A road trip really is better when you have your furry sidekick with you. Finding the right pet friendly accommodations at your destination or along your travel route is key to ensuring a pleasurable trip. Everyone’s needs and budget are different, and the good news is there are pet friendly hotels suited to please all pet travelers and their people.

Pet welcoming hotels do indeed exist, in every type and every price range.  Here are our top choices based on pet policies, pet fees and amenities, and overall guest experience.

Economy Range Hotels

Motel 6

It’s iconic and – more importantly for pet travel – it’s everywhere. You can find a Motel 6 along every major highway in the U.S. Not only is it a bargain and a convenient place to stay, it’s a great choice for four-legged guests. Pets of any size and breed – even multiple pets – are allowed to stay for free.

Red Roof Inn

Any hotel with a motto that says, “You Stay Happy, Pets Stay Free” will offer great things for your pet. Red Roof Inn has 345 locations that allow guests to bring one pet, at no extra charge. This is a truly pet friendly place — they even have a fun Facebook page called “Red Roof Luvs Pets.”

Moderate/Mid Range Hotels

Aloft Hotels

Offering a stylish, contemporary option for pet guests and their people, this pet friendly boutique hotel chain is a fan favorite of many pet parents.  Typically located in city centers, Aloft Hotels provide an upscale guest experience at a very affordable price. And when it comes to pet guests, they know how to show them they are welcome.  Let’s start with – pets stay free!  And then there’s a special pet program, ARF (Animals R Fun). ARF provides pet guests with a pet bed, bowl, and a doggie bag with treats and toys, all for them to enjoy during their stay. They welcome up to 1 dog weighing up to 40 pounds. However, if you have a larger dog or more than one, you can call the hotel to request a waiver.

La Quinta Inns & Suites

La Quinta balances the best of two worlds: high-quality service and a high-end feel, at a reasonable, affordable price. La Quinta also expertly balances the needs of people and their pets. Their pet friendly locations allow guests to stay with up to two pets, with no fee and no breed or weight restrictions.  Pets can even stay alone in their room, if they behave themselves.

Candlewood Suites

Candlewood endears itself to pet parents in many ways. This is a great hotel for extended stays with pets. Every pet welcoming location allows multiple pets of up to 80 pounds each. There is a pet fee, but it’s pretty reasonable. It follows a sliding scale that depends on how long you stay. It’s the little things that count, though: each location offers a designated dog relief area, complete with waste bags. Well-behaved pets are allowed to stay in rooms unattended. In addition, the hotel provides pet parents with a magnet to put on their doors, which lets the Candlewood staff know that a pet is a guest in that room.

Luxury Hotels

W Hotels

This luxury hotel gives both humans and pets the royal treatment. Their P.A.W., or Pets are Welcome program, delights four-legged guests with a welcome packet, which features toys, treats, a specialized W Hotels pet tag, waste bags, and a list of pet services offered by the hotel. Rooms that host pets provide them with a custom pet bed, food and water bowls, and tasty turndown treats made just for them.

The hotel does have a $25/night pet fee, and a non-refundable $100 cleaning fee. However, most find the added expense to be worth it. If you really want to travel well, and you’re going to pull out all the stops, the services this hotel provides are definitely worth the fees. One pet per room is allowed, and although the hotel does have a 40 pound weight limit, they have been known to waive this policy with prior approval.

Kimpton Hotels

This hotel company really goes above and beyond to accommodate every type of pet. In fact, Kimpton’s motto is “if your pet fits through the door, we’ll welcome them in.” Kimpton has a range of boutique hotels in a wide variety of locations, and they have no restrictions on the breed, weight, or even type of pet that is welcome. Further, If you don’t have a pet to bring along, but you wish you did, no worries — the hotel will provide you with a pet fish in your room. Oh, and did we mention? Pets stay free!

Loews Hotels

Loews Hotels is all about luxury, for people and their pets.  Their Loews Loves Pets Program provides pets with welcome gifts, such as a name tag, a bowl, and tasty treats. The hotel will gladly walk your pet, pet sit, or loan you a pet bed, or even a scratching post. A fan favorite is their room service. They have a special doggie room service menu with vet-approved selections pets just love.  Loews does have a limit of 2 pets per room, and pet fees begin at $25/night, and vary from hotel to hotel.

Although these are some “standouts”, there are a lot more lodging options that do a great job at accommodating pet travelers.  No matter what you’re looking for, there are pet friendly hotels that will not only fit your budget and style, but will also keep your four-legged family members’ tail wagging.

About TripsWithPets.com

TripsWithPets is the premier online pet friendly travel guide — featuring online reservations at over 30,000 pet friendly hotels & accommodations across the U.S. and Canada.  When planning a trip, pet parents go to TripsWithPets for detailed, up-to-date information on hotel pet policies and pet amenities.  TripsWithPets also features airline & car rental pet policies, pet friendly activities, a user-friendly search-by-route option, as well as pet travel tips.