Pet groomers? Dog spas? Public parks?
You can do better.
From the beaches of Cabo to the cathedrals of Rome, five-star hotels are rolling out the red carpet for man’s best friend with luxury treats you’d blush to buy for anyone but Fido.
Think of it as an excuse to turn solo travel into the ultimate bonding experience with your furry BFF.
From barking-mad butlers to Michelin-worthy menus, peep the world’s best pupdates in drool-inducing locations, below.
W Fort Lauderdale in Florida
You had us at “Dög Pawrignon.” With the “Dogs Are A Girl’s Best Friend” package, your dog will enjoy the aforementioned dog-friendly bubbly from Pet Winery (or their rosé), along with a bottle of chilled prosecco for pet parents to say cheers with come yappy hour.
Enjoy the tipples with gummy bears, M&M’s, Jelly Belly beans and chocolate-covered pretzels for you, and Pet Winery’s Barking Bacon Dog Ice Cream for your four-legged pal. FYI: This amenity included with your overnight stay is bookable for Spectacular and Mega rooms, and a dog weight limit applies. You can use code “T5971” to book (from $379 per night).
San Ysidro Ranch in Santa Barbara, Calif.
Five-star luxury awaits in the idyllic foothills of the Santa Ynez Mountains for you and your fur balls. All of San Ysidro Ranch’s 38 cottages are pet-friendly (a $150 cleaning per pet fee is tacked onto your stay), and the resort’s Pampered Pet Program ensures your animal’s home away from home is just as splendid as yours, complete with a plush dog bed, a Ty Beanie Baby toy, water bowls and house-made dog cookies on demand. If you brought your pupster along, be sure to swing by the front desk or guardhouse for treats after returning from a stroll on some of the 17 miles of hiking trails.
Then, when it’s chow time, treat your dog to peanut butter and bacon pancakes, puppuccinos, organic free-range chicken and more. Or, if you brought your cat, they can feast on Hill’s Science Diet cat food and sip from a cat water fountain with San Benedetto artesian water. The Ranch will also provide a cat tree and scratch pad with catnip for the purr-fect vacation (from $2,495 per night).
Eden Roc Cap Cana in the Dominican Republic
While you laze in the sun, treat Toto to the VIPaws: Pampered Pets Program. Upon arrival, your dog will enjoy a complimentary plush bed to call their own, welcome treats, food and water bowls and an Eden Roc bandana. We also love that the hotel provides a guide with local recommendations for walking paths, playgrounds and pet services. Plus, the hotel’s partnership with nearby pet center Hospetality, Eden Roc Cap Cana can set you up with pet grooming appointments, pet day spa treatments and play dates.
In addition to the treats, pooches can try some dishes from the chef’s expertly curated VIPaws menu for a true five-star dining experience. Note: There is no pet fee, but there will be costs for any services booked through Hospetality and items on the VIPaws menu (from $980 per night).
Mandarin Oriental, Boston, in Massachusetts
Perhaps you’ve heard of Forest Bathing Therapy for humans, but what about a moving meditation that encourages you to bring your dog along for a 90-minute session ($250)? Held at Boston’s Arnold Arboretum along the Charles River, in partnership with New England Nature and Forest Therapy Consulting, you’ll head 4 miles from the hotel with the property’s dedicated Certified Forest Therapy Guide, Nadine Mazzola. Since dogs often feed off of our energy and have to keep up with our hectic pace of life, the dose of restorative nature and mindfulness exercises benefit you both.
Back at the dog-friendly hotel, the Pampered Pup program gives you a smattering of in-room pet amenities, such as a deluxe dog sofa, food and water dishes, a personalized pet welcome amenity, a “Wag Bag” full of gifts and treats, an in-room “Doggie Dining” menu and private shopping consultation and fitting with a Fish and Bone canine concierge (from $895 per night).
Kona Kai in San Diego, Calif.
Celebrating a pet birthday or just want to spoil your dog? Indulge in the property’s Pupnics ($350), an island-themed, pet-friendly picnic, including dog-friendly goodies, or try a puppy paddleboarding lesson in Kona Kai’s private marina (from $85).
The Noble Paws program on offer here is also one for the books: Your dog can enjoy pet-specific spa treatments like the 25-minute Furry Flex muscle stretch massage ($60) from its pet-massage certified therapists and dine from Pooch Provisions Plates, a menu for dogs featuring whole foods such as the Pawnut Butter Crunch ($5). Yes, they’ll get a plush dog bed as well as food and water bowls, too (from $359 per night).
Royal Palms Resort and Spa in Phoenix, Ariz.
This chichi resort doles out divine accoutrements for your furry friends with the Royal Paws Program, designed for pets and paw-rents, alike. The pet menu (from $4 to $14) peddles hits like “Chew-dité” and the “Rebarkable Burger,” and dogs will get a plush branded bed, bowls and tennis balls for the duration of their stay.
Need a way to keep Rover entertained? Head to the Royal Palms’ concierge for a map of the best pet-friendly spots on property and a list of local pet shops, veterinarians and more. One more fun perk for pets: Yappy Hours run in partnership with the Arizona Humane Society throughout the year so you and your four-legged friend can unwind for a good cause (from $600 per night).
Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese in Rome, Italy
Rome is never a tough sell. With Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese’s Roman Pooch Package (from $3,225 per night for suite accommodations with a three-night minimum) your canine companion will love you fur-ever. The splendid experience includes an escort from the airport in pet-friendly transportation to the hotel; treats and toys upon check-in; a “bark in the park” sunset picnic in the Villa Borghese gardens; a special groom and an ozone bath therapy session.
While you’re exploring Roma, your dogs will get a two-hour walk around the city and its parks daily and say “bone” appetito with a doggy room service menu. What’s more, you’ll memorialize la dolce vita with a professional photo shoot of you and man’s best friend (from $440 per night).
Las Ventanas al Paraíso, a Rosewood Resort, in Los Cabos, Mexico
Start vacation on a Zen note for your four-legged friend with a 25-minute pet massage (from $145) “that combines manipulations and stretching movements for ultimate dog relaxation” much like a traditional Thai massage for humans.
And how about this resort’s dedicated dog butlers ($12 an hour) to take your pups on daily walks on the beach or in the flowering desert countryside after they’re nice and limber? Hey, being on vacation means you should get a break from the pooper scooper. These pup concierges can even set up birthday parties for the tailed one that will make their humans more than a little jealous.
Your dog is also going to go bonkers for the “Canine Delights” menu at this swanky Cabo hideaway, featuring made-to-order dishes, “doga” (canine yoga) classes and portable pet cabanas so your animal can enjoy beach or pool time in style, or use it back in your room (from $1,190 per night).
