Friday 5 June 2009

P&M checks in and checks out best hotels for dogs

If you are one of those people who find it hard to part with your favourite four-legged friend you will definitely appreciate this week’s blog.

Some food for thought. The cost of a dog sitter or dog kennel can often amount to anything up to £30 a day depending on location and service. That’s a lot of money to pay to miss your dog.

My theory is that if you are going down the route of wanting to take some well deserved time off why not simply save yourself all that heartache and take your dog with you!

Many hotels and cottages will welcome dogs on a pre-arranged basis, some will ask you to pay a supplement of between £5-£30 per dog depending on what they offer and many will just let them stay for free.

We know how hard it is to part with your pooch so we have cherry picked 6 of the UK’s best dog friendly hotels where you and your mutt can enjoy an indulging mini-break without having to call any kennels.

Seaside escape – The Headland Hotel is a splendid AA 4 star status hotel perched in view of Cornwall's rugged north coast - A British beachside hotel at its very best. Most bedrooms have stunning ocean, beach or coastal views. A great spot for long beach walks with your dog along Fistral beach, Holywell Bay, Crantock Beach and Newquay’s town beaches, Lusty Glaze and Watergate Bay all at a stone’s throw from the hotel. If you are looking for buzzing surf town culture Newquay is on your doorstep. The perfect place for you and pooch to get away from it all and recharge your batteries.

Price per pooch per night - £12 including a special dinner, dog bed and welcome pack

Check in - www.headlandhotel.co.uk

City slickers - For a 1st class break in the capital the Milestone Hotel, Kensington, welcomes posh paws for the ultimate pampering break. Located close to Hyde Park and Kensington Park and Gardens the hotel is a great excuse to visit London with your dog. On arrival you will receive a pet welcome pack including a toy, a treat, a tag and clean-up bags. Your room will be kitted out with a pet bed, cushions and duvets, floor mats, “Do Not Disturb/Pet Sleeping” card, Turndown Treat, water bowl and in-house Pet Menu for midnight snacks. The hotel’s concierge will also attend to any grooming, walking or pet sitting requests but they will ask you to leave a deposit in case of any accidents.

Price per pooch per night – free with a complimentary welcome pack

Check in - www.milestonehotel.com

Forest fidosAshdown Park Hotel & Country Club is the idyllic place to stay if you and rover want to explore 200 acres of forestland and fields. This country house hotel is set in the heart of the Ashdown Forest in East Sussex offering luxurious accommodation, excellent food, extensive gardens and parkland, and superb leisure facilities. The hotel’s Fairway junior suites and studios welcome dogs and offer patio doors which open onto a spacious green golf course. For a high priced supplement your pooch gets a basket, blanket, bowl and optional dinner prepared by chef and a chewy toy for the evenings.

Price per pooch per night - £30 including special welcome pack

Check in - www.ashdownpark.com

Country lifeThe Combe Manor hotel, in Devon, is a blissful setting for dogs lovers and offers a Dogs welcome policy. A Grade 1 Elizabethan Manor set in 3,500 acres of one of Devon's finest country estates, close to the sea for long coastal walks, an idyllic setting for dog lovers. Combe Manor welcomes well-behaved dogs in the sitting room, bar and in the great hall, where they can lounge in front of the open fire as you enjoy a relaxing drink or afternoon tea. The hotel is happy to provide anything from doggy beds to food and water bowls just for your dog. The hotel website even lists dog days/ shows in the surrounding area so that you time your holiday nicely and enjoy one of the local events.

Check in at - www.thishotel.com

Price per pooch per night - £8 with a welcome pack

Highland hoppersThe Four Seasons in Perthshire, Scotland is one of the best places you can take an active or larger dog. Pets are welcome at this Lochside Hotel in both the chalets or loch view Bedrooms. You can both unleash yourselves to a fantastic experience and go on some of the best dog walks amongst some of Scotland's finest scenery. Pampered pets are welcomed to The Four Seasons with a complimentary treat and if you forget your own bed the hotel will offer you one of theirs. The hotel also offers a new Pet Concierge Service with dog grooming, walking, sitting and special cuisine for guest dogs. Dogs are welcomed by the Four Season’s resident pooches, Sham and Pagne.

Price per pooch per night – from £8 with a welcome pack

Check in - www.thefourseasonshotel.co.uk


King of the CastleThe Castle Inn is a traditional family-run 16th Century thatched pub and hotel located in West Lulworth, Dorest and surrounded by the beautiful Isle of Purbeck countryside. The pub and hotel has gained a great reputation for its level of care for guests visiting with dogs. Dogs are allowed into the bedrooms, and of course throughout the public areas (except in dining areas). Dogs are more than welcome throughout the Castle Inn pub on leads and for breakfast staff will lay your table in the Lounge Bar so that you can eat with your dog. The Castle Inn recently landed a place in the final for ThePet.net's Awards 2009 for Best Hotel/B&B in the UK! Sponsored by Pooch & Mutt.

Price per pooch per night – free of charge

Check in - www.lulworthinn.com

Lets us know if you know of any other good dog friendly hotels and any good walks near the ones here

Enter Pooch and Mutt’s monthly prize draw here to win a bag of Bionic Biotic.

2 comments:

Vincetastic said...

Hey P&M, this top ten list is fantastic. What a great idea for a list, very useful to so many dog owners. I just wish someone would put something like this together in Los Angeles. You can post this to our site http://www.toptentopten.com/ and link back to your site. We are trying to create a directory for top ten lists where people can find your site. The coolest feature is you can let other people vote on the rankings of your list.

Lisa & Milo said...

Hi Vincetastic

Thank you for your comment, we will post the blog up on your site.

Lisa & Milo