The Best Pet-Friendly Hotels to Book in California, USA

The all-suite Carmel Valley Ranch – home to a Pete Dye-designed golf course – treats dogs like kings. The California pet-friendly hotel has comfortable medium and large dog beds. There’s even a doggy room-service menu, featuring beef bone marrow and a salmon bowl with organic brown rice and local carrots. The hotel charges a fee per pet, and dogs, which must be kept on a leash, can’t go to the swimming pool, organic garden or spa – so no manicures for them, sadly. Imperfect paws aside, there’s plenty for them to sniff out. The 500-acre (200ha) estate, planted with oak trees and lavender bushes, has miles of trails to explore.

The beachfront getaway Monterey Tides allows two dogs weighing in at up to 50lbs (23kg) a piece – which covers all but the largest hounds. Guests with pets can choose between ocean or inland views in their guest room. Dogs can stretch their legs on walking trails along whale-roamed Monterey Bay, and there are many dog-friendly beaches in the area, too.

Small dogs are welcome to stay with their pup parents at the Ace Hotel and Swim Club in Palm Springs, a mid-century retreat with two swimming pools, a vintage photo booth and communal fireplaces. While bowls are provided, bring your own dog bed. However, this dog-friendly hotel in California does offer a small dog park with grass and bowls of water on the hotel property.

When hotels say “pet-friendly,” they usually mean dog-friendly, but not the Shorebreak, a surfer-inspired retreat in Huntington Beach where furry, feathery or scaly family members are all welcome. Size also isn’t an issue. The hotel keeps plenty of pet bowls, beds and treats on hand, and it’s about a 30-minute walk to Huntington Dog Beach – the stretch of prime beachfront between Seapoint Ave and 21st Street that’s heaven for dogs who love to run and splash in the waves.

The reasonable pet fee at Meritage Resort and Spa in Napa Valley includes plenty of perks, such as a branded dog bed, a bowl to take home and an amenity bag, with treats and pick-up bags. Pets can’t be left unattended in rooms, but the concierge can help arrange pet-sitting and dog-walking services. With nine tasting rooms at this wine-country stay and a spa with treatment rooms in an underground cave, you may want to take advantage of time with (or without) your furry friends.

The NoMad, a grand property in a 1920s former bank in Downtown Los Angeles, doesn’t look like the typical pet-friendly hotel in California. But, trust us – it puts four-legged friends front and center. Two dogs of any size can stay for no fee, and staff can set up pet bowls and beds before your arrival. There’s a public park a block away, and the Jacques Garcia-designed hotel has plenty of human perks to tempt you back inside, such as a rooftop pool and a Venetian-style coffee shop with Murano-glass chandeliers.

The Santa Monica Proper rolls out the red carpet for pet companions. Pooch-friendly rooms come with house-made dog treats, dog beds, and food and water bowls. While it charges a pet fee, a percentage goes to the Best Friends Animal Society, whose mission is to eradicate pet homelessness (a nice touch). Dogs are also welcome to cuddle up with you on your queen- or king-size bed, layered with Egyptian cotton sheets and custom blankets. The Herb Katz Dog Park, with off-leash areas and different zones for dogs of all sizes, is a mile (1.6km) away.

The Gaige House + Ryokan rolls out Japanese hospitality for dogs and their pet parents. When you book the Pampered Pet Package, choose between a Japanese watermelon-slice bed or a soft bed by Lion + Wolf. Food, water bowls and a small bento box with a sushi-inspired dog toy and two edible treats are also included. The icing on the cake? Staff provides a listing of dog-friendly wineries, restaurants and parks to explore around Sonoma, so furry companions can stay firmly by your side.

The California pet-friendly Hotel Milo presents dogs and owners with treats on arrival, but the biggest perk is the beach just outside the hotel’s doors. Stroll along West Beach with your dog on a leash, or drive north 10 minutes to Henry’s Beach for some off-leash time. Santa Barbara has dozens of pet-friendly wineries and tasting rooms, such as Kunin Wines, Lafond and Pali Wine Co, which keep a stash of dog treats in the back.