How to Find Accommodation with a Dog Without the Stress!

Struggling to find accommodation with a dog that actually welcomes them, instead of just tolerating them?

We’ve spent years road-tripping across Europe with our pup, Lilly, and after dozens of stays, we’ve cracked the code on stress-free pet-friendly bookings.

In this guide, we’ll share the exact steps we take to find truly dog-friendly stays – so you never have to worry about hidden pet fees, restrictive rules, or misleading listings again.

What Makes Accommodation Truly Dog-Friendly

Before we get started, did you know, not all hotels that allow dogs are truly dog friendly?

Some might allow you to bring your dog, but have rules in place that are so restrictive it makes enjoying your stay almost impossible.

A truly dog friendly accommodation will welcome you with open arms and maybe even go that extra mile to make you and pup more comfortable - offering a welcome doggy bag, dog towels, bowls, an enclosed garden, and even special treats.

How to Use Booking.com, Airbnb & Expedia to Find Dog Friendly Stays

Finding accommodation with a dog doesn’t have to be a guessing game. Many booking platforms allow you to filter for pet-friendly stays, but some make it easier than others.

Here’s how to quickly find dog friendly accommodation on Booking.com, Expedia, and Airbnb.

How to Find Dog Friendly Accommodation on Booking.com

Booking.com doesn’t make it obvious, but you can filter for pet-friendly stays in a few clicks.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Search for your destination as usual.
2. On the left sidebar, scroll down to the "Facilities" section.
3. Check the box next to "Pets allowed."

4. Your search results will now only show dog-friendly stays!
5. Before booking, double-check the hotel’s pet policy in the FAQ section at the bottom of the listing;

📌 Pro Tip: Some hotels have hidden pet fees or strict rules (e.g., size limits, no dogs left alone). I always call or message the hotel before booking to confirm their policies!

How to Find Pet-Friendly Accommodation on Expedia

Expedia hides the pet-friendly filter, so you’ll need to dig a little deeper.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Search for your destination and select your travel dates.
2. Scroll down the left-hand sidebar to find the "Amenities" section.
3. Look for the paw print icon labelled "Pet-friendly" and check the box:

4. Click on a hotel listing to see specific pet policies under the "Property policies" section.

📌 Why Expedia Is Great: They clearly list pet fees and restrictions at the bottom of each listing, so there are fewer surprises! You can search for accommodation with them here.

How to Find Pet-Friendly Accommodation on Airbnb

Unlike other platforms, Airbnb makes it super easy to filter for dog-friendly stays.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Start your search and enter your destination.
2. Click on the "Who’s traveling?" section (where you add guests).
3. Select how many pets

4.Your search results will now only show pet-friendly properties.
5. Before booking, double-check the pet policy at the top of the listing.

📌 Watch Out! Unlike hotels, Airbnb hosts don’t always specify exact pet rules (e.g., whether the garden is fully enclosed). We always message the host before booking to confirm the details.

Best Websites for Finding Dog-Friendly Stays

Instead of sifting through endless of choices on broad hotel booking sites wondering if they’re going to be truly pet friendly, use sites that have been specifically designed for dog friendly accommodation;

This Is The Spot

At the moment, This Is The Spot only has listings for the UK but I know the team is aiming to expand that in the future.

They work with smaller accommodation in a similar way to Air BnB but all of their listings have been vetted to ensure they are exactly as listed.

They also cater mostly to places that are perfect for anxious or reactive dogs, meaning you’re not going to turn up and find other dogs on the property (that’s happened to us before with Air BnB!) and you can be confident that if it says it’s fully enclosed, it really is.

There’s also a filter for finding accommodation with no breed restrictions! So if you have an XL Bully (now restricted in the UK) you can book confidently knowing there won’t be any awkward check in moments.

BringFido

Probably the most well known dog accommodation site on the list, what’s great about BringFido is their searches are automatically showing pet friendly stays and you can see any rules they might have without having to keep clicking through!

Once you click through, you’ll be taken to booking.com but at least you’ll have a better idea of what that accommodation expects from you or, you can grab the name and book directly!

Pets Welcome

Pets welcome specifically covers dog friendly accommodation in the US, but they’re a popular one so I wanted to include it here anyway. 

Similarly to BringFido, when you do your search you’ll be able to see straight away what rules are in place and what pet fees you’ll have to pay.

As you can see from the example below, some of the pet policies are quite old so we recommend reaching out to the hotels to double check before you book.

If you’re planning caravan holidays with dogs, or you’re on a campervan road trip with your pup, you’ll be pleased to know that most campsites are dog friendly. Since most people don’t prebook when they’re on road trips, you’ll just need to confirm this before paying for your pitch

Read The Reviews

As we’ve discussed before, not all hotels or dog friendly cottages are made equal. 

Reviews from fellow dog owners can tell you whether a place is truly welcoming or just tolerates dogs. Look for mentions of:

1. Space for your dog to run
2. Nearby walking areas
3. Whether pet fees are reasonable
4. If staff are genuinely welcoming to pets

Contact The Hotel Directly

We’ve mentioned this before, but once you’ve narrowed down your hotel choices, it’s crucial to contact the hotel directly before booking. 

Many places list themselves as dog-friendly but have hidden fees or restrictions that can make your stay stressful.

A quick call or email can save you from unwanted surprises.

Things to double check;

Could you clarify:

• Are there any pet fees? (If so, is it per night or per stay?)
• Are there any size or breed restrictions?
• Are dogs allowed to be left alone in the room? (If so, do you require them to be in a crate?)
• Are there designated pet-friendly areas, or are dogs allowed in all parts of the hotel?
• Do you provide any pet amenities? (E.g., bowls, dog beds, enclosed play areas?)
• Are there any nearby walking areas or parks for dogs?

Doing this not only puts your mind at rest, but it also gives you the rules in writing. This might not seem important but we’ve had a hotel try to charge us more than we expected, until we showed them the email where they’d told us the pet fee - so it can come in handy sometimes!

Which Hotel Chains Allow Pets?

Many pet-friendly hotel chains cater to travellers with dogs. Some of the most well-known include:

• Ibis – Budget-friendly, with most locations allowing dogs for a small fee.
• B+B Hotel - Budget-friendly and accepting dogs with hotels all across Europe
• Premier Inn (UK) – Select locations are dog-friendly.
• Travelodge – Welcomes dogs for a small extra charge.
• La Quinta (USA) – Many locations allow dogs with no extra fee.
• Best Western – Over 1,600 pet-friendly hotels worldwide.

Our personal favourite are B+B hotels. They always provide a goody bag, and other than not allowing Lilly in the breakfast area (which we don’t use anyway) there are no hard and fast rules.

Is There Always A Pet Fee?

Most of the time, yes there's an additional fee, but we’ve noticed that it’s becoming more and more common for there to be no fee. It really does depend on the hotel, or even the destination - for example you’re less likely to find a hotel fee in Italy because of how dog friendly the country is on the whole. 

The lowest price we had was €2 in France, and the most expensive was £25 in the UK (around €30!)

On top of the nightly pet fee, you may also have to sign a contract that states you’ll pay for any damages. We’ve only come across this once or twice but it’s good to be aware that it might be something you have to do.

Can I leave my dog unattended in a hotel room?

This depends on the hotel and what their rules are.

Our personal feeling is that you shouldn’t. Most dogs don’t actually like being left alone in unfamiliar places, but also staff may need to come in and clean which makes it tricky when there’s an excitable dog there!

If you need to, make sure they’re well trained for the situation and don’t just leave them and hope for the best.

See? Finding truly dog friendly accommodation doesn’t have to be a headache. With a little planning, you can book a stay that actually welcomes your pup - no surprise fees, no stressful restrictions, just a smooth, enjoyable experience for both of you.

🔗 Now that you’ve found the perfect stay, let’s get your pup ready for the journey! Check out our complete list of essential items for travelling with your dog!