Bring Your Dog to the Hotel

I’ll be honest right away: we prefer cabins. If you’ve read our guide on renting a cabin with a dog, you know why – a disaster at a "dog-friendly" hotel in Göteborg where Hugo barked at everyone passing by in the hallway.

But sometimes, hotels are the only option. A night in the city between two destinations. A spontaneous visit to a city without suitable cabins. Or as we’ve discovered – a single hotel night in the middle of a week in a cabin can actually work well.

So here’s how we’ve learned to make the best of hotel stays with Hugo.

Why Hotels Are Harder with Dogs

It’s not that hotels are bad. It’s that the environment is stressful for most dogs.

Hallways full of noise. Footsteps, voices, elevators, doors slamming. Hugo reacts to everything. At home, he doesn’t care about noise – but in hotels, everything is new and potentially dangerous.
Strange smells everywhere. A hotel room has had hundreds of guests. For a dog that experiences the world through its nose, it’s overwhelming.
No personal space. No garden to run out into. No safe place that is "his". Just a room with strange furniture and a door leading to even more chaos.
Other guests. Not everyone likes dogs. And even those who do may not appreciate barking at six in the morning.

Hugo is a 10-kilo Cavapoo – not exactly a large, intimidating dog. But he has a big personality and can bark like a much larger dog when he feels insecure.

When Hotels Still Work

Despite all this, we’ve had hotel nights that have worked well. The pattern we’ve seen:

One night, max two. Hugo needs time to settle in new places. One night is manageable – he hardly has time to get anxious before we check out. Three nights? Then the stress has time to build up.
After relaxing days. Our best hotel night was in the middle of a week in a cabin in Småland. Hugo had been swimming, running, and relaxing for several days. He was so tired that the hotel room just became another sleeping place.
Calm hotels. Large conference hotels with constant traffic in the hallways are the worst. Smaller guesthouses or hotels with separate entrances are best.
When we are present. Hugo alone in a hotel room does not work. Period.

Finding the Right Hotel

"Dogs welcome" means different things at different hotels. We’ve learned to ask specifically.

Dog fee. Varies from free to 500 SEK per night. Ask beforehand – it’s not always clearly stated on booking sites.
Weight limit. Some hotels only accept dogs under 10 kg (Hugo just makes it), others under 20 kg, some have no limit. Call and ask if you’re unsure.
Where can the dog stay? Some hotels allow dogs in the room but not in the restaurant or lobby. Others have more generous rules. We want to know beforehand to avoid embarrassing situations.
Which rooms are dog rooms? Most hotels have specific rooms for dog guests. Ask where they are located – we want the ground floor near the exit, not the fourth floor by the elevator.
Is there a dog park or green area nearby? A hotel in the city center with only asphalt around makes the morning walk a project.

Our booking strategy:

Filter for "pets allowed" on Booking.com or Hotels.com
Call the hotel directly and ask the questions above
Read reviews from other dog owners (search for "dog" in the reviews)
Book a room on the ground floor near the exit if possible

Preparations That Make a Difference

The difference between a good and bad hotel night is often decided before we even check in.

Tired dog is the best dog. We always take a long walk before check-in. At least an hour. Hugo should be physically tired and mentally satisfied with impressions. A well-rested Cavapoo in an exciting hotel is a Cavapoo that barks at everything.
No food just before. Stress can cause Hugo to have stomach problems. We feed him a few hours before or after check-in, not in the middle.
Familiar things. Hugo’s favorite blanket, his usual water bowl, a toy that smells like home. It makes the room less foreign.
Plan the toilets. Where will Hugo pee in the evening? Where will the morning walk go? We check Google Maps beforehand and identify the nearest green area.

Check-in and the First Hour

The first impression sets the tone for the entire stay.

Ask for the room key right away. The less time in the lobby, the better. Hugo doesn’t need to greet all the other guests.
Take the stairs if possible. The elevator is cramped, full of smells and sounds, and other guests may not appreciate sharing it with a nervous dog.
Explore the room together. We let Hugo sniff through every corner. Under the bed, in the bathroom, by the door. He needs to map out his new territory.
Establish his spot. We lay out his blanket in the same place every time – next to the bed on "my" side. It becomes his safe point.
Water and calm. Water bowl ready, then we let him settle. No excessive attention, no stress. Often he lies down within 15-20 minutes.

Handling Barking

This is our biggest challenge. Hugo barks at sounds in the hallway. Not aggressively – he’s just notifying that something is happening. But it’s disturbing for other guests and stressful for us.

What we’ve tried:

Treats at the door. Every time we hear footsteps outside, we give treats before he has a chance to bark. Over time, he learned that sounds in the hallway = opportunity for treats, not threats.
Background noise. TV on low volume or an app with white noise muffles outside sounds. It helps Hugo not react to every step.
Not by the door. Hugo is not allowed to lie right by the door. Then he becomes "guard" and reacts to everything. His spot is further into the room, near us.
Distract beforehand. If we hear someone coming in the hallway, we call Hugo and ask him to do something – sit, lie down, take a treat. An occupied dog barks less.
Accept that it won’t be perfect. Hugo has barked in hotels. It will happen again. We apologize if we meet neighbors, we do our best, but we don’t expect miracles.

Leaving the Dog Alone – Our Policy

We don’t do it.

Hugo alone in a hotel room becomes Hugo who barks continuously. It’s stressful for him, disturbing for other guests, and potentially devastating for the hotel’s willingness to accept dogs in the future.

Our alternatives:

One adult stays with Hugo while the other goes with the kids
We take turns doing things
We take Hugo with us wherever we can
We choose activities that work with a dog

Yes, it limits what we can do. But that’s the reality with hotels and dogs.

If you have a dog that can be alone without barking – congratulations. Try short periods first and gradually increase. But be honest with yourself about how your dog actually reacts.

Practical Tips in the Room

Water bowl on a towel. Hugo is not the neatest drinker. A hotel towel under the bowl protects the carpet.
Paw drying at the door. We have a small towel ready at the entrance. Every time we come in from a walk, we dry his paws. It takes 30 seconds and saves problems.
Poop bags in pocket at all times. Hotel areas rarely have poop bag stations. Bring your own.
Extra sheets. If Hugo is going to lie in bed (yes, it happens), we put an extra sheet on top that we can remove before cleaning.
Dog food in the bathroom. We feed Hugo in the bathroom where the floor is easier to clean. Less risk of stains on the carpet.

Show Consideration for Others

This is about respect – and about making it possible for the next dog owner to also be welcome.

Keep Hugo leashed in all common areas. Even if he’s nice. Not everyone wants to be greeted.
Avoid rush hour in the lobby. Breakfast time and check-in time are the worst. We go out early in the morning and avoid crowds.
Respect that not everyone likes dogs. Some are afraid, some allergic, some just uninterested. We don’t force Hugo on anyone.
If Hugo barks – apologize. Briefly, kindly, without making a big deal out of it. Most people understand.
Leave the room in good condition. More on that below.

Check-out

We go through the room systematically before we leave.

Check for dog hair. Sofas, beds, armchairs. Cavapoo fur sticks everywhere. A quick run-through with our hands removes the worst.
Inspect carpets and floors. Accidents happen. If something has happened – inform the reception immediately. Hiding it is worse.
Gather all dog items. It’s easy to forget a toy under the bed or a bowl in the bathroom.
Leave feedback. If the hotel has been good – say so. If something could be improved – say it kindly. Hotels that receive positive feedback about their dog-friendliness will continue to be dog-friendly.

Our Best Hotel Memory with Hugo

Surprisingly: it was in Stockholm. We were passing through, one night at a smaller hotel in Södermalm. The room was on the ground floor with its own entrance from the courtyard. No hallways, no elevators, no traffic passing by the door.

Hugo treated it like a mini-apartment. He found his spot by the window, lay down, and looked out at the courtyard. We went out through "our" door for an evening walk on Monteliusvägen. Back, dinner in the room, Hugo fell asleep early.

It wasn’t a typical hotel. It was a hotel that understood what dog owners actually need.

Hotels with dogs require more planning, more consideration, and more realistic expectations than hotels without. But it works. Sometimes it’s even nice.

But ask me what I prefer? A cabin with a fenced yard, every time.

Find Dog-Friendly Hotels

Want to find great dog-friendly hotels? Check our lists for popular cities:

Dog-friendly hotels in Stockholm – Including tips on hotels with good locations for walks
Dog-friendly hotels in Göteborg – Near parks and green areas
Dog-friendly hotels in Malmö – With access to the Beach Promenade
Dog-friendly hotels on Gotland – Perfect for summer vacations

/Love & Hugo