The Best Hotels for a Vacation with Your Dog

Set on a quaint little side street, this boutique hotel is convenient to popular Beantown attractions, including the Freedom Trail and the North End. While this is a solid four-star option (read: it’s fancy schmancy), it’s also a Kimpton property. That means they love littles, and the Kimptom Kids program proves it. The list of perks for kids goes on and on, from mocktails to pint-size animal print robes to hula-hoops. Plus—how thoughtful!—they hook you up with key little essentials and toiletries you forget at home, so whoopsies are a non-issue.

Pooch Perks: The pampered pet menu includes gourmet treats from Boston’s Polka Dog Bakery. Prince will sleep tight in the pet bed, and, no doubt, leap at the chance to see the sights with his own personal dog walker. No pets? Don’t be sad. Just ask and the concierge will deliver a goldfish to your room.

It’ll be love at first sight for fans of bed and breakfasts. Snuggled in gorgeous Sun Valley, the Knob Hill Inn is just the right size to give you that homey feel without having to eat with the owners every. single. morning. Here you can grab complimentary breakfast goodies (and Starbucks coffee!) in the fireplace room, then hop on the (included) shuttle to top cross-country skiing sites, golf courses, tennis courts, and fishing spots. A hook for history buffs: Ernest Hemingway’s grave is within walking distance.

Pooch Perks: Safety first for Fido! You’ll get a canine first aid kit, complimentary dog tags in case he’s so taken with the scenery he runs off, and an active nutrition bar and travel water bowl to keep his blood sugar and hydration up on the trails. Naturally, dogs are very welcome on the shuttles.

If you don’t think swanky when you hear “Cleveland,” that’s only because you’ve never stayed here. “The 9,” as locals call this 156-room hotel, is in the thick of all the downtown entertainment. That said, you’ll find plenty of diversions without stepping outside. Like what? A spa, a theater, even an underground speakeasy (step through a 1906 bank vault door, into a labyrinth underneath the Cleveland Trust rotunda that leads you to a prohibition-era bar). Oh, and don’t miss the art gallery. It features a rotating mix of emerging and established artists with a penchant for iconic urban spaces. It hardly gets classier than that.

Pooch Perks: Canine companions are greeted with a special welcome package at check-in (call for specifics at the time of your visit), cushy bedding, and—wait for it—24/7 access to the hotel’s indoor dog park.

If you’re thinking about a ski vacation for the whole family (four-legged members included), look towards the Rockies. Everyone can spread out in The Pines Lodge’s luxe three-bedroom condos with Jacuzzi tubs and fireplaces. The big kitchens make prepping a quick breakfast effortless. And the kids will be seriously impressed when you pull up: The place looks like Hogwarts. Snowshoeing paths are on property (they’re dog-friendly).

Pooch Perks: Fido can sport a GoPro harness to capture the action from his POV. If you opt for the “Pampered Pup” package, canine spa treatments are included, including a massage, bath, and blow-out. Once he’s looking his best, trot down to the doggie guestbook, where he can leave his paw print and take a Polaroid to capture his new look. Then head out for a night on the town for Yappy Hour! When he finally crashes at the end of the day, he’ll appreciate the rawhide bone left for him at turndown.

If you long for an escape that really feels like getting away, find yourself at the edge of the 1100-mile long Baja Peninsula, overlooking the Sea of Cortez. Built in 1956 as a luxury hideaway by the son of the Mexican President, the venue was originally accessible only by yacht or private plane. Its first guests included the likes of John Wayne, Lucille Ball, and Dwight D. Eisenhower, reportedly drawn by the peerless deep-sea fishing. Today, One&Only guests enjoy farm-to-table cuisine. Worth noting: the beach is one of the few swimmable ones in the entire region.

Pooch Perks: Amenities ring up at $50 per dog, per day, but the service is top-notch. Your dog is greeted at the airport with refreshments before a photo is taken for his One&Only Palmilla dog passport. Each evening, Lucky (you named him right) awaits his custom-sized dog bed and bedtime chew toy menu. And no need to worry about him at the pool. He’ll keep cool under a doggie umbrella or pup (pun intended) tent, with his own life preserver within easy reach. For dinner? Two yips for steamed Pacific salmon with zucchini and fingerling potatoes; one for braised beef tenderloin with crispy tortillas and cilantro rice.

Do you like all-inclusive convenience, but don’t want a cookie-cutter resort experience? Head to the Shorebreak puts you right in front of the famed Huntington Beach boardwalk, on the Pacific Coast Highway and adjacent to Main Street, with its quirky shops, lobster taco stands, and Belgian street food. Yet the list of what comes with your stay is nearly as long at that boardwalk: daily wine hour, beach cruiser rental, in-room yoga mats, beach chairs, towels, umbrellas, morning coffee, surfboard lockers, golf club storage....

Pooch Perks: Great Danes are no sweat. If your pets fit through the door, they’re checked in, at no extra charge. Amenities range from the basic (a water bowl) to the sublime (a yoga mat so Buddy can do...what else?...a downward dog alongside you.) And—get this—canines join the party at that nightly wine reception.

A luxurious eco-friendly lodge can seem like an oxymoron, but that’s what the Viceroy Snowmass is. In spades. Interior designer Jean-Michel Gathy, known for his posh approach to ecologically conscious design, has incorporated reclaimed timber, textural stone, and embossed metals in beautiful ways. The LEED Gold-certified resort is only six miles from Aspen/Pitkin Airport, a great relief if you’re traveling with a dog (let alone kids).

Pooch Perks: Duke will pick up a gift bag with a Viceroy leash, waste bags, a Viceroy bandana, a cookie treat, and a K9 menu. A bed and bowls will be waiting in your room. No pomeranian, poodle, nor pug? No problem. Guests can borrow a dog for the day from the Aspen Animal Shelter.

Location, location, location. This 86-room property is a hop from some of the best beaches in SoCal, a short drive to San Diego, and practically next door to LEGOLAND. The relaxed vibe and manageable size make this a logical choice for a family getaway. It’s a pretty great value too, as they throw in a hot breakfast buffet, 24-hour coffee and tea, bedtime cookies and milk, and a wine or beer pour from 5 pm to 6 pm.

Pooch Perks: West Inn & Suites' special pet amenities include a cozy pet bed, water and food bowls, treats, and pet aromatherapy spray. While there is a pet fee of $75 per night, the charge is waived after the second night. They also cater to kitties and allow two pets per room for the fee, so you can bring Sheba along (or a second dog).

The stylish Manhattan hotel not only welcomes dogs (felines too) but actually assumes they’ll be in tow (Gansevoort has always professed to be a lifestyle brand, and your pets are part of your lifestyle). The distinct architectural style will appeal to minimalist pup parents. Think lots of leather and a loft-esque lobby with 20-foot ceilings. The rooftop garden is the big draw, with skyline views in three directions and a 45-foot heated pool with underwater lighting.

Pooch Perks: First, the freebies: premium treats from the Barking Zoo, pet bed, monogrammed mat, Fiji water, bowls, and toys. If you want to spring for the upgraded swag, Buster also snags a personalized pet bed, a tag that reads “I am staying at Gansevoort Meatpacking NYC,” and a cross-body bag. Yes, really. A cross-body bag.

This Florida Keys standard is celebrating 70 years as a community icon this summer. You’ll find everything you’d expect from a laidback tropical vacation—including tennis, golf, and bike rentals—with a refreshing dose of friendly, first-name-basis service. Islamorada (“Purple Isle" in Spanish, for the hue of the sunset and the native bougainvillea) is about halfway down the keys, an ideal spot for taking in the fun both at Key Largo and Key West.

Pooch Perks: Max can dig into special dishes such as Slammin’ Salmon, Here Chicky Chicky, and Bring Home the Bacon after his stroll on the doggy hiking trail. All menu items are prepared without seasoning and can be served hot or cold. Cheeca does collect a pet fee of $70 per night for its “Pups in Paradise” package, but a portion of it goes to the local MarrVelous Pet Rescues & Adoptions.

For the cosmopolitan pooch (and her doting owners), this high-rise property in “Hollywood North” is as elegant as it gets. The heated indoor pool is both infinity and salt-water, and big enough to do laps. Head to the 32nd floor to relax in the dry sauna and Clean-Stream Whirlpool. Your personal attaché will handle your laundry and dry cleaning, shop for you, and even whip up personalized stationery and business cards.

Pooch Perks: Pampering is the order of the day (or week), with complimentary food and water bowls, dog toys, a plush doggie bed, gourmet treats, and a dog-walking service.

On the border of SoHo and TriBeCa, this mid-century gem sits at the corner of two of the city’s most affluent neighborhoods. The cobblestone streets are home to historic cast-iron buildings and boutiques, restaurants, and galleries. Its triangular shape and eight-story atrium make for a one-of-a-kind hotel, while the Roxy Lounge, Bar, and Stage has the feel of a (quite expansive) living room.

Pooch Perks: Pet-friendly accommodations on designated floors are available at no additional charge. Bella will nibble organic treats from the legendary local bakery Bocce’s. She’ll have bedding, food, water, and doggy bags waiting for her when she gets there. Just let them know she’s coming beforehand, so your furry friend never has to lift a paw upon arrival.