Updated: October 2021
Originally Published: February 2016
With pet travel on the rise, more hotels are rolling out the red carpet for our four-legged companions. But some charge pet fees that will break the budget! Find out which pet friendly hotel chains welcome pets with no fees.
For years, it was common to see pet friendly hotels charging a pet fee of $10 to $20 per night to allow the staff additional time to clean the room. But recently that model has changed, and some hotels appear to be relying on pet fees to boost their bottom line.
These days, it’s not uncommon to see “pet friendly” hotels charging an additional $50 to $100 per night for bringing your pet along!
But there are a handful of hotels bucking that trend. They’ve taken a truly pet friendly approach. Today we’re celebrating the pet friendly hotels were pets are welcome to stay for free!
READ MORE ⇒ Pack Your Pet’s Overnight Bag
Pet Friendly Hotels Without Pet Fees
Red Roof Inns
Red Roof Inns take pet friendly travel to a new level. Not only do they not charge additional pet fees – they’ll give you a 10% discount for bringing your pet along! Under the Red Roof Inn, Red Roof PLUS+, and the Red Collection brands, the chain offers 600+ pet friendly hotels in 36 states and is an economical option for pet travelers.
Enjoy 15% off your stay at Red Roof when you travel with your pet using code 604673. (Some restrictions apply.)
Red Roof Inns Pet Policy: Red Roof welcomes one well-behaved cat or dog per room at most locations*. At management’s discretion, additional pets may be allowed and fees may apply. Red Roof Inn and Red Roof PLUS+ locations limit pets to no more than 80 pounds. At the Red Collection locations, pet must weigh 40 pounds or less.
*Due to specific circumstances, the Oxon Hill, MD and Queensboro, NY locations cannot accept pets.
View the Red Roof Inn Pet Policy
READ MORE ⇒ Pet Friendly Hotels Chains that Welcome Cats
Kimpton Hotels
The Kimpton Hotel chain is part of the InterContinental Hotels Group, and is known for its animal attraction. Every one of their hotels welcomes furry, feathery, and scaly pets of all sizes with special amenities like comfy pet beds, bowls, treats at check in, and pet friendly “yappy hour” receptions in the evening. Some locations even have a Directors of Pet Relations on staff to give you and your travel buddy a tail-wagging welcome!
Kimpton Hotel Pet Policy: Every Kimpton hotel welcomes all pets with no additional fees, regardless of their size, breed, or weight. Kimpton also puts no restrictions on the number of pets per room at any of their 63 properties in 41 cities across North America.
View the Kimpton Pet Policy
READ MORE ⇒ Tips For A Great Hotel Stay With Dogs
Element Hotels by Westin
With in-room kitchens, 24-hour on-site laundry, and longer available stays, the pet friendly Element Hotels provide you with all the comforts of home. And with 78 locations in North America, you can choose from a great selection of destinations!
Element Hotel Pet Policy: All Element Hotels welcome dogs weighing up to 40 pounds and most do not charge pet fees. As part of their “Love That Dog” program, they also provide dog beds, bowls, and clean up supplies. Pet policies vary by locations, so confirm with the property before making your reservation.
View the Element Hotels Pet Policy
Aloft Hotels
Aloft hotels are part of the Marriott family, and many of their 155 pet friendly properties across North America are pet friendly. Pet policies vary by location, so contact the hotel before booking.
Aloft Hotel Pet Policy: Dogs up to 40 pounds are welcome at MOST (but not all) Aloft hotel locations. It appears more Aloft locations have begun charging pet fees, so it’s important to check with the hotel before making a reservation.
The number of dogs allowed per room varies by location, and some properties also allow cats. Through their Arf ® (animals are fun) program, Aloft provide canine guests with beds, bowls, and complimentary treats and toys. Guests with larger dogs and other types of pets are also encouraged to contact the hotel directly for a waiver.
View the Aloft Pet Policy
Virgin Hotels
With locations in Chicago, Dallas, Las Vegas, Nashville, and New Orleans the Virgin chain is relatively new among pet friendly hotels. The staff admits to being fans of fuzz, and canine guests will find the accommodations every bit as welcoming as their humans.
Virgin Hotels Pet Policy: Every Virgin hotel welcomes dogs with no breed or size restrictions and no additional fees. Dogs are also provided a bed, bowls, and a stylish bandana.
Keep your nose to the ground, because Virgin Hotels will soon be appearing in New York and Miami!
View the Virgin Hotel Pet Policy
Motel 6
Welcoming pets since 1962, Motel 6 was America’s first national pet friendly motel chain. With a focus on providing affordable, “no frills” accommodations, the quality of the rooms at Motel 6 can be inconsistent, and brand’s popularity has suffered. But, with 1,400+ properties across the US and Canada, if you’re looking for a basic, inexpensive, pet friendly hotel room, you’ll almost always find a Motel 6 nearby.
Motel 6 Pet Policy: Motel 6 allows up to two dogs or cats per room with a combined weight of 150 pounds or less and does not charge additional pet fees. (The affiliated Studio 6 hotels charge a $10 per night pet fee, up to $75.)
View the Motel 6 Pet Policy
What About La Quinta?
Experienced pet travelers might be surprised that La Quinta hotels are not included in this list of pet friendly hotels where pets stay free. Welcoming up to two dogs or cats per room, La Quinta was the most popular pet friendly hotel chain for years.
But, in 2018, the chain was purchased by Wyndham Hotels and Resorts. Shortly thereafter, many La Quinta locations began charging pet fees.
La Quinta Hotel Pet Policy: Most La Quinta hotels welcome two cats or dogs per room and charge pet fees of $20 per night with a maximum of $40 per stay per room. Pet polices vary by location, and some limit the size of the pet, so call the hotel directly before making your La Quinta reservation.
Now that you’ve got the scoop on all of the pet friendly hotels where pets stay free, all that’s left to is pack a bag and hit the road! Waggin’ trails!
I travel with a toy yorkie 4lbs. I stay at different chains and notice that some do not charge me and some charge the full amount dog fee. I do find this unfair as she basically stays in my pocket
I’d love to know what hotel chains have beds on a platform base. I’ll be traveling with two cats later this spring and I don’t want to end up in the nightmare I’ve heard of of cats getting under the bed or even into the bed springs and being unable to get them out.
Hi Florence, and thanks for your note. That’s a great idea! Unfortunately as far as I know, each hotel location chooses their own furnishings. I don’t think any of the chains have the same type of furniture across all their properties. Wishing you safe and happy travels.
I have traveled with my dogs for years and honestly the only chain that legitimately never charges a pet fee and was super pet friendly was Motel 6. Not for luxury but i always know they’re welcome
Thanks for sharing your experience, Jami! Motel 6 is one of the most reliably pet friendly hotel chains. Waggin’ trails to you!
Found to our dismay that we were going to be charged $25/night for our little dog. Was under the impression that there was a max limit of $40 per stay, yet are being charged $75 for ours. Not happy campers. Will look for more lenient pet accommodations elsewhere in the future.
Hi Ellen. I completely understand your frustration and hope our article helps you find a better alternative in the future. Waggin’ trails!
Horrible properties in Chattanooga and then Smyrna TN. Pictures look good but all run down and in need of updating and repair. Sad and the change in Pet policy makes them a Never Again stop. More research next trip!!! Thx
I’m sorry you had this experience, Jon. Please leave reviews of these hotels on GoPetFriendly.com to help other pet travelers. And we hope we can help you find better alternative in the future. Happy travels!
I have always had good experiences with the red roof inn. Its not amazing but its always clean and every location accepts pets with no fee. Best place to go if you have your dog and need a place to crash for the night.
Agreed, Jay! And thanks for your comment. Most of the Red Roof locations we’ve visited have been fine. However, many only allow one pet per room, so that can be a challenge for those traveling with multiple pets. Thanks again for your note and happy travels!
We do roadtrips with our two dogs every summer. La Quinta used to be where we stayed. No longer since they changed their pet policy in 2018.
La Quinta was great when you could count on all of them being fee-free. Some individual hotels still follow the old rules. But you have to look at each individual property to find them.
I hope you’ve found a good alternative so you can still enjoy those road trips with your pups.
We used to always stay at those motels. However, now they have a two dog policy and won’t let us because we have three dogs. It’s very frustrating.
Beware. Although he Kingman LaQuinta policy clearlyb says ‘Non-refundable 25 USD nightly for up to 2 pets. ” THEY INSERT EACH AND CHARGE $50 PER NIGHT.
When we questioned it, they got rude and called us stupid
Wow! I’m sorry you experienced that, Baker. And thanks for sharing so that others can avoid them.
Safe and happy travels to you!
La Quinta in Pensacola, FL charge a $75 pet fee for my overnight stay with my championship show dogs. The property was rundown, the room smelled of mold and mildew and there were seedy people outside milling about, in spite of the fact it was after 3 am when I checked in . I was put on the 3rd floor in spite of my request for a ground level room . The ice machine was out of order and when I opened it’s door the area where where there was supposed to contain the ice was covered in mold and smelled of something dead . I had to go all the way back to the ground floor, past all the seedy people and to the front desk area to get ice . Wow! What a horrible experience .
That’s awful, JB! I’m so sorry you had this experience. I’d recommend filing a complaint with La Quinta’s corporate office. At the very least, they should know how poorly this hotel’s management is performing! Safe travels and waggin’ trails to you.
It does no good to complain to La Quinta anymore. Once they sold out in 2018 they have declined ever since.
I pay 10 a night at knights inn and after 6 days of staying they said I have to pay 100 nonrefundable for cleaners to clean room but did not say this when I first rented the room
Thank you for your note, Jesikah. I’m sorry you’re having this experience. My suggestion is to contact the corporate headquarters for Knights Inn and explain the situation. I hope they’ll be able to help resolve the issue.
Yeah knights inn is a terrible place. Its usually the cheapest possible but its a complete garbage hotel. I stayed in a Knights inn that had roaches once and I asked for a refund so i could go somewhere else and of course they said no so I stayed at a super 8 and snuck my dog in and paid for both rooms and never went to another knights inn again.
I wish hotels that charged fees listed them up front on websites when you check out so there’s no surprise when you check in. Airbnbs typically do this, why can’t major hotel chains figure out how to include it in the price?!
That’s an excellent question, Jen! Hotels seem intent on keeping their pet fees a secret until it’s time to put them on the bill.
While nightly pet fees are reasonable for short stays, they are completely unreasonable for extended hotel stays. As a professional healthcare traveler, a typical hotel stay is 90-180 nights, resulting in thousands just in pet fees if the manager or owner will not negotiate a lower rate. Thankfully, many Hilton brands, even those that are considered extended stay hotels, have adopted pet fees that are more friendly towards longer stays.
That’s fantastic! Thanks for sharing your experience, and safe travels to you.
I absolutely love the idea of staying at a hotel where my furry friend can join me without any extra charges! As a pet owner, it can be challenging to find accommodation that allows pets and doesn’t break the bank. That’s why I appreciate hotel chains that offer this pet-friendly policy. It’s not just about the cost, though. Staying at a hotel where pets stay free means that I can truly enjoy my vacation without worrying about leaving my pet behind or finding a pet-sitter. I can bring them along and create even more special memories together. I also appreciate that these hotel chains often have pet-friendly amenities such as dog parks, walking trails, and even pet room service! It’s a great way to pamper our pets and show them some extra love. Overall, I think that more hotels should consider offering this pet-friendly policy. It’s a win-win for both pet owners and hotel chains, as it attracts more customers and promotes pet-friendly travel.
Here’s one for you….I SPECIFICALLY called Hilton central and was told my emotional support dog would be allowed to stay free at Chattanooga on I-75. When I checked in they hammered me with a $75 pet “deposit–read FEE) and harangued me about how support animals are NOT service animals according to the Disability Act. Blah-blah-blah. SEVENTY-FIVE BUCKS! Motel 6 here we come next time. AVOID the Hilton/Hampton Inn chain !!
I’m so sorry for your experience, Michael. It’s hard when “pet friendly” hotels actual make traveling with your pet more difficult. I hope your future adventures go well!
That $75 fee may seem high, but that 1 time per fee structure is what I prefer. I travel for work and spend months at a time in a hotel. That $75 fee is a lot better than paying several thousand dollars in pet fees for a 3 to 6 month hotel stay.
Yes, for a single night the $75 pet fee seems like a lot. But when you’re staying for a longer period, the lower nightly rates add up quickly. It’s great when hotels are willing to work with their guests to set a reasonable pet fee that works for both parties. Thanks for your note, and waggin’ trails to you!
South Dallas La Quinta just charged us $75 for a small dog after we were told, THERE IS NO DOGS FEE. We couldn’t cancel the reservation.. it’s just ridiculous and unprofessional.
I’m so sorry you had this experience, Elle! I’d recommend contacting the La Quinta main office and filing a complaint. To be blindsided when you were told there was no pet fee is unacceptable. Wishing you safe and happy future travels.
LaQuinta has never charged us for our pets- if they did as they are nothing special we would not frequent them
That’s great, Steve! The locations you’ve visited must be ones that decided not to charge pet fees. And I agree – I’d rather pay a little more for a nicer room than pay a pet fee at a so-so hotel. Thanks for your note, and happy travels!
Unfortunately, we made reservations at the Aloft in Knoxville based on this report and found out that there is a pet fee and it is $75!
Hi Kathy. Thanks for your note. I’m sorry that you ended up at a location with such an unreasonable pet fee. The post does say that Aloft’s pet policies vary slightly by location, so contacting the hotel before booking is important — but I will highlight that information better to help make it more clear.
For the last 12 years I have traveled with my pets and stayed La Quinta, mainly because of their no charge for pets policy. On Wednesday I stayed at a La Quinta in Washington, no charge for pets, last night I stayed in Nevada and no charge for pets. I just checked into the La Quinta in Kingman AZ and was told it was 25 per pet and no exceptions. I feel ripped off as that’s 50 bucks for a retired senior citizen, with no advanced warning. I will get a refund that is for sure, as I am going to stir up so much **** on this issue.
Damn wrong and not pointed out on the corporate website. So my advice is book with the La Quinta hotels you want to stay at direct and let Wyndham direct know that they are ripping off people. Wyndham is a huge corporation that is out of touch with its clients.
Also my dogs are doodles, non shedding and hypoallergenic. No one would have a clue my dogs have be in the room. There are several other hotel chains that don’t charge for pets, I guess they will get my business.
We share your frustration, John. After so many years of truly supporting people traveling with pets, we were disappointed when Wyndham bought La Quinta and allowed each hotel to decide whether to charge a pet fee or not. I hope you’ll be able to find another hotel chain you like that makes staying with your pups easy. Safe travels!
Comfort Suites from Choice Hotels are usually pet friendly, depending on the location. The hotel I represent is Comfort Suites I-25 North in the beautiful Las Cruces, NM. Our Pet fee is only $20 per pet per night, a maximum of 100 pounds per Pet and 2 Pets per room. Now everyone can bring their beloved pet as they travel :-)
We are staying in a Main Stay Suites (part of Choice) and they want an additional $75 for a one night stay if you have a dog!! We won’t be back! This is outside of Cleveland.
It’s ridiculous – you’d end up paying almost as much for the pet fee as you pay for the room! I hope you’re able to find more pet friendly accommodations in the future, Stephanie. Waggin’ trails to you!
We stay in Best Westerns, we have always been lucky to have clean accomodations, they charge a pet fee, $15 to $45, depending on the hotel. It seems like those in more remote locations charge less than those in highly desirable areas.
Hi Andree! Thanks for sharing your experience. The fees at Best Western definitely vary from location to location. Safe travels!
Are Service dogs welcome for free at all hotels?
Hi Terry! Thanks for your note. Yes, service dogs can stay at any hotel and will not be charged a pet fee, per the Americans With Disabilities Act.
Most of the motels I’ve tried to book claim to be pet friendly but don’t bother to tell you what-if-anything they charge until you’ve booked. Search as much as you like, you can’t find any details. Once you’ve booked, you still have to search to find out what it’s going to cost.
Hi BG! I found the same thing to be true, which is why we started GoPetFriendly.com. We gather and provide pet polices that let you know before you book what the pet fees will be. I hope that helps. Good luck with your planning!
I use hotels.com for 90% of my hotel bookings nationwide. They have a filter for pet friendly hotels then state the charge for pets in the policies and fees section before I book. Anywhere from $20-150 a night for pets. Hope this helps. Hotels.com has always made things right if any issues with hotel too.
Beware of using pet friendly filters on third party websites (call the hotel before you book or pay anything ). All the hotel booking app/site knows is that the chain has some pet friendly rooms. They won’t know the fees and they wont know whether there is actually a pet friendly room available. What little information they do have can be wildly inaccurate too. The last time I booked on Orbitz/Expedia (Via RBC Travel) for a ‘pet friendly hotel room’ I was informed on arrival that the hotel had stopped allowing pets over a year prior and they wanted to deny me entry. The only reason they caved and put us up anyway is that I was in a remote area, paid with travel points and had no way to quickly get a refund & new reservation elsewhere.
Marriott properties welcome pets, but then charge a hefty pet sanitizing fee, $50-100.
Hi, Sharon! Thank you for sharing.
Great article and corresponding comments below. I took notice of many switching brands here and there for cheaper alternatives. We used to be okay with the cheaper brands (RRI, Choice) and even ones still offering no pet fees. Too many bad occurrences with cleanliness have resulted in us having to shell out more for nice places for our travels with our dog. We compared Marriott and Hilton overall and it looked as Hilton offered more pet friendly properties with more options showing a $50 per stay rate. Although the fee is more than we want to spend for simple night stay, we have yet to have a single cleanliness issue (several Hamptons, TRU, Home2, Doubletree). You may even luck out with a straggler not charging a fee and some $15-$25 stay fees as well.
Great points, MG! Thank you for sharing. Getting a good night’s sleep in a place that feels clean and comfortable is part of what makes traveling fun. And now Homewood Suites by Hilton is 100% pet friendly, so that adds to your reliable options. Safe travels to you!
I am a nurse looking to travel but I have four cats and a dog. The dog is about 42 to 45 pounds and all the cats are litter box trained. Having trouble finding places to take my animals without paying crazy fees. Help please . I will be traveling for this job in the US
Hi Katie! Thanks for your note. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to find places to stay when you’re traveling with more than two or three pets. Kimpton hotels don’t have a limit on the number of pets, but they might also not be available in the places you’ll be working. I know some traveling doctors and nurses who’ve chosen to get an RV to make traveling with their pets easier. Perhaps this is something to consider?
I wish you all the best.
I have 3 dogs and a cat. One dog is a Service Dog the other 2 are pets. We are planning to travel next September to Disney World for vacation. The dogs and cat will have accommodations at Disney World, but will need a night stay over in Pensicola, FL if possible. Any suggestions? My husband is willing to sleep in the truck with the dogs if necessary, but I would rather him, the dogs, and the cat be able to get comfortable and stretch out for the night.
Hi Raven! It sounds like you have a great trip in the works. We have listings for 31 pet friendly hotels in Pensacola. Here’s a link >> https://www.gopetfriendly.com/lodging/hotels/fl/pensacola
Since you have two pets and one service dog, I’d suggest starting with the La Quinta. They allow two pets and allow cats. With your two pets and one service dog, you should all be welcome under their standard policy. If that doesn’t work out, the Ramada allows three pets, including cats. Good luck and safe travels to you all!
We have a 51 year old parrot who stays in his cage at all times. Is he welcome at your motel?
Hi Nancy! Thanks for your note. You’ve reached us here at GoPetFriendly. To get the answer to your question, you’ll need to contact the hotel directly. I wish you the best of luck!
Might want to update this list. Aloft was purchased by Marriott so they now charge 100 non-refundable. Element probably also since Westin was bought my Marriott too.
Thanks, AJ! So far, we seeing a mixed response to the Marriott purchases. Some Aloft and Element hotels are still welcoming pets with no fees. And both chains still say their standard policy is to not charge pet fees, though they both admit that some locations do.
Thank you so much I was stuck in Oklahoma and Colorado and it was a hassle trying to find places that were actually pet friendly. Now thanks to this site it makes it easier. But not all motel 6’s have pets free policies. I stayed at one in okc, and was charged $25 non refundable pet fee. And the Red Roof Inn. In okc charged me 25 as well and changed from 2 dogs to 1 dog limit
Thanks so much for sharing your experience, Daniel! Red Roof does sometimes charge a fee if you have more than one pet. And good to know about the Motel 6 – their published pet policy says pets always stay free.
This list needs updating, the Element at Houston TX charges $100 per pet per night with 40lb restriction.
Thanks for your note, Datura. Element’s “general” pet policy allows dogs up to 40 pounds with no pet fee — but not every Element property follows that policy. Obviously, the hotel in Houston has set their own fee. Safe travels to you!
Hotel tonight app has a ton of hotels that say “no pet fee” – yet when you arrive the hotel has a different policy posted, sometimes handwritten by the reception desk. I’ve asked to be cancel my staff due to the discrepancy only to have Hotel Tonight say no.
I completely understand, Kelly! Most apps and websites aren’t focused on providing accurate pet policy information, and that makes them useless for those of us who travel with pets! Hopefully you find the information here on GoPetFriendly to be more helpful. Safe and happy travels to you!
I need places that will take 3 pets. 2 cats
One dog under 8 pounds
Hi Christina! Thanks for your note. The only chain I’m aware of that consistently allows more than two pets in a room is the Kimpton chain. They don’t place any limits on the number, size, or type of pet. In addition, they don’t charge pet fees. You will also find other individual hotels that will make an exception to their two-pet rule, but you’d have to call and ask each one. I wish you safe and happy travels!
just tried to book a roadtrip through Ky, TN, OH, and MO staying only in Aloft hotels with my dogs. Turns out they DO charge a pet fee of $50/night. :(
Thanks for your note, KP! Yes, we’ve found that MOST Aloft locations don’t charge a pet fee … but there are some that do. I’m sorry that the ones you were looking at were among the latter. Safe travels to you!
Element hotels also don’t charge for pets
Good to know! Thanks, Hunter!
Most, if not all, La Quinta Inns also allow pets to stay free.
Hi David! Thanks for your note. Yes, many La Quinta’s allow pets to stay. But after they were acquired by Wyndham a few years ago, many of the La Quinta locations added pet fees. So, it’s best to call ahead and confirm when planning your trip. Safe travels!
LA Quinta in OKC charge pet fees and the one in Steamboat Springs Colorado, but they didn’t charge me and they really love dogs there
Good to know! Thanks, Daniel.
The majority of La Quinta hotels are charging the $20 pet fee. Before Windham bought the majority of them we would stay 20 to 25 nights a year at La Quinta, and had an elite status. Windham also changed their rewards program, and we now avoid all Winfham properties.
I understand, Bill. Hopefully you’ll find another brand that meets your needs. We’ve found Red Roof to be a pretty comparable alternative. Waggin’ trails to you!
Where have you switched to? We got our first dog and the only reason i agreed is because I kept seeing “pet friendly”. I had no clue some are outrageous. We travel alot.
Hi Angel, and congratulations on your new addition! I’d recommend looking at the Red Roof Inns – not only can you stay with one pet for no additional fee, but many offer a discount when you’re traveling with a pet! The other chain you might want to consider is Kimpton – they’re more of a destination than an overnight stop and also have no pet fees. I hope that helps, and that you enjoy your adventures together. Waggin’ trails!
Really appreciated this article when picking a hotel in Greenville SC for travel this week — we stayed at the Aloft in one of the rooms with “pool access.” I picked it thinking it would be bottom floor so it would make it easy to take the dogs for their morning business. It turned out to be the 6th floor but when we opened the door to the pool we realized there was a dog run with Astroturf right next to it, with bags and even a clear wall on one side to give the dogs a view of the city! So cute and convenient. 100% would stay at that location again and most likely staying at Aloft whenever possible now. There were lots of cute dog touches in the lobby too.
That’s fantastic, Karen! Thanks so much for sharing your experience.
A warning. Home2 Suites by Hilton claim they are pet friendly. They took my reservation, I told them I had a dog. No problem. At checkout they charged my credit card a nonrefundable fee of $95 “due to Covid” because of the extra cleaning required. They did not tell me this when I made the reservation or when I checked in with the dog. They said it was on their website it was not. Shame on Hilton.
Thanks for letting us know, Trudy! I don’t blame you for being upset. My advice is to call their corporate office and file a complaint with them. Hopefully they’ll help you sort things out.
This happened to me too at Homes2Suites in Hot Springs Arkansas. They charged me $75 per dog. I had 2 and stayed just 1 night. This fee is ridiculous!
Wow! That’s a lot of money for a one-night stay, Tami! It would be the last time I stayed with them.
The Residence Inn in Steamboat Springs Colorado charged me 125 a night my car broke down next to it so I had no choice to stay there but how can they call themselves pet friendly and charge that much and they didn’t take it out at check in they waited till after I checked out
Wow!! That’s incredible, Daniel. I’m sorry this happened to you.
Thanks for writing this article. Another warning against Wyndham. We rented an Air BnB condo for a week that said it was pet friendly. We even followed up with a description of our 55 pound doodle to ask again and we were told ‘of course your pet is welcome’. We did not realize it was a Wyndham property and were subsequently told upon check-in that we needed to find a place to board our dog because she could not stay with us under any circumstances. Needless to say we left, upset and angry. Pre pandemic I traveled for work 75 nights a year and expect that will start again next year. Going forward, none of those nights will ever be in a Wyndham.
What an awful experience, Lynda. And after you went out of your way to confirm you pup would be welcome, too! Thanks for sharing, because this is something that I wouldn’t have thought to check on Air BnB. I hope it didn’t completely ruin your getaway.
I’m at north myrtle looking for pet friendly ocean front
Hi Linda! We have several hotel options listed on the website in that area. Here’s a link >> https://www.gopetfriendly.com/Hotels/south-carolina/north-myrtle-beach/1.aspx
Aloft in Detroit allows dogs up to just 40 pound weight.
Thank you, Pam!
Do they weigh them?
Hi Claudia! That’s a great question. In my experience, hotels don’t actually weigh the dogs. But they might challenge someone who claims their dog is under the weight limit when they appear to be heavier. Having your dogs recent medical records, which usually show their weight, could help resolve any issues. I hope that helps!
I stay at RedRoof ALL THE TIME, before planning any vacation or event, I make sure there’s a red roof near. There is no pet fee, so it really makes the trip a total breeze. And to top it off they are already inexpensive! RedRoof Inn, & Suites>Any hotel.
That’s wonderful, Janie! I’m so glad that Red Roof is working out for you. They’re a solid choice and sometimes even provide a discount when you’re staying with a pet!
Pet-friendly hotels are good. At least one can travel burden-free with their pets. It is very convenient for people with ESA. I went to a hotel (I don’t want to mention the name), a lady there was requesting a front desk officer, struggling to keep her Emotional Support Animal with her. I stood there for almost 15 minutes in her support then left for my room. I came back after half an hour and saw here there. They wanted her to pay a heavy amount to keep the ESA, although she had a legit reason with an authentic ESA letter. However, the matter was resolved by paying them an exceptional heavy fine to keep the pet along with her, but in my opinion, people with ESA shouldn’t be charged for keeping their pets with them. Even airlines allow people to travel with their ESA because they can understand their situation.
I’m sorry to hear that this person was struggling with the rules around her emotional support animal, Alex. Unfortunately, there are many people who don’t know that the only protections afforded ESA relate to housing (being able to live in an otherwise pet-free residence) and flying. And the airlines are seriously cracking down on ESA after people have abused the system. Otherwise, ESA are only allowed where other pets are also welcome.
Charged $20 pet fee (amount showing on credit card is a bit above that…sales tax?) for a LQ in Clarksville, TN when we used points for a free room. The pet fee and total inconsistency of the brand (horrible one in December near Pinellas Park, Florida complete with strong odors and cockroaches) made us burn the Wyndham points and abandon the brand. No more LQ for this pet family.
I’m so sorry to hear that you had two bad experiences, Lily, and I appreciate you for sharing. Hopefully you’ll find a hotel brand that deserves your loyalty. Safe travels!
We’ve stayed at LaQuintas across the country for 5 years with our two pit mixes, who are well behaved and love the hotels. After Wyndham bought out LaQuinta and others, there were suddenly pet fees at some, not all, hotels. After the first one, which I didn’t notice till we were headed down the road, I questioned each one. If there was a fee, I informed them that I was no longer loyal to that chain and would be looking elsewhere. It’s not the clerk’s fault, they feel bad too, and no fee was charged where I was a “squeaky wheel”.
Thanks so much for your note, Jessamyn! I’m so grateful that you mention that this is not the staff’s fault. They just have to pass on the bad news. And good for you for speaking up – I’m glad that worked out in your favor. Safe travels!
I stayed at the Wyndom Travel Lodge in Palm Springs, Ca, and they didnt charge for my 2 smaller dogs
Thanks so much for letting us know, James! That’s wonderful – and safe travels to you!
Becareful with Holiday Inn. There is a pet rate listed on their website and then you get to the hotel and they charge you another $25/night/pet on top of the extra per night rate.
Ripping off the consumer again!
Wow! Thanks for letting us know, Toni!
We stayed at LaQuinta in Elkhart, Indiana in April 2019 and didn’t have a pet fee. We come back in October and we’re charged a pet fee of $20, $40 for 2nd dog, but she’s a service dog. Plus the new pet policy says they can’t be left alone in the room. Ridiculous rule because the dogs aren’t allowed in the breakfast area. I think we’re done being loyal LaQuinta guests. Plus the parking lot was bare in the evening.
I’m really sorry La Quinta’s new pet policy took you by surprise, Suzie – though you’re not alone! Many people have been disappointed and are looking for different accommodations. We have a lot of options – including vacation properties – on the website. Let us know if there’s anything we can do to help!
Oh, i didn’t know that. Thank you very much.
Happy to help, Suzie! Waggin’ trails to you.
I agree ! We have been loyal to this hotel as well and we be looking at other places too!
I agree with you!
We are getting ready to move across country thanks for the experiences, we will avoid holiday Inns.
Stayed at the Roswell La Quinta last night. 20 dollar pet fee for one night with one pet. May 2019
Thanks so much for letting us know!
This is not true!! I’m staying at a Motel 6 currently and they do charge pet fees!!
I’m surprised to hear that, Tanya! I’d recommend calling their corporate customer service number and reporting the situation. The location you’re at is apparently violating the corporate-wide policy of not charging a pet fee.
I travel from south Carolina to Oakland ca and back annually, using motel6. Never charged a fee, which is why I stay there.
I have stayed at red roof many times with my dog and never heard about any discounts!! Also, they charge for more then one pet.
Hi Brandon! Thanks for your note. It’s possible that you need to ask for the pet discount, but it’s usually right on their website. Right now they’ve increased the discount to 15% for National Pets Month. Here’s a link: https://www.redroof.com/why-red-roof-inn/petsstayfree
And thank you for the information about the charge for multiple pets. I was under the impression that most of their locations only allowed one pet per room. It seems, as long as the fee if reasonable, it’s still a good option for people traveling with pets.
Red roof depends on if it is corporate or privately owned I have stayed with 2 dogs no fees and was told at another one dog per room so I would suggest call ahead at red roof
Good advice, Jason! Thanks for sharing your experience, and safe travels to you.
Tonight is the first I knew about La Quinta charging a pet fee. I have been in four La Qs in the last week and a half. The first three did not charge for a pet but the one in Wytheville,Va. Told me that they have to charge $20 because Wyndom requires it. That’s so not true. Wyndom allows, not requires this fee. I have been going out of my way to to use La Quinta because of their pet policy. Never again. I guess I’ll try Red Roof next.
I’m sorry you were taken by surprise, M.J. Yes, despite what management told you, Wyndham is not requiring La Quintas to charge pet fees – just giving them the option to do so if they choose. It’s difficult right now, because they’re not telling us which hotels are charging fees and which aren’t, so we haven’t been able to update the pet policies on our website.
If you’re looking for a consistent pet policy from location to location, Red Roof or Kimpton hotels are your best bet. Neither chain charges a fee for pets. Safe travels!
I’m just finding out that La Quinta’s are starting to charge for pets. I am (was) an Elite member before Wyndham and have used La Quinta’s for years, all over the U.S. I will start looking elsewhere for no fee pet hotels.
Yes, Tater, I’m sorry to say that some of the La Quinta’s have started charging pet fees. I still having been able to get information on how many of their locations have implemented this new policy, but I definitely recommend calling ahead and confirming the pet policy before making your reservations. Safe travels to you!
I had the same experience and was really disappointed. I think I will also go to another hotel. I have 37,000 points at La Quinta, but I will now look for a new hotel.
We just booked for the La Quinta at Terrell, TX and they will not charge for our dog. Yay!
That’s great! Thanks so much for letting us know, and waggin’ trails!
We booked a road trip to St. Augustine and will be staying at a Quality Inn (part of Wyndam. I believe many hotel chains now are part of Wyndam.) I checked before booking and it will be $15 per night and not per dog for three nights.
Hi Julie! Thanks so much for letting us know. That seems like a very reasonable pet fee, and I hope you all have a great time in St. Augustine! Waggin’ trails!