ArcaMax

Plush robes and welcome gifts, special menus and charcuterie platters, a concierge whispering hidden gems to visit. Who wouldn’t want such VIP treatment at a hotel? But in this case, it’s for dogs.

That’s right, four-legged guests these days are getting the hotel VIP treatment like never before. No wonder.

According to data from the GlobalVetLink pet travel trends, roughly 78 percent of pet owners take trips with their animals every year. The majority travel by car but, according to the American Pet Products Association, of those who travel with their dogs, a growing number – 74 percent – have traveled by plane.

This past week, incidentally, marked National Dog Day (August 26), #celebrateeveryday, which encourages dog ownership and adoption, especially of rescues.

The majority of hotels now are dog friendly, from budget Red Roof Inn (first pet stays free) Comfort Suites, Hilton, Marriott and luxury brands, including Four Seasons and Fairmont. So are campgrounds, some offering dog parks.

KOA’s 2026 Camping & Hospitality Report noted that more than half of campers and 60 percent of younger campers bring their pet.

Auto Camp was honoring pets all August with special amenities (Woof popsicles) and activities. You still have time to enter the Summer Adventure Sweepstakes to win a two-night stay, as well as a year’s supply of Woof products.

(BringFido offers a comprehensive list of dog-friendly hotels, Airbnb’s and restaurants by location, with prices and pet fees.)

Kimpton gets kudos from dog-family travelers because it doesn’t charge fees for four-legged companions. The pooches are even welcome at nightly wine receptions, and the concierge can provide a list of nearby pet-friendly restaurants, parks and pet boutiques.

Luxury hotels certainly are upping the ante when it comes to catering to four-legged companions. Some Fairmont Hotels even have a canine ambassador to great guests in the lobby, including Cori Copley, the Insta-famous black Lab at Fairmont Copley Plaza in Boston, who is the hotel's most photographed team member; Chardonnay at Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn and Spa is the director of Pet Relations.

The English Bulldog Jack, The Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club’s resident pooch, hosts the Waikiki hotel’s weekly meet and greets.

Book direct at the Margaritaville Hotel San Diego Gaslamp Quarter and your pet fees will be waived. Don’t miss the “Yappy Hours.”

How about a special dog menu? At the Fairmont Copley Plaza that could include codfish and caviar. At the Four Seasons Rancho Encantado Santa Fe, our pooch loved the house-made, dog bone-shaped treats made from sweet potatoes. A growing number of upscale hotels now offer special pet food room service menus. Soon, you can order your pampered pooch a Pup Steak Bowl at the Intercontinental Miami where pooches get a welcome Doggie Box complete with locally made Chicken Crunch Chips. There is a weekly petworking event and Rocco: The Paws d'Or Virtual Concierge (accessible through a complimentary QR code or dedicated WhatsApp number guests receive upon check-in) offers advice for the very best pet-friendly experiences throughout Miami.

Napa Valley’s Meritage Resort & Spa not only has a dog-friendly tasting room but a Cabernet & Canine experience takes it further with a signature Barkcuterie Board, a Napa-inspired spread of gourmet dog treats, savory meat kabobs and celebratory cookies

Let’s not forget welcome gifts. When we stayed at ARRIVE Albuquerque right on Route 66, our pooch got a dog camera, presumably to photograph all the neon along Route 66. At New York’s famous Plaza, the Pampered Pup Package offers pets a custom Plaza-embroidered doggie bathrobe, and doggie-treat-tier filled with dog-friendly macarons. At New York’s Mark Hotel, pooches get a Hot Dog Chef Toy while owners grab a bite from the iconic Haute Dog Cart outside.

Inflation may be reshaping household budgets, but for America's 71 million dog-owning households, dogs remain a priority, according to the new APPA’s 2026 Dog Report.

That includes a doggie and me surfing lesson at the W Punta de Mita in Mexico where the revamped PAW (Pets are Welcome) program includes custom doggie robes for after your romps on the beach which are said to offer some of the best surf breaks in Mexico. All of the property's dining outlets also offer a doggy menu, so your pup can eat gourmet meals with you while hanging by the pool or having a fancy dinner.

If you haven’t traveled with your pooch yet, The American Kennel Club offers a complete guide to travel with your dog, whether by car, plane, train, domestically or internationally.

Before you leave home, teach your dog to relieve themselves on multiple surfaces – not just grass. Having the ability to go to the bathroom on different terrains, such as concrete, mulch and gravel, will alleviate discomfort, as well as the possibility of accidents while you’re on the road or otherwise. Bring an ample supply of poop bags to clean up afterward and a leash (although many municipalities offer “free bags” to encourage responsibility. Kudos.).

To make sure your dog doesn’t get bored, provide them with a few new toys — and a couple of old favorites. You might want to include a puzzle-type toy to keep them occupied. Also be sure to pack food and water. buy collapsible travel bowls. Try to get your dog used to them one week or so before you travel.

If you’re patient and lucky too, your pooch will travel easily like ours does, snoozing in her dog bed in the back seat, harnessed with a doggie seat belt, snuggling in our bed in hotels, despite the comfy hotel dog beds, and of course, enjoying every treat that comes her way.

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(For more Taking the Kids, visit www.takingthekids.com and also follow TakingTheKids on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram where Eileen Ogintz welcomes your questions and comments. The fourth edition of The Kid’s Guide to New York City and the third edition of The Kid’s Guide to Washington D.C. are the latest in a series of 14 books for kid travelers published by Eileen.)

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