Going on holiday is, at times, a major undertaking. Having to leave your fur-child at home can be traumatic for both owner and pet, especially when people regard their animals like children. Upscale Living magazine went in search of the Top 10 Pet-friendly hotels in the world so that next time, Fifi or Fido can accompany you on your great adventure.
Egerton House Hotel – London, UK
A stone’s throw away from the shopper’s paradise of Harrods, Harvey Nichols and the Sloane Street boutiques as well as nearby museums and cultural institutes namely The Victoria and Albert Museum, The Natural History Museum and The Royal Albert Hall, The Egerton House Hotel is a gorgeous townhouse hotel, perfect for you and your VIP (very important pet).
Offering a particularly special doggy afternoon tea, your pet can join you as you indulge in the most English of traditions! With a selection of beds, floor mats, food and drink bowls, and specially prepared menus, your four-legged companions will be in doggy heaven with the addition of dog sitting and walking services. The Egerton House Hotel is located within close proximity to public parks, the knowledgeable concierge team is always at hand to suggest pet-friendly activities and services, ensuring first-class hospitality at Egerton House Hotel.
Gleneagles | Perthshire, Scotland
Since opening its doors in June 1924, Gleneagles has been one of Scotland’s most iconic hotels and sporting estates. Set beneath the Ochil Hills, in the heart of Perthshire, it has been the must-go destinations for families for nearly a century. With 850 acres of sprawling countryside, this is the ideal place for owners and their beloved canine companions looking for rest, relaxation and stimulation in these incredible and picturesque surroundings.
With is a glorious playground of country pursuits and activities, there is plenty to amuse guests. Dogs stay for free at Gleneagles and all 232 rooms are dog-friendly, including the six luxury suites. Small to medium-sized dogs can stay with guests in their rooms while luxury kennels are also available to complete with king-sized beds and dog-loving staff on hand. Dogs are even greeted with own pet travel pack, including dog bowls, toys, and other useful knick-knacks.
Hotel Crescent Court – Dallas, TX USA
Those looking for a ‘paw-fect’ get away with their furry friends can stay in style at this Uptown Dallas icon within the flourishing 11-acre Crescent Complex complete with doggie bowls, a pet mat, and personal bed. Following an extensive multi-million-dollar renovation, Hotel Crescent Court is Texan luxury at its finest. Combining Dallas sophistication and heritage into an experience that is uniquely Hotel Crescent Court, you can be assured to feel undeniable charm that is quintessentially Texan.
Hotel Crescent Court, known for its ideal location just steps from the bustling Dallas Arts District, echoes the exclusivity of a country club with sophisticated amenities including an immersive 22,000 sq. ft. spa and a state-of-the-art fitness center, as well as the members-only Crescent Club, sparkling rooftop swimming pool and specially-curated programs celebrating the community through unique, indigenous experiences and the most incredible fine dining in Dallas.
Le Bristol – Paris, France
A favorite of ‘the great and the good’ since its opening in the heady Roaring Twenties, Le Bristol Paris is the place to stay in the French capital. An illustrious, permanent resident that steals the spotlight is the hotel’s resident Burmese cat, Fa-Raon, resplendent in his bespoke Goyard collar perfectly fitting in with the hotel’s location on the iconic Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré.
Inviting other furry friends to truly make themselves at home at the Parisian palace, Le Bristol Paris offers an in-room welcome for pets that is every bit as glamorous as for their owners. A handcrafted bed and matching embroidered mat, a gleaming silver dog bowl with chilled bottled Evian water, and special monogrammed cookies stamped with the Le Bristol Paris crest await in the Suite, and in lieu of traditional room service, Oetker Collection’s signature five-star silver in-room dining for pets is available.
Montage Palmetto Bluff – Bluffton, South Carolina the USA
A family favorite of Montage Palmetto Bluff is the Canine Ambassador program, which features their beloved English Labrador Retrievers. River, May, and Cooper sharing the role of bringing joy to all of the guests with meet and greets, where they look forward to interacting with everyone and posing for family portraits. These Labradors are truly at home in Palmetto Bluff – loving the broad expanse of the Lowcountry land and water, in keeping with the nature of their retriever breed.
Montage Palmetto Bluff, nestled along the May River, is the perfect destination for a Southern experience with activities on land and on the water. The property is located on 20,000 acres of historic land and offers guests a conservancy tour as well as activities including horseback riding, shooting club, and golfing. On the water, guests can enjoy a day of yachting, kayaking, swimming, and dolphin watching!
The Lanesborough – London, UK
The Lanesborough is one of the masterpiece properties of the Oetker Collection at one of London’s most enviable addresses. Overlooking Hyde Park Corner, and adjacent to the grounds of Buckingham Palace, it is one of the city’s most iconic hotels commanding a prestigious location that straddles Knightsbridge, Belgravia, and Mayfair, it is home to 93 luxurious suites and bedrooms.
While all room categories in the hotel come complete with their own private butler, there is also a fleet of butlers to assist with dog-walking for furry four-legged friends staying at the hotel too. The Lanesborough happily welcomes most small-to-medium sized dogs to stay with their owners in the room or suite. Pooches in residence receive their own welcome card upon arrival, in addition to a special bed, bowls, selection of waters and toys, and a bespoke ‘woof homemade menu’ replete, with delectable doggy dinners.
The Lowell – New York, NY USA
The Lowell, long the New York hotel of choice for locals and ‘in the know’ travelers, ensures that all their guests are fully spoilt during their hotel stay, whether they happen to be human … or not. At The Lowell, dogs are welcomed with luxurious in-room amenities, including a sumptuous bed, personalized water bowl and tailored-to-taste treats.
While human guests can dine in the hotel’s newly launched restaurant, Majorelle, they have not disregarded the foodie needs of canine visitors. The ‘In-Room Dining Pet Menu’ includes a variety of meals and snacks catering to each dog’s individual needs. For pets with a paunch, ‘The Lean Dog’ is the dish of choice and for furry friends with a distinguished palette, ‘The Sophisticated Dog’ is bound to hit the spot. A variety of side dishes including sardines, rice, potatoes, and peas are also available.
The Milestone Hotel – London, UK
The five-star Milestone Hotel, a quintessentially English mansion-hotel in the heart of London located across from dog-friendly Kensington Gardens, is a great destination in London to bring pets. Upon arrival, pets will receive a tailor-made welcome hamper, which includes a toy, a treat, a Milestone tag, and clean-up bags. Special amenities include a choice of a custom-made Milestone Hotel pet bed, cushions duvets and floor mats, a ‘Do Not Disturb/Pet Sleeping’ card, food and water bowl with fresh mineral water, turndown treats, and an in-house Pet Menu.
Other services include dog sitting & walking, toys, birthday celebrations, grooming services, litter boxes, leashes, and more. Creating a unique package to ensure your favorite friend has the time of their lives, the head concierge and his capable team will ensure your pet’s needs are catered for in every imaginable way. The perfect place to celebrate your pet’s birthday!
The Oyster Box – Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa
Skabenga (meaning hooligan or vagabond in Zulu), a Tabby cat, has been a permanent resident at The Oyster Box, for more years than anybody can remember. Having wandered onto the property as a stray, he was fed tasty, expensive titbits by guests and with life so good … who can blame him for never wanting to leave!
During the renovation operations, when the hotel was closed for two years, he was cared for by a cat-lover and brought ‘home’, shortly before the property re-opened. Over the past few years, Skabenga has really given meaning to the saying, that a cat has ‘nine lives’. On one occasion, he ‘disappeared’ from the property…and miraculously re-appeared a few days later, in good health, thanks to the contact details on the brass name-tag around his neck. We never did find out where that adventure took him to … if only cats could speak!
The Twelve Apostles – Cape Town, South Africa
Four-legged furry friends have long known that the favorite place to stay in style when visiting Cape Town is The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa – the hotel of choice for pampered pets (and their distinguished owners). Taking five-star service to another level, the specially designed Pet Menu, created by Executive Chef Christo Pretorius, in collaboration with veterinary nutrition specialists, is available to order from Room Service or in The Leopard Bar.
At The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa, canine and feline guests receive a special welcome from resident cat Ingwe (‘leopard’ in Xhosa), who since her arrival in 2013 has taken over the portfolio of ‘Pet Manager In-charge’. Pets stay for free and are accommodated with their owners in dedicated pet-friendly rooms, with a range of pet beds, comfortable bedding, and blankets, special pet bowls and a ‘Pet In Residence’ sign on the door.
