🐾 The Pet Policy Sniff & Decode translator.
Decoding pet policies from a list of hotels around the World where buzzwords like ‘pet-friendly’ or ‘dog friendly’ so often means ‘dogs tolerated, joy strictly forbidden’. Because nothing says ‘dogs welcome’ like a €150 “cleaning fee” for paw prints.
They say they’re dog-friendly.
They smile on the booking page, show stock photos of golden retrievers frolicking on beaches, and slap a paw-print icon on their websites.
But behind the scenes? Many so-called “dog-friendly” hotels operate with fine print and policies that make your stay feel more like a covert operation than a relaxed vacation with your best friend.
Today, Goob Hotels exposing the truth.
Me & my dog, a Corgi named Ginja, run Goob Hotels, a directory that doesn’t just take “dog-friendly” at face value. We dig into the pet policies policies,
call the front desks verify with real dog owners, and see through the fluff. It’s time to hold the Hotel industry accountable.
Welcome to The Dog-Friendly Hotels Wall of Shame — A continuously updated list of hotels around the world that claim to welcome dogs, but their pet policies tell a very different story.
🚫 Common Red Flags (If you’re a dog owner and travel often with your doggo you’ve probably Encountered Them)
Before I get into the list, here are some shady practices I keep seeing:
"Dogs allowed… but not in public areas" – This usually includes the lobby, the restaurant, the bar, swimming pool area or anywhere with actual hoomans.
100€ + non-refundable pet fees – half the room rate (or even more) buys your dog the illusion of being tolerated.
Weight limits under 20 Kgs – As if your 34kg Golden Retriever is a liability, but a chihuahua yapping through the night isn’t.
“One pet per room” policies – Which in reality actually means “Sorry if you have two well-behaved and trained dogs. You’re not welcome.”
Strict crate requirements – Because naturally, your dog will want to vacation in a cage.
Untrained staff who treat dogs like biohazards – “Is that a service animal?” is the new “Do you belong here?”
The Dog-Friendly Wall of Shame: Hotels That Get It Wrong
Here’s our list of hotels (and chains) that claim to be dog-friendly but make it unnecessarily difficult for dog owners. This list is based on real-world reviews, policy deep-dives, and firsthand accounts.
North America
Grand Hyatt New York (New York, USA) 🇺🇸 Grand Hyatt New York charges your dog rent (That’s $75 per night, that’s correct sir). And the longer you stay, the more they pretend your dog is a biohazard ( Stays of six to 30 nights include an additional $150 deep-cleaning fee). Dog over 75 pounds (34kg)? Sorry, Your Great Dane might be a gentle giant, but we only accept dogs small enough to fit inside our comfort zone.
Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills (California, USA) 🇺🇸 Your pet is technically allowed, provided it’s small, silent, and financially lucrative. Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills will charge your dog like it’s renting its own suite (that’s a $200 flat rate + $75 nightly rate, sir).
Hotel Nikko San Francisco (California, USA) 🇺🇸 – $65 fee per day per pet, $150 one-time “cleaning deposit” upon check-in.Only allows dogs 50 pounds and under.
Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort (Bonita Springs, Florida) 🇺🇸 – Allows one dog up to 50 pounds (or two dogs with a combined weight of 75 pounds), with a $175 pet fee per stay for up to six nights, plus a $175 deep-cleaning fee for stays of a week or longer.
Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve (Dorado, Puerto Rico) 🇵🇷 – Allows dogs up to 30 pounds and charges a $250 non-refundable “cleaning fee” per stay. Only 1 dog per room.
Fairmont El San Juan Hotel (Carolina, Puerto Rico) 🇵🇷 – Charges a one-time $150 “cleaning fee” per stay.Dogs are restricted from public areas of the hotel.
Barnsley Resort (Adairsville, Georgia) 🇺🇸 – Charges a one-time non-refundable pet fee of $195 per stay (or $295 for multi-bedroom cottages). Dogs aren’t welcome in the pool area and indoor restaurants.
Residence Inn by Marriott Montreal Airport (Montreal, Canada) 🇨🇦 – Charges a CAD 150 “cleaning fee” per stay plus any damages, regardless of length.
The Ritz-Carlton (California,USA) 🇺🇸 – Charges a $200 non-refundable “cleaning fee”. Allows only dogs 35 pounds and under.
Equinox Hotel (New York, USA) 🇺🇸 – Charges a non-refundable $250 “cleaning fee” pet pet.
Europe
Nimb Hotel(Copenhagen, Denmark) 🇩🇰 – Welcomes only dogs up to 20 kg with a pet fee of DKK 1.100 per stay.
Hotel Danieli (Venice, Italy) 🇮🇹 – Only welcomes small dogs with a limit of one dog per room and a maximum weight of 8 kg, but a cleaning fee of €350 per stay applies.
JW Marriott Hotel(Berlin, Germany) 🇩🇪 – Allows only 1 dog per room. Pet fee is 100€ per stay, plus a pet fee of €18 per night.
AlmaLusa Comporta (Comporta, Portugal) 🇵🇹 – Allows dogs over 1 year old and up to 15 kg in Garden Suites, with a pet fee of €30 per day, per dog. A €100 deposit (refundable at the end of the stay if no damages occur)is required upon check-in. Dogs are not allowed in common areas such as the pool, wellness floor, rooftop bar, café and dining areas.
Rosewood Villa Magna (Madrid, Spain) 🇪🇸 – Allows small and medium-sized dogs and cats up to 15 kg with a one-time pet fee of €100. Pets on a leash are welcome throughout the hotel, except at the Sense spa. You must sign a a pet policy consent form when you check-in.
Catalonia El Retiro (Madrid, Spain) 🇪🇸 – Allows one dog or cat under 20 kg per room, with a €22 pet fee per night plus a €200 deposit.Because nothing signals “we love dogs and trust you and your dog” so much than charging you a €200 deposit.
Catalonia Porto (Porto, Portugal) 🇵🇹 – Allows one dog or cat under 20 kg per room, with a €25 night pet fee plus a €200 deposit.
azuLine Hotel Mediterráneo (Ibiza, Spain) 🇪🇸 – Accepts dogs and cats up to 12 kg, charging a daily fee of €10. A €150 deposit is required, refundable if no damages are reported. Pets are not allowed in the restaurant, can’t be left alone in the room and must be leashed in public areas.
Meliá Lisboa Aeroporto (Lisbon, Portugal)🇵🇹 – Only allows dogs up to 20kg. Pef fee is 35€ per night. A deposit of €100 may be applied at check-in.
Fitzwilliam Hotel (Belfast, Northern Ireland)🇬🇧 – Welcomes small dogs for £40 per night, with an additional £100 pre-authorisation on check-in. Dogs are not allowed in the Bar or the Restaurant
Australia & Asia
The Langham (Melbourne, Australia) 🇦🇺 – Charges a pet fee of AUD $150 per night for small to medium-sized dogs and cats under 20kg. Pets are not allowed in Melba Restaurant, Executive Lounge, Aria Bar & Lounge, Swimming Pool & Gym Area, Chuan Spa including pool deck, Langham Gift Store and Function facilities.
Four Seasons Hotel Sydney (Sydney, Australia) 🇦🇺 – Allows one dog up to 11.5 kg with a pet service fee of AUD $150 per stay.
Mandarin Oriental Tokyo (Tokyo, Japan) 🇯🇵 – Advanced booking is required. Pet fee is 12,650 yen per night.
DoubleTree by Hilton Sukhumvit Bangkok (Bangkok, Thailand) 🇹🇭 – Welcomes only small dogs up to 5kg. And charges a one-time pet fee of THB 1,500 for additional cleaning.
The Quartier Hotel Phrom Phong / Thonglor (Bangkok, Thailand)🇹🇭 – Welcomes two pets up to 20 kg for a pet fee of THB 500 per pet, per stay, plus a refundable deposit of THB 1,000 per night.
Hyatt Hyderabad Gachibowli (Gachibowli, India) 🇮🇳 – Charges an additional fee of INR 2,950 per pet, per night, along with a refundable deposit of INR 2,950 per night. Deluxe Balcony Rooms and Suites are pet-friendly.
Four Seasons Hotel Seoul (Seoul, South Korea) 🇰🇷 – Welcomes one pet up to 10 kg for an additional pet fee of KRW 250,000 per stay. You must sign a consent form when you check-in. Pet carts and carrying cases must be used outside of guest rooms.
The Central Park Hotel Songdo (Incheon, South Korea) 🇰🇷 – Allows dogs under 10 kg in designated rooms for an additional fee of KRW 55,000 per pet, per night, plus a refundable deposit of KRW 200,000 per night. Only Deluxe Double and Deluxe Family Twin rooms are pet friendly.
South America & Africa
Copacabana Palace (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) 🇧🇷 – Only allows dogs up to 5kg. For a fee of R$750.00 (approximately 120€ per day + taxes) they say they are delighted to accept pets. Pets must be carried in social areas. And they’re not allowed in the pool and restaurant areas.
Duhau- Park Hyatt (Buenos Aires, Argentina) 🇦🇷 – Charges a pet fee of $100 plus taxes if you stay up to five nights. For stays of 7-30 nights they charge an extra $200 “cleaning fee”.
The Oyster Box (Durban, South Africa) 🇿🇦 – CHarges a pet fee of ZAR 1000 per night, plus a refundable deposit of ZAR 1000 per night.
Live Aqua Punta Cana (Punta Cana, Mexico) 🇲🇽 – Charges a pet fee of $2,000.00 MXN (approximately 87€) plus taxes per night. Only allows dogs weighing up to 20 kg (44lb).
International Chains (Repeat Offenders)
Hilton Hotels – Many properties list as dog-friendly but impose 75–125 lb limits, and high fees.
Marriott Hotels – Inconsistent policies, often claim to be pet-friendly but leave it to hotel discretion.
Hyatt Hotels – Often only allow dogs under 25 lbs, and require crate documentation.
Fairmont Hotels – Advertise “dog-friendly luxury,” but ban dogs from spa, pools, and patios.
Ritz-Carlton Hotels – Known for high fees and severe restrictions despite dog-friendly branding.
W Hotels – Big pet branding but consistently restrict dogs to rooms only.
Kimpton Hotels – Once progressive, but several locations now have hidden fees and size limits.
InterContinental Hotels – Frequent offenders for vague or outdated policies.
JW Marriott – Luxury label, but several properties have quietly added "no pets" clauses.
Westin Hotels – Vary widely. Some are pet-friendly, others charge $200+ and ban dogs from all social areas.
🔍 What Real Dog-Friendly Hotels Look Like
No or low pet fees
Clear and simple policies
Dogs welcome in common areas (with leashes)
Staff that offer water bowls, treats, and even dog beds
Outdoor access and nearby parks promoted
No arbitrary weight limits