My Favorite Hotels Where Dogs Stay FREE!

PCS and vacation season is coming is right around the corner and for many of us, that means an overnight in a hotel and searching for hotels where dogs stay free. Staying in a hotel might just be part of the journey or it might be the final destination for your vacation. However, you have more choices than ever if you want or need to bring your faithful friend along for the trip. I love using awesome pet-friendly hotels that offer my dogs a complimentary stay. It’s fun to bring them along on our trips and with $25 per dog, per night kennel stays, we save a lot of money by not having to kennel them.

If you have a pet and you’ve had to do a cross-country PCS, you know the anxiety that comes along with trying to plan out where your pet will stay overnight both financially and logistically. Not only are kennels expensive, but it’s also a lot of work to make sure that your dog has the right paperwork to stay. Some kennels even require an interview where they need to meet your pets before they are allowed to stay. Below I’ve listed my favorite hotels where dogs stay free! Planning your PCS or vacation around these hotels will not only save you some moolah, but it will also keep everyone in your family (including the furry ones) together.

Aloft Hotels

Aloft by Starwood (Marriott Bonvoy) a trendy hotel chain that is quickly expanding across North America and even internationally. The ARF program at Aloft Hotels offers your dogs a doggie bed, bowl, bag of treats, and even toys. The ARF package is complimentary too! One of my favorite hotels where dogs stay free

You will typically find Aloft Hotels in mid to large cities and they are usually in an urban area. While that might not be convenient if you’re trying to find a quick place to stay that’s right off the highway, it’s perfect for turning a necessary pit stop into something more interesting. I love turning a boring road trip into a mini vacation by staying at Aloft Hotels. The rooms are swanky, our dogs stay free, and they are situated in great locations so that we can easily explore and enjoy a new city.

Magnolia Hotels

Magnolia Hotels (Marriott Bonvoy) is a boutique hotel chain in Dallas, Denver, Omaha, and St. Louis. I once saw a great deal via a military rate at Magnolia’s St. Louis location when we were doing a cross-country drive, but I wavered. It didn’t look like a good hotel for us, traveling with our toddler and two dogs. I was wrong! Magnolia hotels not only have a free pet policy, but there was also a free 5:30-6:30 happy hour for Mom & Dad and an at 8 pm there was a “Bedtime Milk and Cookie” Happy Hour for my son!

Kimpton Hotels

Kimpton Hotels (IHG Partner) have locations all across the country in major cities. They too are a boutique hotel that offers a little bit of luxury to turn your road trip into a vacation. I also thought Kimpton Hotels didn’t seem family and pet-friendly at first because of how luxurious they looked, but I was wrong again. Kimpton Hotels have many complimentary perks but they always extend a free pet policy for furry guests. They even have a furry Director of Pet Relations at many of their locations! You can even bring your pets to the nightly wine reception. Kimpton is great for pets but they don’t leave out the kids either. The Kimpton Kids Program is also complimentary and extends so many fund perks to your kiddos.

La Quinta

La Quinta Hotels might not be as luxurious as the three chains I’ve mentioned above, but they are the workhorse of the PCS cross-country road trip. You can faithfully find La Quinta hotels all across the country in both small and large cities. They are often conveniently located close to major highways too. La Quinta Hotels have been offering their complimentary pet policy for a long time. I stayed at two different La Quinta hotels during my last PCS and I was pleasantly surprised regarding how modern, bright, clean, and large the rooms were. I even receive a free upgrade through their Military Rewards Program

La Quinta also upgrades military servicemembers, veterans, and even spouses when they join the complimentary La Quinta Military Rewards Program. Members receive instant Gold Status, free room upgrades, discounts off room rates, and bonus membership points.

Keep in Mind

Even for hotels where dogs stay free, I always confirm a hotel’s pet policy with the hotel before we arrive. Although a major chain hotel might say they allow pets, some hotels are independently owned and operated and have different policies. Additionally,  state law might even prohibit a pet’s stay. When you call ahead, confirm the type of pet (some hotels don’t allow cats), breed, weights, and the number of pets you that you plan to bring with you.

Lastly, to find the best rates on your room, always join the hotel’s rewards program. Aside from building up points, upgrades, and free nights, hotels often extend special pricing to their rewards members. In addition, don’t forget to check the federal military rate and the normal civilian rate when you are searching for a reservation. Depending on the city you are in, the federal rate might be significantly more than the standard rate.