Hotels That Give The Words Pet-Friendly a Bad Name

For dog owners, the phrase "pet-friendly" should mean a welcoming environment where they and their dogs can relax and enjoy their stay. But in reality, the hotel industry misuses the term as a marketing gimmick —allowing pets in theory while offering little to no authentic hospitality in practice.

Too often, "pet-friendly" means hefty cleaning fees, strict size restrictions, limited room availability, and a long list of rules that make dog owners feel like second-class guests. Instead of a warm welcome, we find ourselves navigating hidden restrictions, extortionate fees, and a sense that our dogs are barely tolerated.

This growing disconnect has left dog owners frustrated, sceptical, and distrustful of hotels that claim to be pet-friendly. The term has lost any meaning it might once have had because it has been so overused by marketers in the hotel industry. It's why I encourage hotels to use 'dog-friendly', a term dog owners can relate to.

I understand the frustration. I once became so angry at hotels pretending to be pet-friendly that I founded a startup dedicated to ranking and certifying them so that dog owners know where to stay and where to avoid. This article is dedicated to the ones who give the words pet-friendly such a bad name that dog owners no longer trust them when they hear them come out of a hotel's mouth.

Mandarin Oriental New York: Pet-Friendly In Name Only

The Mandarin Oriental New York is a good example of a hotel that falsely advertises itself as pet-friendly while implementing policies that make a stay with a dog more of a burden than a pleasure. Dogs are not allowed in the bar, restaurant, or any public areas, and they cannot be left alone in the room, making it impossible for dog owners to enjoy the hotels facilities while staying here.

The Mandarin Oriental New York’s restrictive policies, excessive fees, and lack of amenities mean it gets my F rank. They have a weight limit of 25 pounds (11kg) that excludes my Labrador, there is a lack of essential amenities like dog beds and food/water bowls, and they charge an extortionate $250 pet fee per stay.

But this failure isn't just on them. Forbes Travel Guide and AAA both awarded this hotel their highest distinctions without ever checking how it treats guests with dogs. Brands of this stature should know that in hospitality, experience is everything. If a hotel claims to be pet-friendly but fails to deliver, it doesn't just disappoint guests; it calls into question the credibility of every certification body that lets their deceptive use of the words pet-friendly pass unchecked.

Savoy Signature Palace: Absurd Restrictions

Another perfect example of a fake pet-friendly hotel is the Savoy Signature Palace which contradicts its claim to be pet friendly by requiring guests to check in without their dogs, as they are inexplicably banned from the reception area!

If that wasn’t ridiculous enough, the hotel told me that dogs must be carried at all times and can only walk on the ground outside the hotel. Their restrictions don’t stop there; dogs are not allowed in the bar or restaurant, and dogs cannot be left alone in the room, making it impossible for owners to enjoy any hotel amenities.

Despite these absurd limitations, the hotel has the audacity to claim, "We are pet friendly," and promises that your dog will be "greeted with the best treatment." 

This is nothing short of gaslighting, proof that pet-friendly is a lie.

Chelsea Hotel Toronto: Ridiculous Financial Penalties

The Chelsea Hotel Toronto claims to be pet-friendly, but its policies tell a different story. Their pet policy includes a ridiculous clause that expects guests to "compensate the hotel for the loss of revenue" if their dog "causes disturbance affecting the comfort of other guests". Dogs are not allowed in the bar, restaurant, terrace, or public areas, they fail to provide basic amenities like dog beds or food and water bowls. The Chelsea Hotel offers no services like dog-walking or basic amenities yet charges a $50-$100 canine tax, despite offering nothing in return.

Their lack of inclusivity, absence of pet amenities, and punitive policies make it a terrible choice for dog owners, we ranked them a failing F rank. They also have a weight limit of 50 pounds (22.7kg) that excludes my small female Labrador, which tells you everything you need to know about how pet-friendly this hotel really is.

Palmer House Hilton: Pet-Hostile Policies & Punitive Fines

The Palmer House Hilton in Chicago takes hostility to dog owners to another level. This was the first hotel we have encountered that imposes a $200 fine if their terms are violated in any way. Dogs are not allowed in the bar, restaurant, or even the onsite Starbucks, they cannot be left unattended in rooms, complicating plans for dog owners. They fail to provide basic amenities like dog beds, bowls, or food, but charge a $50 canine tax. Palmer House Hilton’s punitive policies, lack of amenities, and excessive fees make it one of the worst choices for dog owners visiting Chicago, we ranked them an F because of it.

Sugar Beach: An Unwelcoming Experience

The Sugar Beach Hotel brings the term "pet-friendly" into disrepute, dogs are not allowed in any common areas, including the bar, restaurant, or lounge, and cannot be left unattended in rooms, making it difficult for owners to enjoy the resort.

They fail to provide basic amenities like dog beds, food/water bowls, or food, offer no services, have a weight limit of 40 pounds (18kg) that excludes my labrador and charge you an extortionate canine tax of $150 per stay while offering nothing in return. Sugar Beach’s punitive policies, lack of amenities, high fees, and complex medical requirements, make its claim to be pet-friendly look like a lie.

Principe Forte dei Marmi: A Poor Excuse for Pet-Friendliness

The Principe Forte dei Marmi charges a canine tax of €50 per night while failing to provide basic amenities like beds, bowls, food, or treats. They also have an absurd weight limit of just 11 pounds (5 kilos), so only tiny dog breeds are welcome. Dogs are not allowed in the bar, restaurant, or public areas, which severely limits their inclusivity, and must never be left alone in rooms, complicating plans for owners who wish to enjoy the hotel or need to step out for a while without their dog.

The blatant disregard of the Principe Forte dei Marmi for canine inclusivity, and their total lack of amenities, services, and facilties make this a hotel to avoid.

If you’re looking for a truly dog-friendly hotel, you can’t rely on Forbes, AAA, Booking, or Expedia, they don’t care about dog owners enough to check if the hotels claiming to be pet-friendly really are, and dog owners know it.

TripAdvisor gives out pet-friendly hotel awards to some of the worst dog-friendly hotels I have ever seen, and encourages dog owners to go to them because nobody at TripAdvisor bothered to check if the hotels really were pet-friendly.

Hotels that impose extortionate fees, restrictive policies, and who fail to provide basic amenities while calling themselves pet-friendly aren’t just frustrating dog owners; they’re actively undermining trust in the hotel industry. 

The certification bodies and booking platforms promote these hotels without ever verifying their claims. If a hotel can call itself pet-friendly while banning dogs from public areas, refusing to provide basic essentials, and charging an outrageous “canine tax” for nothing, then what does pet-friendly even mean anymore?

Dog owners deserve better than misleading labels and broken promises.