so any room category works. The concierge arranges walkers, groomers and wellness services, and the Plaza Boutique stocks ceramic bowls and leashes for guests who forgot theirs at home. Pets can’t be left unattended, and owners sign a liability release at check-in.
The Little Nell, Aspen
The Little Nell sits at the base of Aspen Mountain and treats dogs as part of the party rather than a logistical problem. Beds and bowls are set in the room before you arrive, and the kitchen turns out house-made peanut butter treats plus a pet menu that runs to wagyu beef, served in dog-friendly bowls.
Walking and sitting services are available for the hours you’re skiing or at dinner, and the concierge will map out which trails around Aspen are best for dogs on any given day. The town is unusually well set up for them year-round. Pets are accepted by request, with a nightly charge and a non-refundable deposit.
Encore at Wynn Las Vegas, Nevada
Dogs stay at Encore, not the Wynn tower next door, and the program is as maximalist as the address suggests. Up to two dogs are welcome in any room or suite, and each arrives to a Wynn-branded neckerchief, a toy and an all-natural treat.
Room service comes from a menu called Bone Appetite: Best In Show is lamb with steamed potatoes and squash, Healthy Bites is seared salmon with green beans and brown rice, and Puppy Patty is Black Angus beef with broccoli and farro. The concierge books walkers and sitters, and the retail shops sell branded leashes, collars, blankets and a puppy-sized version of the resort robe. Nightly fees vary by room type. Las Vegas in the shoulder seasons is the sensible window – summer pavement is no place for paws.
Las Ventanas al Paraíso, A Rosewood Resort, Los Cabos
The Sea of Cortez resort has long been the reference point for dog butlers, and it still runs one of the most elaborate canine programs in the hemisphere. The service covers morning and evening walks timed to your dog’s routine, massages, private “doga” sessions, a portable pet cabana for lounging on the beach, and a Canine Delights menu of chef-prepared meals.
Up to two pets are accommodated in designated rooms, with bowls provided and a per-stay fee. Confirm the current program and any size restrictions with the resort when you book, as the details evolve. Los Cabos requires an import certificate and a recent health check for pets entering Mexico, so build in time for paperwork. Book directly through Rosewood.
Gleneagles, Auchterarder, Scotland
If your dog’s ideal holiday involves mud, Gleneagles is the answer. The Perthshire estate is built for the outdoors, with gundog and falconry schools, riding, shooting and fishing alongside the three championship golf courses, and there is a great deal of ground to cover on foot.
Dogs up to Labrador size stay in hotel bedrooms for a nightly charge, arriving to a dog bed, a foam duvet, floor mats with two bowls and a poop scoop set. On-site kennels are available for guests who’d rather their dog didn’t join them at dinner, since dogs aren’t permitted in the restaurants and bars. Gleneagles asks for vaccination certificates and recent worm, flea and kennel cough treatments, plus a registration form completed before arrival, so read the requirements early. Scotland is broadly one of the easiest countries in Europe to travel with a dog.
Hotel de Russie, Rome
Small dogs are practically a Roman accessory, and Hotel de Russie is the most elegant place to keep one. The Rocco Forte property sits on Via del Babuino between Piazza del Popolo and the Spanish Steps, and its Secret Garden, terraced grounds laid out by Giuseppe Valadier in the 19th century and restored in 2020, climbs the base of the Pincio hill in a series of neoclassical terraces and fountains.
The policy is specific: one dog up to 20 kg per room, or two up to 10 kg each, subject to approval. Dogs must be leashed or carried in public areas, can’t be left alone in rooms, and aren’t permitted in the indoor restaurants, spa or gym. An anti-allergenic deep cleaning fee applies per stay. Le Jardin de Russie serves lunch outdoors among the pines and citrus trees, which is where you’ll want to be anyway. Rome is a dog city – the parks of the Villa Borghese are a five-minute walk uphill.
Hoshino Resorts RISONARE Nasu, Tochigi, Japan
Japan is not an easy country to travel with a dog, which makes RISONARE Nasu worth knowing about. About 90 minutes north of Tokyo, the 43-room agritourism resort spreads across 140,000 square metres of forest, streams and working garden, with an onsen and an Italian restaurant, OTTO SETTE NASU, built around what’s grown on site.
Dogs stay in dedicated rooms in the annex, fitted with wood floors and stocked with crates, cleaning sheets and deodorizers. The estate’s trails are groomed and easy underfoot, and dogs can join the Forest Treasure Hunt and the Agri-Garden farming lessons, provided they keep a polite distance from other guests. Some terrace and outdoor café seating accommodates leashed dogs, though indoor restaurants do not. One significant caveat: the resort accepts pets from within Japan only, so this is one for residents or long-stay travellers rather than a stopover with a dog from home.
