Shinola Hotel DetroitBENJAMIN RASMUSSEN
Pet-friendly used to mean a small sign at the front desk and a strategically placed rug. Increasingly, American luxury hotels are treating four-legged travelers as genuine guests: real amenities, real space to roam and, in a growing number of cases, no weight limit standing between a large dog and a five-star stay. Haute Living combed all 50 states, plus Washington, D.C., to find the properties that get this balance right, from a Montana ranch spanning 37,000 acres to a Beacon Hill townhouse hotel where the dog gets Boston Common as a front yard. Whatever state the trip starts in, there’s a hotel here that has already thought through what your dog needs, not just what it will tolerate.
Photo Credit: Shutterstock AI
A note on policies: pet fees, weight limits, and which room types accept animals are among the most frequently updated details in hospitality, and hotels revise them without much notice. Every policy detail below reflects our most recent check, but confirm current fees, weight limits, and pet-friendly room availability directly with the hotel before booking.
Alabama: Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook, Birmingham
Water bowl, toy, food and waste bags on arrival
At the Grand Bohemian, your dog gets more than permission to enter the building. Four-legged guests are welcomed with thoughtful extras including a water bowl, toy, dog food and waste bags, making arrival feel considerably more hospitable for everyone involved. The hotel itself brings a decidedly more glamorous sensibility to Birmingham, with an art-filled design, rooftop scene, pool and Poseidon Spa. And with Mountain Brook’s leafy streets and green spaces nearby, there are plenty of places for a proper stroll after all that pampering.
Alaska: Hotel Captain Cook, Anchorage
Pet beds and food bowls available on request
Alaska is practically begging to be explored with a dog, and Hotel Captain Cook makes Anchorage a comfortable, and appropriately iconic, base for doing exactly that. Designated pet-friendly accommodations can be outfitted with pet beds and food bowls on request, meaning your four-legged adventurer gets proper hotel bedding after a day exploring the Last Frontier. The independently owned downtown landmark also puts guests within easy reach of Anchorage’s waterfront trails and outdoor spaces. In a destination where the real five-star amenity is access to nature, bringing your dog along feels less like a perk and more like the entire point.
Arizona: Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North
Up to two pets, roughly 30 pounds each, no pet fee
Desert vacation, but make it canine. Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale welcomes up to two pets around 30 pounds each without an additional pet fee, an unusually civilized policy for an AAA Five Diamond resort. The casita-style accommodations, patios and sprawling desert setting make this infinitely easier than navigating a traditional high-rise hotel with a dog in tow. Meanwhile, dramatic Pinnacle Peak scenery and the surrounding Sonoran Desert provide a spectacular backdrop for early-morning walks before temperatures rise. Your dog gets Arizona adventure; you get pools, spa treatments and impeccable Four Seasons service.
Arkansas: 21c Museum Hotel Bentonville
Up to two pets, 50 pounds each
At 21c Museum Hotel Bentonville, your pet gets to sleep inside a contemporary art museum, which already feels considerably more cultured than the average dog vacation. The hotel welcomes up to two pets weighing 50 pounds each, allowing them to join you at one of Bentonville’s most distinctive stays. Rotating exhibitions and installations fill the property, while the location makes exploring the increasingly impressive art, dining and cultural scene around downtown particularly easy. Your dog may remain unmoved by the contemporary collection, but at least they’ll have excellent taste in hotels.
California: Rosewood Miramar Beach, Montecito
Pets of any size welcome — $250 nonrefundable fee per pet, per visit
If your dog has ever wondered what it feels like to summer in Montecito, Rosewood Miramar Beach has the answer. Four-legged guests can be treated to pet products and amenities, while the resort’s level of personalized service makes arranging additional needs blissfully easy. The hotel welcomes pets of any size, a rarity at this level of luxury and particularly welcome for owners whose companions don’t fit neatly into a designer tote, though a $250 nonrefundable pet fee applies per pet, per visit. Add manicured lawns, ocean air, one of California’s most glamorous beachfront settings and the possibility of morning walks with the Pacific as your backdrop, and this is about as close as a dog gets to living the Montecito fantasy.
Colorado: The Elizabeth Hotel, Fort Collins
Two pets, up to 100 pounds each — $75 pet fee
At The Elizabeth, traveling with a dog feels less like requesting an exception and more like joining a community that actively wants them there. The hotel welcomes up to two pets weighing as much as 100 pounds each for a one-time $75 fee—already a major win for travelers with larger breeds—but its pet program goes well beyond a generous weight limit. The Elizabeth hosts dedicated dog-friendly programming including Yappy Hours, hands-on workshops and dog-training sessions, giving four-legged guests their own social calendar while their humans settle into Fort Collins life.
Location helps enormously, too. The hotel sits in the heart of Old Town Fort Collins, making it easy to head out together and explore one of Colorado’s most walkable downtown districts rather than treating every bathroom break like a logistical exercise. Back inside, the experience is distinctly Elizabeth: every guest room has its own record player, visitors can borrow albums from the hotel’s Vinyl Lending Library, and the property revolves around music with venues including the rooftop Sunset Lounge, live-music spot Magic Rat, and The Emporium restaurant.
It’s that combination that makes The Elizabeth such a strong Colorado pick. The humans get a design-forward Autograph Collection hotel with a genuine music identity; the dog gets a welcoming room, unusually liberal size restrictions, pet-centric happenings and a city made for exploring on foot. Rather than simply allowing pets behind the scenes, The Elizabeth has made them part of the hotel’s personality—which is exactly what a genuinely pet-friendly property should do.
Connecticut: Mayflower Inn & Spa, Auberge Resorts Collection
In-room pet amenities in a pastoral Washington, CT setting
At this idyllic Connecticut country retreat, dogs receive their own version of the Auberge treatment. In-room pet amenities help four-legged guests settle into country-house life immediately, while the pastoral Washington setting supplies exactly what dogs actually want: room to walk, fresh air and plenty to investigate. For their humans, there is THE WELL, beautifully designed accommodations and all the polished escapism of an Auberge resort. It’s the rare getaway where disappearing to the countryside feels equally indulgent for both members of the traveling party.
Delaware: Hotel du Pont, Wilmington
Welcomes up to two dogs
Old-world grandeur needn’t mean leaving the dog at home. Hotel du Pont welcomes up to two dogs, giving pet parents the chance to experience Wilmington’s landmark grande dame without sacrificing their favorite travel companion. The hotel’s ornate architecture, soaring ceilings and unapologetically glamorous interiors make this feel like a proper occasion rather than simply somewhere that happens to accept pets. And because you’re staying downtown, getting outside for walks is refreshingly straightforward. Your dog may not appreciate the Gilded Age detailing, but you certainly will.
Florida: Acqualina Resort & Residences, Sunny Isles Beach
Concierge pet assistance, small pets welcome
At Acqualina, even the dog can have staff. The oceanfront Five Diamond resort’s concierge can assist with pet needs, making it considerably easier to disappear into the spa or settle beside one of the pools without spending the entire afternoon worrying about walkies. Small pets are welcome at this ultra-luxe Sunny Isles retreat, where the Mediterranean-inspired grounds and Atlantic setting deliver full resort fantasy from the moment you arrive. It’s exactly the sort of place where traveling with a dog doesn’t have to mean compromising the human vacation, and really, isn’t that the ultimate pet-friendly luxury?
Georgia: The St. Regis Atlanta
Up to two dogs per room
Buckhead’s grande dame extends its polished hospitality to canine guests, welcoming up to two dogs per room. While the pet program is more discreet than some of the wonderfully over-the-top offerings elsewhere on this list, the real indulgence is being able to bring your dog into one of Atlanta’s most glamorous hotels in the first place. The residential atmosphere, gracious service, pool and legendary St. Regis rituals make the stay feel properly special for humans, while Buckhead provides plenty of leafy territory for walks. Think of it as classic St. Regis living, with a leash by the door.
Up to two small pets, no pet fee
Paradise is considerably better when you don’t have to leave your best friend behind. Four Seasons Maui welcomes up to two small pets without a pet fee, an unusually generous policy for a resort of this caliber. That means your tiny VIP gets the same spectacular Wailea address you do, complete with ocean breezes and lush resort grounds. Humans, meanwhile, have the pools, spa, restaurants and one of Maui’s most coveted stretches of coastline. If you’re going to bring the dog to Hawaii, you may as well do it with Four Seasons service.
Idaho: Shore Lodge, McCall
Designated pet-friendly accommodations on Payette Lake
Dogs get their own invitation to one of Idaho’s great lake escapes at Shore Lodge, where designated pet-friendly accommodations mean the entire family can come along. But the most lavish pet amenity isn’t something waiting inside the room, it’s McCall itself. Payette Lake, mountain scenery, trails and seemingly endless fresh air create the kind of natural playground most dogs would choose over a monogrammed bed anyway. Their humans get the polished resort experience; the dog gets Idaho in all its outdoorsy glory. Everybody comes home happy.
Illinois: The Peninsula Chicago
Plush pet bedding and bowls
This is not merely pet-friendly; this is pet fabulous. The Peninsula has long taken its youngest and furriest guests seriously, with plush pet bedding and bowls among the creature comforts that can make the room feel like their own miniature Michigan Avenue residence. The hotel’s famously intuitive service also means pet-related requests can be handled with the same attention normally reserved for its human VIPs. And with one of Chicago’s grandest addresses, extraordinary dining and that glorious rooftop pool upstairs, owners sacrifice absolutely nothing by bringing their dog. If any hotel understands that the pet may actually be the most important guest in the room, it’s The Peninsula.
Indiana: Bottleworks Hotel, Indianapolis
Pets of any size welcome
Bottleworks makes bringing a pet refreshingly uncomplicated: pets of any size are welcome, so Great Dane parents need not attempt to pass their dog off as particularly large carry-on luggage. The striking hotel occupies a beautifully restored former Coca-Cola bottling plant, with its Art Deco details giving both you and your four-legged plus-one one seriously stylish address. The surrounding Bottleworks District adds restaurants, entertainment and plenty to explore just outside the door. It’s proof that pet-friendly travel can still come with serious design credentials.
Iowa: Surety Hotel, Des Moines
Up to two pets of any size
Surety actually behaves like a hotel that likes dogs rather than one that merely tolerates them. Canine guests can expect treats, dog beds and feeding bowls, while the hotel actively points owners toward a nearby off-leash dog park, an amenity your pet is considerably more likely to appreciate than a 1,000-thread-count sheet. Up to two pets of any size are welcome, making this an especially democratic luxury stay. Add the handsome historic building and downtown location, and Surety gives both halves of the human-dog equation something to get excited about.
Kansas: Ambassador Hotel Wichita
Up to two dogs, no weight limit
Big dog? No problem. Ambassador Hotel Wichita welcomes up to two dogs without a weight limit, a significant perk in a hotel world still strangely convinced every sophisticated traveler owns a 12-pound Maltese. The boutique property brings historic character and polished contemporary design to downtown Wichita, giving owners a genuinely upscale stay rather than forcing them into a less luxurious option simply because Fido weighs 80 pounds. Sometimes the most lavish pet amenity is simply saying yes to the big guy.
Kentucky: 21c Museum Hotel Louisville
Up to two pets
Your dog may not understand contemporary art, but that shouldn’t prevent them from sleeping in a museum. 21c Louisville welcomes up to two pets, making it possible to pair one of the city’s coolest boutique stays with galleries, bourbon country and your four-legged plus-one. The hotel occupies a collection of historic buildings downtown and doubles as a contemporary art museum, so there is something interesting around practically every corner. For pet parents who would rather sacrifice nothing about where they stay, it’s a particularly stylish compromise-free choice.
Louisiana: Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans
Pets under 25 pounds welcome; confirm current fee with hotel
New Orleans is a city best experienced with your favorite partner in crime, even when that partner has four legs. Four Seasons welcomes pets under 25 pounds, putting a genuine luxury address within reach for smaller travel companions. The Mississippi Riverfront location gives the stay a sense of place from the moment you arrive, while the hotel’s restaurants, pool and spa provide plenty of reasons to stay put. Your pup gets a Four Seasons address; you get one of the city’s most polished contemporary hotels. Everyone wins.
Maine: Inn by the Sea, Cape Elizabeth
Long-standing relationship with animal-welfare organizations
Inn by the Sea doesn’t merely welcome dogs, it has made them part of the property’s identity. Canine guests can settle in with thoughtful amenities while Cape Elizabeth supplies the ultimate dog playground: coastal scenery, ocean air and access to the kind of outdoor spaces that make bringing your pet to Maine irresistible in the first place. The resort is also known for its long-standing relationship with animal-welfare organizations, giving its pet-friendly philosophy some genuine substance. This isn’t a luxury hotel that reluctantly carved out a few dog rooms; it’s a place where traveling with your pet feels entirely natural.
Maryland: Four Seasons Hotel Baltimore
One dog, up to 60 pounds
A waterfront Four Seasons stay is considerably more fun when your dog gets to come too. Baltimore’s property welcomes a dog weighing up to 60 pounds, a refreshingly realistic definition of pet, putting Harbor East and its waterfront promenades right outside the door for easy walks. Back inside, humans have the hotel’s celebrated spa, pool, restaurants and harbor views to enjoy. It’s urban pet travel without the usual sense that you’ve compromised your own hotel experience in order to accommodate the dog.
Massachusetts: XV Beacon, Boston
Residential-feeling accommodations near Boston Common
For a dog with Brahmin aspirations, there are few better Boston addresses than XV Beacon. The intimate Beacon Hill hideaway welcomes canine guests into its residential-feeling accommodations, where fireplaces and a quietly glamorous atmosphere make it feel more like an exceptionally chic townhouse than a conventional hotel. Better still, Boston Common and its green space are within easy walking distance. In a dense city, having one of America’s most famous parks practically functioning as your dog’s front yard may be the most useful luxury of all.
Michigan: Shinola Hotel, Detroit
Two dogs, no weight limit
Shinola Hotel doesn’t merely tolerate dogs; it has effectively created a miniature Detroit vacation for them. The downtown hotel welcomes up to two dogs with no weight or breed restrictions for a $125 plus tax pet fee, immediately distinguishing it from luxury properties whose definition of “pet-friendly” stops somewhere around 25 pounds. Suites and penthouses are pet-friendly as well, so bringing the dog doesn’t require downgrading your accommodations.
Then come the extras. Each canine guest is set up with a Shinola Hotel bandana, collar and toy, along with a dog bed and bowls waiting in the room. Dogs also have access to the hotel’s fourth-floor pet terrace, giving owners that coveted urban-hotel amenity: somewhere conveniently on property for their pet to get outside. The hotel even sends guests off with a $10 gift card to Premier Pet Supply, a specialty pet store less than a quarter mile away. It’s a level of specificity that makes clear Shinola actually thought through what traveling with a dog entails rather than simply adding “pets allowed” to its website.
And it gets better. Canine guests receive complimentary access to Barkside, Detroit’s off-leash dog park, bar and coffee shop in West Village, where humans can have a drink or coffee while their dogs socialize and run. Shinola also uses the program to give something back: $25 from every pet fee is donated to Michigan Humane, the state’s oldest and largest nonprofit animal-welfare organization. That turns the otherwise dreaded hotel pet surcharge into something owners can actually feel good about paying.
The human experience is hardly an afterthought. Set on Woodward Avenue in downtown Detroit, Shinola’s rooms feature details including custom-made mattresses, Italian cotton sheets, signature Shinola robes and Bluetooth speakers, while select accommodations add Shinola turntables, deep soaking tubs and private terraces. Yet for pet parents, its greatest luxury may be how seamlessly the dog is folded into that design-driven experience. No breed restrictions. No tiny-dog rule. Proper beds and bowls. A terrace. Toys and accessories. An off-leash club. Even a charitable component. In a category where many luxury hotels do little more than hand over a water bowl and charge $200 for the privilege, Shinola has built one of the more convincing pet programs in the country.
Minnesota: Four Seasons Hotel Minneapolis
Up to two dogs, 35 pounds each, no pet fee
Four Seasons Minneapolis makes luxury pet travel wonderfully painless, welcoming up to two dogs weighing 35 pounds each without an additional pet fee. That’s particularly appealing in a city hotel where owners might otherwise find themselves navigating a maze of restrictions and surcharges. The sleek downtown property brings the full Four Seasons treatment, spa, dining, polished rooms and attentive service, while your dog gets to remain exactly where they prefer to be: with you. Sometimes seamless really is the greatest luxury.
Mississippi: The Roost, Ocean Springs
Only three pet-friendly suites
Only three suites at The Roost accommodate dogs, which makes snagging one feel a little like scoring a particularly coveted reservation. Once secured, you and your pup get an intimate boutique base in charming Ocean Springs, where the walkable streets, galleries and easygoing Gulf Coast atmosphere lend themselves beautifully to exploring together. The hotel itself feels residential and characterful rather than corporate, which is often infinitely easier with a dog. Just book early, those three pet-friendly suites are precious real estate.
Missouri: Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis
Pets up to 40 pounds; confirm current fee with hotel
Four Seasons St. Louis welcomes pets weighing 40 pounds or less, a solidly generous allowance for a downtown luxury hotel even if it stops short of accommodating the largest breeds. The Mississippi River setting, resort-like pool and signature Four Seasons service ensure the humans are hardly roughing it either. It’s a reliable pick for mid-size dogs whose owners still want the full Four Seasons treatment in the middle of the city.
Montana: The Resort at Paws Up, Greenough
Select pet-friendly homes only, not tented camps; $50 per pet, per night
With a name like Paws Up, it would be practically criminal not to welcome dogs, though the policy is more targeted than the resort’s scale might suggest. Dogs are permitted only in select pet-friendly homes, not in the resort’s tented camps, and stays carry a $50-per-pet, per-night charge; dogs are also not permitted to join guests on organized resort activities. Book one of the eligible homes and your dog still gets the run of a genuinely spectacular Montana setting, ten miles of Blackfoot River frontage and 37,000 acres of ranch surrounding the property, even if the ranch itself isn’t an open playground. It’s a more luxurious, more restricted version of Montana wilderness than a neighborhood dog park either way.
Nebraska: Kimpton Cottonwood Hotel, Omaha
Follows Kimpton’s brand-level policy: no fee, no size or breed restrictions
Kimpton remains one of the gold standards for travelers whose baby happens to have fur. Kimpton’s brand-wide policy calls for no pet fees and no size or breed restrictions, removing most of the irritating fine print that typically accompanies hotel stays with animals, though individual properties can carry exceptions worth confirming at booking. Kimpton’s pet-friendly philosophy can also extend to useful touches such as loaner beds, bowls and mats, plus recommendations for nearby pet-friendly spots. Add the Cottonwood’s stylish revival of a historic Omaha landmark, pool and lively social spaces, and neither human nor hound has to settle.
Nevada: Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas
Up to two small pets, no pet fee
Vegas excess need not be limited to humans. Four Seasons Las Vegas welcomes up to two small pets without an additional pet fee, allowing your favorite high roller to enjoy one of the Strip’s most serene luxury enclaves right along with you. Because the hotel is non-gaming, the atmosphere is considerably calmer than the mega-resorts surrounding it, something your dog’s nervous system may appreciate even more than yours. Upstairs, you have Four Seasons service; downstairs, the entire Strip awaits. It’s Vegas with an unusually civilized escape hatch.
New Hampshire: The Wentworth, Jackson
Two dogs, any size
The Wentworth understands that a White Mountains getaway is precisely the sort of vacation a dog should be invited on. Two dogs of any size can stay, opening up Jackson’s mountain air, trails and quintessential New England scenery to four-legged guests without the usual tiny-dog-only restriction. The historic hotel brings enough polish to make the weekend feel special for humans, while nature handles the entertainment for everyone else. Come fall foliage season, your dog’s morning walk is basically a tourism campaign.
New Jersey: The Asbury Hotel, Asbury Park
Dogs welcome in the lobby bar and on the pool deck
The Asbury doesn’t just allow dogs upstairs, it lets them participate in the fun. Dogs are welcome in the lobby bar and on the pool deck, turning a Jersey Shore weekend into an actual shared vacation rather than a series of apologies as you repeatedly leave your pet in the room. Even sweeter, a portion of every pet fee is donated to a local animal shelter. Add Asbury Park’s boardwalk, beach-town energy and walkability, and this is one of those rare hotels where bringing the dog genuinely enhances the trip.
New Mexico: Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi, Santa Fe
Two pets, any size
Santa Fe is made for wandering, and Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi lets your pet come home afterward to one of the city’s most atmospheric luxury addresses. Two pets of any size are welcome, a notably generous policy for such an intimate hotel and another victory for those traveling with larger breeds. Steps from the Plaza, the adobe-style property immerses guests in Southwestern character while keeping the city’s galleries, shops and streets immediately accessible. Culture for you; excellent sniffing opportunities for them.
New York: The Mark, New York City
Dog beds, signature bowls, culinary offerings for canine guests
The Mark understands that on the Upper East Side, even dogs have standards. The hotel has created a genuine lifestyle around its four-legged clientele, with dog beds, signature bowls and other stylish pet accoutrements available to make the room feel appropriately residential. Then there are the wonderfully indulgent extras that have helped make The Mark synonymous with pampered pets, including its famously chic dog accessories and special culinary offerings for canine guests. And, of course, Central Park is just steps away. When your morning dog walk begins from East 77th and Madison, you’ve essentially won pet travel.
North Carolina: The Umstead Hotel and Spa, Cary
Pet amenities and a pet fee; confirm current details with hotel
The Umstead treats its canine guests as more than an afterthought, with pet amenities and a program built around making a stay genuinely comfortable, though the specifics of what’s currently offered are best confirmed directly with the hotel before booking. The wooded resort setting, lake and walking paths turn everyday walks into something considerably prettier regardless. Meanwhile, humans get one of North Carolina’s most celebrated luxury hotels, complete with serious spa credentials and polished dining.
North Dakota: Jasper Hotel, Fargo
Two dogs, any size
Jasper Hotel takes an admirably democratic approach to canine luxury: two dogs are welcome regardless of size. That means even your biggest travel companion can check into one of downtown Fargo’s most polished hotels without triggering the dreaded weight-limit conversation. The contemporary property sits right in the heart of the city, making walks and exploration easy from the front door. For North Dakota, where true five-star options are limited, this is exactly the kind of elevated, genuinely pet-welcoming stay we’re looking for.
Ohio: Hotel LeVeque, Columbus
Dogs up to 80 pounds
Hotel LeVeque’s celestial Art Deco glamour extends to four-legged travelers weighing up to 80 pounds. The generous size allowance is the real star here, giving owners of substantial dogs access to one of Columbus’s most distinctive boutique hotels without compromising on style. Located inside the landmark LeVeque Tower downtown, the hotel has a glamorous sense of place that makes even a quick city stop feel like an occasion. Your dog doesn’t care about the Art Deco details, obviously, but you shouldn’t have to give them up just because they’re coming.
Oklahoma: Ambassador Hotel Oklahoma City
Two dogs welcome
At the Ambassador, two dogs can join you for an upscale Oklahoma City escape, meaning there is no need to choose between boutique-hotel indulgence and bringing the family member most excited about the road trip. The historic building’s intimate scale and residential atmosphere make it particularly appealing for pet travel, avoiding some of the logistical chaos of a sprawling convention hotel. Humans get rooftop drinks and polished accommodations; the dogs get to remain part of the party. Fair trade.
Oregon: Kimpton Hotel Vintage Portland
Follows Kimpton’s brand-level policy: no fee, no size or breed restrictions
This may be one of the most refreshingly liberal pet policies in luxury hospitality, at least at the brand level. Kimpton’s company-wide policy welcomes pets without a fee or the usual size and breed restrictions, and Hotel Vintage’s pet program can provide useful extras including beds, bowls, mats and recommendations for pet-friendly places around town, though it’s worth confirming the policy hasn’t been modified at the property level. Portland itself practically conspires to make traveling with an animal easy, with its parks, walkability and famously dog-loving culture.
Pennsylvania: The Rittenhouse, Philadelphia
One dog, any size
One dog of any size can check into The Rittenhouse, giving larger breeds access to one of Philadelphia’s most elegant addresses. But the real pet luxury here is geography: Rittenhouse Square is immediately outside, essentially providing your dog with one of the city’s prettiest green spaces as a temporary front yard. Inside, their human gets the spa, sophisticated dining and gracious old-school service that have long made this a Philadelphia favorite. It’s an urban setup that works unusually well for both species.
Rhode Island: Ocean House, Watch Hill
Bedding, bowls, treats and toys, plus animal-welfare partnerships
Ocean House’s pet program is every bit as polished as the hotel itself. Canine guests can be welcomed with thoughtful comforts such as bedding, bowls, treats and toys, while additional assistance can make walks and pet care easier to arrange during the stay. Then there is Watch Hill itself, with the Atlantic Ocean and spectacular coastal surroundings transforming even the most mundane dog walk into something cinematic. The fact that the hotel also supports local animal-welfare efforts makes all that pampering feel particularly good.
South Carolina: Montage Palmetto Bluff, Bluffton
Up to two pets; $150 nonrefundable fee per room; not all residential homes accept pets
At Montage Palmetto Bluff, dogs get their own taste of Lowcountry luxury, up to two pets per room, for a $150 nonrefundable fee. Not all of the resort’s residential homes accept pets, so confirm pet-friendly availability when booking. The true indulgence is the resort’s extraordinary 20,000-acre setting: miles of trails, waterways, maritime forest and those magnificent moss-draped live oaks make every outing feel like an adventure. Meanwhile, owners have Montage service, excellent dining, spa treatments and all the sporting pursuits they can handle.
South Dakota: Hotel Alex Johnson, Rapid City
Two dogs, any size
Hotel Alex Johnson is proof that historic hotels and big dogs can coexist beautifully. Two dogs of any size are welcome, making this landmark downtown property a smart launchpad for travelers exploring the Black Hills with their four-legged road-trip companion in tow. The hotel’s historic character gives humans something more memorable than a generic overnight stop, while its Rapid City location puts some of South Dakota’s greatest outdoor attractions within striking distance. If the dog is joining the road trip anyway, this is where everyone should sleep.
Tennessee: The Joseph, Nashville
Up to two dogs
The Joseph brings its art-driven version of Nashville luxury to canine guests as well, welcoming up to two dogs. That means you can enjoy the hotel’s contemporary art collection, sophisticated design, rooftop pool and Italian-influenced dining without banishing your best friend to a boarding facility. Downtown Nashville is outside the door when you want the action, while the hotel provides a far more polished retreat from it. For a dog whose owner prefers culture and cocktails to cowboy clichés, it’s the right Nashville address.
Texas: Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek, Dallas
Pets accepted; $185 nonrefundable fee per pet, per visit
If any Dallas hotel understands pampering, it’s the Mansion. Rosewood accepts pets for a $185 nonrefundable fee per pet, per visit, and the property’s famously personalized service makes traveling with them feel considerably more seamless. The residential setting around Turtle Creek is particularly appealing for walks, giving four-legged guests some breathing room despite the urban location. Back inside, owners get one of Texas’s legendary luxury hotels and the kind of service that has been spoiling Dallas VIPs for decades. Confirm current size restrictions directly with the hotel when booking.
Utah: Montage Deer Valley, Park City
Two dogs at 8,300 feet
At Montage Deer Valley, your dog gets to vacation at 8,300 feet in one of America’s most glamorous mountain resorts. Two dogs can join you, placing them amid spectacular alpine scenery where a routine morning walk suddenly comes with mountain views. The humans, meanwhile, get ski-in/ski-out access in season, an enormous spa, serious dining and Montage’s polished service. Après-ski, or après-hike, is considerably better when your best friend is waiting upstairs.
Honorable mention: Kimpton Hotel Monaco Salt Lake City
Follows Kimpton’s brand-level policy: no fee, no restrictive size rules
For travelers who want city rather than slopes, Kimpton Hotel Monaco brings the brand’s famously permissive pet philosophy to downtown Salt Lake City. Kimpton’s brand-level policy allows pets to stay without an additional fee or the usual restrictive size rules, and the broader program can include useful touches such as loaner beds, bowls and mats, though property-specific exceptions are always worth a quick call to confirm. The downtown location makes getting out and exploring easy, and the hotel’s playful boutique personality ensures owners aren’t sacrificing style.
Vermont: Woodstock Inn & Resort
Two pets, combined 100 pounds
A Vermont country escape is exactly the sort of trip dogs dream about, and Woodstock Inn welcomes up to two with a combined weight of 100 pounds. The real luxury here isn’t a monogrammed chew toy but the setting: one of New England’s prettiest villages surrounded by glorious Vermont countryside. Long walks, mountain air and all that green space make this a natural choice for four-legged travelers. Their humans get the historic inn, spa, farm-to-table sensibility and quintessential New England charm. Consider it pastoral pampering for everyone.
Photo Credit: Matt Dandy
Virginia: Salamander Middleburg
No breed or size restrictions, 340-acre setting
Salamander’s horse-country setting may get most of the attention, but dogs fit into the resort lifestyle beautifully too. With no breed or size restrictions, the property is unusually welcoming to larger canine guests, while select accommodations offer easier access to the outdoors. The 340-acre setting gives you gorgeous Virginia countryside practically from the doorstep, and humans can fill their days with spa treatments, equestrian pursuits and excellent dining. It’s the rare luxury resort where arriving with a Great Dane doesn’t immediately turn into a negotiation.
Washington: Four Seasons Hotel Seattle
Small pets welcome downtown
Four Seasons Seattle welcomes small pets into its sleek downtown digs, putting the waterfront and some of the city’s best walking territory practically at their paws. The pet program may be understated, but the luxury lies in not having to trade down from one of Seattle’s premier hotels simply because you’re traveling with a dog. Humans still get Elliott Bay views, an infinity pool, spa and Four Seasons service; the dog gets to come along for the ride. Everybody seems to have understood the assignment.
West Virginia: The Greenbrier, White Sulphur Springs
Designated pet cottages
The Greenbrier keeps its pet privileges exclusive: dogs are welcomed in designated cottages rather than throughout the main hotel. But in practice, that may be considerably more luxurious for the dog, giving them a more residential setup and easier access to the outdoors across this enormous historic resort. With thousands of acres surrounding you, there is certainly no shortage of space to explore. Humans still have access to the Greenbrier’s legendary array of activities, dining and spa experiences, while the dog gets something even better, a cottage in the country.
Wisconsin: The Pfister Hotel, Milwaukee
Dogs up to 75 pounds
Milwaukee’s grand historic hotel welcomes dogs weighing up to 75 pounds, allowing larger companions to experience a property better known for chandeliers, Victorian art and old-school glamour than dog bowls. That’s precisely what makes it appealing: bringing your pet doesn’t mean downgrading to somewhere devoid of character. The downtown location also makes it relatively simple to head outside and explore together. Your dog may be indifferent to the Pfister’s celebrated art collection, but at least one of you will appreciate it.
Wyoming: Four Seasons Resort and Residences Jackson Hole
Two dogs, up to 70 pounds each, no pet fee
Jackson Hole may be the ultimate dog destination, and Four Seasons makes it particularly painless: two dogs weighing up to 70 pounds each can stay without a pet fee. That means genuinely substantial dogs can join their humans at Wyoming’s only AAA Five Diamond hotel rather than being relegated to less luxurious digs. And then there is the setting, the Tetons, mountain air and outdoor adventure surrounding you at every turn. Humans get the spa, pools, slopes and Four Seasons service; the dogs get Wyoming. It’s difficult to decide who got the better deal.
Washington, D.C.: Rosewood Washington, D.C.
Dogs under 50 pounds
A Georgetown address is a very good start for a sophisticated city dog. Rosewood welcomes dogs under 50 pounds, putting the neighborhood’s cobblestone streets, leafy residential blocks and waterfront immediately outside for walks. The intimate scale of the hotel also gives the experience more of a private-residence feel than a massive urban property, something that can make traveling with an animal considerably easier. Add Rosewood’s highly personalized approach to service and one of D.C.’s most coveted neighborhoods, and your dog is essentially spending the weekend as a Georgetown resident.
Photo Credit: Masarik/Shutterstock.com
For more state-by-state and destination guides, see Haute Living’s Luxury Travel — Hotels, Resorts & Destinations section.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best pet-friendly luxury hotel in the United States?
It depends on the trip and the dog’s size: The Resort at Paws Up in Montana offers the most space to roam, The Mark in New York City the most polished urban pet program, and The Elizabeth Hotel in Colorado one of the most generous weight allowances.
Do Four Seasons hotels charge a pet fee?
It varies by property. Some Four Seasons hotels on this list waive the additional pet fee while others do not, and weight limits differ significantly by location, so confirm current fees and limits directly with the specific hotel before booking.
Which hotel has the most land for dogs to explore?
The Resort at Paws Up in Montana sits on 37,000 acres of working ranch land, the most expansive setting of any hotel on this list.
Which luxury hotel chain is generally the most pet-friendly?
Kimpton has one of the most consistently permissive pet policies in the industry, typically waiving fees and size restrictions across its properties, including the Cottonwood in Omaha, Hotel Vintage in Portland and Hotel Monaco in Salt Lake City.