Fun for the WHOLE Fam – Dog-Friendly Hotel Brands & Their Special Amenities

Author: Su-Jit Lin, ALG Vacations®

For many Americans, dogs have become even more than members of the family – they’re the new kids.

According to recent studies, 58% of millennials have said they prefer to have pets rather than children, and 89% of dog-owners make home buying decisions based on their pets. Moreover, 78% of Americans traveled with their pets in 2024; over a third opt to fly with them.

That said, it only makes sense that “fun for the whole family” is beginning to mean more than just child-friendly. Pets are now becoming valued guests at hotels with zero to nominal fees for deep cleaning. Even tour operators, such as ALG Vacations®, have added a pet-friendly filter to their booking engine!

If you can’t see yourself traveling without your furry bestie, here’s how these dog-loving brands can make your shared stays special.

Ritz Carlton Reynolds Lake, Photo Credit: Su-Jit Lin

Domestic Brands

Kimpton Hotels have become broadly known for going beyond pet-friendly to pet-enthusiastic. Not only do they offer a plethora of creature comforts (emergency food, courtesy poo bags, discounted local pet services standard), but there are never pet fees, regardless of quantity or size. Look for special dog-friendly events, like outdoor wine receptions, or packages to upgrade your pup’s stay.

Similarly, many of Hyatt’s Thompson Hotels and some Andaz properties in the U.S. waive the fees and may boast features like a “wooftop bar,” an attraction that’s gotten attention in Miami’s Hyatt Centric South Beach. All Hyatt Place are also dog-friendly, with a nominal fee that covers up to two dogs; the same applies to several Park Hyatts.

Loews Hotels welcome pets with special amenities, and within the Marriott International portfolio, Westin Hotels & Resorts and Aloft Hotels have over 100 options that accept pets.

Hotel Clermont, Photo Credit: Su-Jit Lin

All-Inclusive Brands

To everyone’s delight, international resorts are getting in on the fun – no ESA paperwork required! Hyatt’s Inclusive Collection has been leading the way, allowing one dog under 22 pounds for a nightly fee that’s often less than the cost of boarding.

Book a pet category room (equipped with a bed, bowls, courtesy toy, and waste bags) at Zoëtry® Wellness & Spa Resorts, Secrets® Resorts & Spas, Breathless Resorts & Spas®, Dreams® Resorts & Spas, and Sunscape® Resorts & Spas – available at all but four properties – to treat your pup to the beach vacation of everyone’s dreams. For instance, at Secrets® Moxche Playa del Carmen, the pool concierge will set up their chair by your side and deliver snacks and water for your furbaby, too.

The all-inclusive Hard Rock Hotels in Los Cabos, Cancun, Punta Cana, Riviera Maya, and Puerto Vallarta are proud of their Unleashed program, which charges only $150 extra per pet (up to two weighing as much as 50 pounds each) for the entire stay in certain room categories. This upgrade comes with a sWag bag at check-in, a memory foam bed for the room, and map of designated pet areas.

For even more luxury, Fairmont Mayakoba, Hotel Xcaret, and Hotel Xcaret Arte are other options in Mexico’s Riviera Maya. At the latter two, your personal butler can help with amenities such as a dog-sized teepee and even let them out for bio breaks. At the former, pets under 25 pounds can receive amenities such as food, toys, and even a boat ride.

Luxury and Boutique

If pampering your pooch is the goal, you can’t go wrong with top names like The Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, and St. Regis Hotels & Resorts. Cost, amenities, and restrictions vary, but as an example, the Ritz-Carlton Reynolds Lake Oconee offers a welcome gift pack with collapsible bowl, tennis ball, and gourmet treats. Some properties, such as The St. Regis Chicago and Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club in Florida, even feature private off-leash dog parks!

In the Caribbean, The Ritz-Carlton Aruba – part of the Luxe by ALG Vacations® portfolio – and their locations in Grand Cayman and Turks & Caicos are dog-friendly. The St. Regis Bahia Beach in Puerto Rico even made headlines for allowing guests to foster local shelter dogs in their rooms with hopes of adoption!

Newer brands such as Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay offer packages including Tails of Talamanca, which features high-end extras like a chef-led pet menu and access to an on-site “Dog Spaw.”

And don’t forget to check out boutique brands as well! Since these tend to be independently owned and operated, pet-loving management might have flexible policies, and even a mascot. It never hurts to ask a travel advisor!

About ALG Vacation

ALG Vacations®, part of Hyatt (www.hyatt.com), is an award-winning tour operator celebrated for delivering unforgettable leisure travel experiences worldwide. Serving 2.6 million passengers annually, ALG Vacations encompasses a portfolio of trusted and growing brands, including Apple Vacations®, Funjet Vacations®, Travel Impressions®, Southwest Vacations®, Blue Sky Tours®, and United Vacations®. In addition to offering comprehensive vacation packages with scheduled flights on leading air carriers like United Airlines® and American Airlines®, ALG Vacations also offers thousands of Exclusive Nonstop Vacation Flights on major carriers to Mexico, Costa Rica, and the Caribbean. For more information, visit www.algvacations.com or follow ALG Vacations on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and LinkedIn.