How to Plan a Dog-Friendly Luxury Family Vacation

Our puppy’s first family road trip included a California wedding, a beach day and hikes in the woods. It also required daycare, schedule juggling and making time to accommodate everyone. But watching our daughter build sandcastles with her pup running happy circles around her made it all worthwhile.

A vacation with your dog is more than just a way to avoid leaving them behind — with the right hotel and an itinerary that takes them into account, they get to be part of the family memories. Of course, age and breed can make a huge difference in how well they travel, but even if you have a high-energy puppy like ours, a little preparation and tempering of expectations will smooth the way for a great time. (And before you go, review the American Kennel Club’s guide to traveling with your dog for health and safety basics.)

Dog-Friendly Luxury Vacation Guide

The Friendliest Dog-Friendly Luxury Hotels

The biggest key to a smooth vacation with your pet is finding hotels that treat them as part of your family. While plenty of properties claim to be dog-friendly, our favorite luxury options go above and beyond with plush beds, special toys and treats, turn-down service and even dog-specific dining menus.

If you’d love for your dog to have a little pampering alongside the family, most Montage, Auberge Collection, Kimpton and Four Seasons hotels and resorts are known for being extra-welcoming to furry companions. At the Montage Laguna Beach, for example, in-room dining offers chicken, salmon, beef and a filet dish made just for pets. The Montage Palmetto Bluff location provides house-made dog biscuits and a concierge to arrange walks or sitting. Each property also features the brand’s signature Paintbox kids’ programming, where ages 5 to 12 can spend a half or full day in group games, arts and crafts and other fun activities.

Some other standouts to try are The Lowell in New York City, Enchantment Resort in Sedona, Inn by the Sea in Maine, The Broadmoor in Colorado and Ojai Valley Inn in California. Pet policies, fees and amenities vary by property and can change, so confirm current rules directly with the hotel before booking — Ciao Bambino Travel Advisors can help you find accommodations that fit the needs of your entire family, pet included.

Find Family Travel Activities that Dogs Love Too

What’s better for a dog than long stretches of sand with new sights and smells to explore? If you’re heading out on a beach vacation, check ahead for an expanse of shoreline where dogs can roam.

Being from Oregon, where almost all public beaches allow dogs, we were surprised to find that dogs aren’t permitted on the sand at most California state beaches, and many local beaches have restrictions of their own. However, some, like Carmel-by-the-Sea, welcome dogs off-leash. A quick search ahead of your trip will save you time heading to the right spot.

Make the Drive Part of the Fun

The same thinking applies to the journey itself. If you’re road tripping, plan a few pit stops for your dog that go beyond quick bathroom breaks. Build in time to stop at an off-leash park where they can stretch their legs or a lake where they can splash around with the kids to turn a long day in the car into a memorable part of your vacation.

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Plan Ahead for When You Can’t Be With Your Dog

To make things as smooth as possible, start by considering how much time you’ll spend with your dog, when you want to include them in your activities and when they’ll require care. For our California road trip, we needed dog care for pre-wedding activities and the wedding itself, but then took our pup on canine-friendly beach excursions and on hikes in the woods.

Before you leave, find a dog daycare in the area that allows drop-ins. Call in advance to book and send any needed vaccination or other information so you won’t have to worry about it on arrival. With 50 locations across the U.S., K9 Resorts offer luxury boarding as well as daycare. New dogs go through an evaluation and integration process before joining group play, with playgroups generally separated by size. Many luxury hotels can help you find and book care too, and some even offer onsite services like dog walking and playtime.

Choose a Destination Where Your Pup Can Dine With You

A place with comfortable patio weather makes traveling with your dog easier. When your pup can join the family for meals, you can linger over lunch or dinner without arranging a sitter or worrying about leaving them alone in your room, which many hotels don’t allow. If there’s not a suitable restaurant handy, a picnic in a dog-friendly park or other green space is a good alternative. 

The difference between a stressful trip where you’re always worried about your pet and one where you’re relaxed and making memories together comes down to a little planning and forethought. And you may find that the moments you share with them become some of your favorite memories from the trip.

Relevant Links:

Browse all trip planning and family travel tips on Ciao Bambino

How family travel changes at every age and stage

Mindful travel tips with kids: How to live in the moment

What kids learn from travel that they can’t learn in a classroom

How family travel creates resilient kids

Ancestry travel tips: Plan a journey into your family’s past

5 tips to make multigenerational travel fun for all

Editor’s note: This post was accurate when published. We advise checking independently for the latest information and updates. Ciao Bambino does not accept responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in, or for any actions taken based on, the information presented.