Skip the pet-sitter — jetting off doesn’t have to mean leaving your best friend behind. Today, some of the best luxury hotels cater to cats and dogs with the same top-notch service they roll out for two-legged guests. Offering perks from personalized meals to massages, here’s our list (in no particular order) of 10 top hotels for pets:
1. The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch. Dogs checking in to this Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star hotel in Avon, Colo. are greeted by Bachelor, a Saint Bernard that’s one of the hotel’s two resident pups — look out for Miner the English Cream golden retriever, too. Pets get a goodie bag full of treats, toys and supplies and can order all-natural food from room service. To treat your pooch, book a Pampered Pup in-room massage, courtesy of the Four-Star Bachelor Gulch Spa, or just bring him along on a guided hike — offered twice daily. Traveling with Fido means you’ll be charged a $125 fee for the first three nights of your stay — and $25 for every night after that — but $25 goes to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
2. The Peninsula Beverly Hills. Posh Beverly Hills knows how to treat its furry guests — this is the land of pooches in purses, after all. This Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star hotel provides animals with personalized towels, an ultra-suede dog bed and a special menu — order a “Bow Wow beef burger,” or “Spot’s New York Strip,” to go along with a “Tail Shakin’ not Stirred” martini, made with low-sodium beef bouillon. Dog-walking services are available, of course — hotel pages will take your pet around the block for a bit of exercise. Pets are also known to keep the concierge staff company behind the desk when owners are out for the day. The price to bring your pet along? $35 a day.
3. The Point. This Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star hotel in New York’s Adirondacks sits on a 10-acre peninsula on Upper Saranac Lake where your pet can roam around leash-free — and even take a dip in the lake. Be sure to find Buddy, the general manager’s golden retriever who serves as The Point’s dog-in-residence and a playmate for visiting pets. When the bell rings for dinner, chef Mark Levy will prepare your pet fresh chicken and rice or whip up another meal that meets any dietary restrictions. The resort doesn’t charge extra to have your pet stay in the rustic-gone-glamorous rooms.
4. Mandarin Oriental, Miami. Amenities for pets that stay here include a bed — complete with turndown service — treats, food bowls and a collar tag in the shape of Mandarin Oriental’s signature fan logo. Order up meals from the room service menu — chefs concoct protein-rich dishes free of added sugar, artificial flavors or colors. The Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star hotel’s Doggie Boot Camp gives pets a chance to play with a dog trainer or take in structured training sessions. Bringing a pet to Mandarin Oriental, Miami means paying a deposit of $200 for potential cleanup — $100 will be refunded upon check out if all goes well.
5. Woodlands Inn. A special pet butler takes care of animals at this Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star hotel outside Charleston, S.C. Your pet — all sizes are allowed — will be met with a bone, food bowls and a bed, and if he has a tendency to bark, you’ll be given a soundproof room. The chef creates custom pet meals upon request, and the helpful concierge can arrange for grooming and dog-walking services. Your pet’s vacation comes with a $25 fee.
6. Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago. Pets have all the comforts of home (for no fee) at this Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star hotel. Your room will be outfitted with a plush dog bed, blanket, bottled water and toys — and room service includes biscuits, food from Fromm Four-Star Nutritionals and kitchen-prepared dishes including seared filet nips. A dog park sits just outside the hotel’s front door — go yourself or arrange for a dog walker. If you’re venturing farther, dog-walking maps and trail information are available at the front desk.
7. The Broadmoor. As part of this Colorado Springs resort’s Pitty Pat Pet Club — named for the founder’s dog — pets get customized ID tags and a door hanger that alerts housekeeping when Spot’s inside. A fluffy bed, treats and menu will be delivered to your room, along with a map of designated walking areas — after all, the resort sits on 3,000 acres at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. There’s even a pet boutique at the Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star resort where you can pick up a new collar or leash as a souvenir. You’ll be charged $50 for bringing along your four-legged friend.
8. The Beverly Hills Hotel. Pets are only allowed in the Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star hotel’s bungalows, but once in, they get 90210-style treatment. Your dog will be welcomed with bone-shaped cookies (personalized with his name) from the hotel’s bakery, a bed monogrammed with the hotel’s logo, food bowls and signature pink tennis balls for games of fetch. Those canine luxuries don’t come cheap — you’ll be charged $200 a day to have a maximum of one pet stay with you.
9. Boston Harbor Hotel. This Boston hotel proves spa packages are for the dogs, too — book the Luxe Pups package and Rover will be whisked off to Poochies Spa and Boutique in the city’s South End for a wash, haircut, blow-dry and nail trim before heading back to the hotel with a goodie bag of treats. The Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star hotel provides beds, treats and food bowls for every furry guest, and dog walking is available by request. A fee of $100 will be added to your bill for your pet’s stay.
10. The Little Nell. Even large dogs are welcome at this Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star hotel — there’s no weight limit. At mealtime, order room service prepared by the chef at the hotel’s Four-Star Montagna restaurant — including grilled salmon with scrambled eggs and brown rice. Pets staying here receive personalized ID tags along with essentials such as food bowls, beds and biscuits. Dog walking and pet sitting are available while you’re away. Is your pooch worn out? The Puppy Jet Lag kit can be arranged — it includes a trip to the groomers. When traveling with your pet, expect to pay $125 up front and $25 for each additional night.
Photo courtesy of Dorchester Collection
