Top 5 Pet-Friendly Budget Hotel Chains

By Petside Team | May 19, 2009 11:07 AM

Finding a snug hotel room is easy -- except when Barkley and Mr. Meow are your companions. Not every motel or hotel allows pets, and some require deposits and extra fees, testing the limits of your credit card.

Most chain properties are franchises, each property owned by a different management company. These separate owners set the policies for their hotels. Don't worry, though. You can find a place to bed down with your pets using two lists, a few hints and a phone.

The Top 5 Pet-Friendly Budget Hotel Chains

1. Motel 6 facilities, all 900 of them, leave the light on for you and your one pet per room. Motel 6 was the first national pet-friendly chain, and has been welcoming pets since 1962. No extra fees or deposits are required. Click here for their pet policy.

2. La Quinta Inns & Suites allow pets at 99 percent of their 700+ properties, according to Teresa Ferguson, director of Communications and Public Relations. "People who travel with their pets generally have very well-behaved and well-groomed animals," she says. Accordingly, LaQuinta does not require deposits, fees or up charges on rooms with pets. (800-531-5900)

3. Red Roof Inn welcome pets at over 340 locations in 36 states. No additional charges. Click here for Red Roof's pet policy.

4. Best Western is the world's largest hotel chain and has over 1900 pet-friendly locations, 1000 of which are in the U.S. & Canada. With so many locations, it's a good bet there's one where you and your pet are traveling.

5. Candlewood Suites- Pets less than 80lbs are always welcome at this chain. Candlewood may feel more like home for your pet as larger accommodations for extended stays include a full kitchen and seating area. There is a fee for pets and vaccination records must be available. Click here for guidelines.

Selected Other Chains Accepting Pets

Families staying in one area for several days sometimes prefer residential hotels with kitchens and living rooms in addition to bedrooms. Suite hotels (and most moderately-priced hotels) usually charge cleaning fees of $100 or more. Hotels say they perform a more thorough cleaning to remove pet hair and dander, and spruce up any nose prints doggie dearest left on the walls. These fees may be worth the cost if you are staying for several days. Speak with the manager directly so you are clear on the finances.

Honorable Mentions (Total Number of pet-friendly properties)

- Econo-lodge Hotels (380)
- Days Inn Hotels (most locations pet-friendly)
- Comfort Inn (Over 550)
- Holiday Inn (450)
- Americas Best Value Inn (400)
- Clarion Inn and Suites (60)
- Comfort Suites (85)
- The Intercontinental Hotels include InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express (some pets welcome), Candlewood Suites and Staybridge Suites. Prices vary between these brands. (1,600)
- Quality Inn (300)
- Rodeway Inns (80)
- Travel Lodge (300)

Pet Travel Resources

- Petside.com Travel Center

- Petswelcome.com offers a fabulous techno-service that allows you to download pet-friendly hotels into your GPS so you can find the pet-friendly lodgings along your route as you drive. Hotel names, addresses, numbers and pet policies are included. This site also offers a route-based search capability - one that will show all the pet-friendly lodgings between your departure point and destination.

- Dogfriendly.com is a complete source of information about pet travel.

- Pettravel.com maintains a directory of pet-friendly hotels searchable by city, state, and country.

- Petsonthego.com offers a travel magazine for dogs, guide books on pet-friendly travel, and an website that pinpoints pet-friendly hotels, B&B's, inns, resorts and private rentals around the country.

- Fido Friendly Magazine is the print magazine dedicated to the travel lifestyle of mans' best friend. Order through FidoFriendly.com.

See Petside Picks: Best Hotels for our choices of the best pet friendly hotels in the US.

Comments (17)

Marilyn May 19, 2009 8:38 PM

I would add Omni to this list; they do charge a pet deposit, but really welcome your animal - they provide a pet bed and divided dish for food and water - and everywhere I've stayed, all employees seem to really love animals.

Add one to the list May 29, 2009 10:49 AM

The Hampton Inn in Martinsburg, WV allows pets for only a $25 fee for any length of visit. Plus a great hotel to boot.. Just stayed last week. Located right off Rt 81. Not far from Harper's Ferry

Donene June 1, 2009 5:08 PM

I've taken by teacup poodle puppy on two road trips, we stayed at Extended Stay America in Fremont CA and most recently at Western Village in Sparks/Reno. Extended Stay charges a "deposit" which is actually a fee as it is not refundable. Room had kitchenette but wasn't clean/lots of particles puppies love to eat on hall floors and in the room. Western Village was OK, refundable pet deposit but casino didn't allow pets inside which reduced by gambling losses (didn't gamble) HAHA LOL. Thanks for the list of pet friendly spots as we do travel quite a bit for Senior Softball.

SurfinPaws.com June 1, 2009 5:08 PM

How about the Hilton they are dog friendly in Huntington Beach CA !!! luv it !

Rick June 1, 2009 5:51 PM

A lot of hotels allow pets that include the Kimpton (they have an in house pet...could be anywhere from a goldfish to a jack russell terrier.

Glenda June 2, 2009 8:15 AM

We have 2 little dogs. A Chihuahua Pug (Chug), and a Japanese Chin. There are lots of hotels that take pets, however, not 2 pets. Usually only 1. Our dogs are very well behaved and are great travelers, however we find there is a 1 pet restriction in most hotels when we travel.

iheartqueens June 4, 2009 2:33 PM

all Starwood hotel properties are pet friendly, including their new budget but trendy aloft hotels. They offer pet toys, treats, bed, and food and water bowls.

Linda June 4, 2009 6:11 PM

I have taken my cat, and have seen dogs, at the Westin Hotels. My cat is extremely quiet, does not cry excessively, cheek rubs the furniture upon entering room, has her dinner, does her "business" and then goes to sleep. I clean up any cat litter scattered from litter box, dispose of litter discreetly, remove any cat hair with miracle cleaning brush, leaving no evidence of a pet. I really appreciate hotels/motels that allow pets.

Carrie June 5, 2009 5:41 PM

Actually not all Hiltons are dog friendly. I quite frequently go down to San Diego from LA for weekend classes and out of the 4 area Hiltons only the newest in the downtown area is pet-friendly. Also just to those adding places like Omni and Hilton (some that is not all) the places listed in this post are specifically "Budget Friendly" hotels. There should be a post for medium level hotels

K.O. June 29, 2009 11:55 AM

Hotels need to change their policy to allow more than one pet. We have two dogs, how can you choose who sleeps in the room or in the car and/or truck? These pets are like our children - how dare they make us choose one over the other!!!!

Dr. Rafi (writing for Cocoa) July 2, 2009 4:11 PM

Recently, Cocoa (our rescued chihuahua), myself and my wife stayed at the Best Western on Madonna Ave., in San Luis Obispo (SLO), CA. The hotel staff was extremely welcoming to Cocoa. They charge a one-time fee (per visit) of $15.00. We also found the NOVO restaurant in S.L.O. which is pet-friendly, not only with a wonderful menu, but with great staff as well!

Bonnie July 9, 2009 9:48 AM

Last year we stayed at a Jameson Inn near Birmingham, AL. It was the nicest hotel I have been to that takes pets.

Skimbi October 6, 2009 7:56 AM

Many hotels advertise that they are pet friendly but when you read the pet policy they have a limit on the size of pet that is allowed. We have an 80 pound Lab that travels with us from eastern Canada to Florida every year and it is very difficult finding "clean" motels along the interstates that will take a large dog.

cloe" October 21, 2009 12:53 PM

just would like to know if all these places are "cat friendly"

rgmills November 9, 2009 11:25 PM

June 2009 we stayed 3 days with our 2 babies{20&25lb.dogs at Candlewood Suites in Athens,Ga. Our dogs were as welcome as we were.They had a dispenser of bags as you entered the nice doggie walk area. We highly recommend them.

Pam February 2, 2010 3:45 PM

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There's always one in the crowd, my husband and I are traveling from Mississippi to Mich and we have 3 dogs and 5 cats, this is not a joke, kinda wish it were. Are any hotels going to take us?

Carrie April 1, 2010 6:47 PM

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Pam...there are no places I have found that will take that many animals. I have been searching for places for 3 people, 2 cats and a 70lb dog along a route from IL to NV. Thus far, 2 animals per room is the max I have seen, and many times my dog is over the allowable weight limit. You may need to find a kennel to accept your herd near your hotel, or you could also try searching via Fetch! Pet Care or another chain pet sitting service...they may have a pet sitter willing to board all in their home for the night.

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