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This guide saves you from unpleasant surprises at check-in. Because "pet-friendly" can mean anything from a grudging tolerance to a genuine welcome kit for your dog.
You search for "pet-friendly hotels", you filter, you book — and you arrive at the front desk with your dog to discover a €50/night surcharge, a ban from the breakfast room, and a laminated sign saying "pets must not be left unattended at any time". Welcome.
At the other end of the spectrum, truly pet-welcoming hotels offer a dog welcome kit (treats, a toy, a bowl), a dedicated dog menu at the restaurant, staff who know the best local dog walks, and a ground-floor room with direct garden access. These hotels exist across Europe at all price points.
The problem is that booking platforms use the same "pet-friendly" label for both. This guide teaches you to tell them apart before you arrive.
Spot these phrases in a hotel description or policy and proceed with caution — or with a phone call.
"Pets considered"
This means they'll let you know whether your specific pet is welcome. Translation: not really pet-friendly.
"Small pets only" (no size defined)
What counts as small? 5 kg? 10 kg? If there's no weight stated, your 12 kg Beagle might be turned away at the door.
"Pets allowed in outdoor areas only"
Your dog waits outside while you sleep, eat, and exist. Read: your dog stays tied to a post in the car park.
No mention of weight or breed restriction, but 5 kg cap in fine print
Always read the full pet policy, not just the filter result. Booking.com's "pet-friendly" badge doesn't guarantee your specific dog qualifies.
"Pet fee charged at check-in" (no amount stated)
A blank cheque you sign at midnight after a long drive. Always confirm the exact amount before booking.
"Pet-friendly rooms available"
Often means one specific room — farthest from the lift, facing the service entrance, booked solid for the next six months.
No mention of pets on the website at all
If a hotel is proud of being pet-friendly, they say so loudly. Silence usually means they tolerate pets rather than welcome them.
These are the things that separate hotels that welcome pets from hotels that merely allow them.
Stated pet fee (or explicitly free)
Transparency about pricing is the most reliable indicator of a hotel that has thought seriously about hosting pets.
No breed or weight restrictions (or clearly stated ones)
If they accept all breeds and sizes — or clearly state the limits — they've done the work of setting a real policy.
Pet bed, bowl, mat provided on request
Shows infrastructure investment. These hotels have hosting pets built into their operations.
Dog treats at reception or a dedicated dog menu
This is the gold standard. A hotel with a dog menu has genuinely embraced pet hospitality.
Staff who know local dog walks
Ask when you call to confirm: "Can you recommend a dog walk nearby?" A good answer is a great sign.
Ground floor rooms or guaranteed lift access
A pet-friendly room on the 5th floor with no lift is not actually pet-friendly for anyone with a large dog or mobility issues.
Outdoor shower or paw rinse station
Thoughtful infrastructure. Especially useful after beach or countryside walks.
Pet sitting or dog walking service available
Rare but wonderful. Signals a hotel that sees pets as valued guests, not problems to manage.
Call or email the hotel directly before confirming. These seven questions will tell you everything you need to know.
What is the exact pet fee per night — and is it per pet?
Are all room types and categories available with a pet, or only specific rooms?
Is there a weight or breed restriction? (State your dog's breed and weight.)
Is the fee refundable if the pet causes no damage?
Are pets allowed in common areas — lobby, restaurant, terrace, pool area?
Is there a designated outdoor relief area or nearby park?
Can we leave our pet unattended in the room? Are there any time limits?
Pro tip: send these questions by email so you have the answers in writing. If the hotel's response is vague, evasive, or takes more than 48 hours — that tells you something too.
Hotels self-declare as pet-friendly when setting up their listing. The filter shows all properties that have checked the box — but the box covers everything from "one cat under 3 kg" to "all pets welcome, no fee". The actual policy is buried in the property details tab. Always click through.
Tip: After filtering, click the hotel page and look for the "Pets" section under "House Rules". This often reveals weight limits, fees, and restrictions not shown in the main listing.
Hosts opt into a "pets allowed" setting. Cleanliness fees can be significant. Some hosts have undisclosed allergies or pet bans per their building rules. Message the host before booking to confirm your specific pet.
Tip: Airbnb's cancellation policies are stricter than hotel policies. Always confirm pet acceptance before paying the non-refundable service fee.
Similar self-declaration system to Booking.com. Pet policies vary widely. The "pet-friendly" filter is a starting point, not a guarantee.
Tip: Use these platforms to discover options, then verify directly with the hotel before booking for a pet stay.
Always the gold standard for pet stays. You can ask specific questions, request the best pet-suitable room, and sometimes negotiate the fee — especially outside peak season.
Tip: Many independent hotels offer their best pet policies when you book direct, because they can have a real conversation with you about your pet's needs.
The universal rule: filter on a platform to discover options, then call or email the hotel directly to confirm. This one step eliminates 90% of unpleasant check-in surprises.
Pet fees vary enormously across Europe. Here is what is normal, what is acceptable, and what is excessive.
Increasingly common at independent hotels, boutique properties, and in very pet-friendly countries like Germany and the Netherlands. If a hotel advertises this, take them at their word — it's a genuine differentiator.
Standard for budget and mid-range hotels across Southern Europe (Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece). Perfectly reasonable for what you get.
Typical for 3–4 star hotels in France, Belgium, Switzerland, and Scandinavia. Often includes pet amenities. Acceptable if the hotel genuinely caters to pets.
Common at five-star and design hotels. Can include premium services (pet menu, pet sitting, specialist bedding). Some charge flat fees per stay rather than per night.
At this level, ask what the fee covers. If it's just a surcharge with no services — negotiate, or walk away. Some city hotels in Paris and London have historically charged outrageous amounts with zero corresponding service.
Note: some countries add a city tax for pets separately. Always confirm the total amount including any cleaning deposit, which is typically refundable.
The most common category. Look for properties that explicitly welcome dogs of all sizes, have outdoor space, and are near parks or walking routes.
Browse dog-friendly hotels →Less common and often overlooked. Cats have different needs: indoor comfort, no canine neighbours, quiet floors. Some hotels explicitly cater to cats with designated zones.
Browse cat-friendly hotels →A growing segment across Europe. Many independent and boutique hotels have dropped pet fees entirely as a competitive differentiator. Worth filtering specifically for this.
Find hotels with no pet fee →Five-star hotels in cities like Paris, London, Rome, and Zurich increasingly compete on pet hospitality: welcome gifts, in-room dog menus, dedicated concierge services, and pet-sitting.
Explore luxury pet hotels →For dogs that need space: hotels near national parks, forests, or coastal paths. Outdoor shower stations and drying rooms are standard in this category.
Countryside pet-friendly hotels →In 2025, the average pet fee at a European hotel ranges from free to around €25 per night. Budget properties in Southern Europe typically charge €10–15/night. Mid-range hotels in France, Belgium, and Scandinavia average €20–30/night. Luxury hotels can charge €50 or more, sometimes with a per-stay flat fee rather than a nightly charge. Germany and the Netherlands have a large proportion of hotels that charge nothing at all.
Policies vary enormously. Many hotels allow it for short periods (2–3 hours) if your dog is crate-trained and won't bark. Others prohibit it entirely. Some require pets to be crated even when you're present. Always ask explicitly before booking — don't assume. If you need to leave your dog regularly, look for hotels with pet-sitting services or those located near doggy daycare facilities.
The clearest indicators are: (1) transparency about fees with no hidden surprises, (2) specific amenities mentioned (pet bed, bowls, treats, dog menu), (3) staff who can answer your pet-specific questions knowledgeably, and (4) online reviews from other pet owners mentioning their experience. If a hotel's pet policy is a single line saying "pets allowed, fee applies", treat it as tolerance rather than welcome.
Yes — weight limits are the most common source of check-in surprises. Many hotels nominally labelled "pet-friendly" on booking platforms have a 5 kg or 8 kg limit buried in their full policy. Dogs over 10 kg often face restrictions or are banned entirely. Always state your dog's breed and weight when enquiring, and get written confirmation that your specific dog is accepted.
As a starting point, yes. As a guarantee, no. The filter shows hotels that have self-declared as pet-friendly, but policies vary dramatically. Always click through to the hotel's full "House Rules" section on Booking.com, and ideally call or email to confirm before booking. This applies to all booking platforms — the filter narrows the field but doesn't do your due diligence for you.
"Pet-friendly" means pets are allowed — but typically with a fee. "Dogs stay free" is an explicit policy by the hotel that no pet surcharge applies. The second category is smaller but growing. At HotelsWithPets.com you can filter specifically for no-fee properties to avoid any ambiguity.
Yes, always. Failing to declare your pet during booking and arriving with one is dishonest and can result in being asked to leave, especially if the hotel has limited pet-designated rooms. It also voids any pet-damage policy protections you might otherwise have. Always tick the pet declaration box, state your pet's type and size, and confirm directly with the hotel.
Find the best hotels for your pet in these destinations
Travel confidently with your pet across Europe — guide by guide.