Airbnb vs. Hotels: Which Is Better for Traveling With Your Dog?
Every time we book a trip with our dog, this is one of the first decisions we make: Airbnb or a hotel? And honestly, after two years of traveling with Tishka, I still don't think there's one right answer. Each one has pros and cons you'll have to weigh depending on your type of trip. Here's what we think both types of lodging have to offer.
The Case for Airbnb
More freedom & space. Staying in a private vacation rental usually means a real living room, a kitchen, and an overall homier vibe. Whenever we take a longer trip, we always prefer having our own apartment. It's also more likely to put your dog at ease than a busy hotel with packed elevators and giant suitcases everywhere.
You can actually cook. This is as important for us as it is for our dog. We get tired of eating out at every meal, and our diva dog wants his regular diet of half kibble, half meat. Having a kitchen means keeping your usual routine, which is always nice for lengthy trips.
No stressing over pet policies. A common feeling I get when staying at “pet-friendly” hotels is that I'm simply tolerated rather than welcomed like a normal guest. Hotel pet policies can make you feel like you're constantly being watched to make sure your pet doesn't cause any problems. When you stay at a private residence you get to relax and just be. The only hard part is finding a pet-friendly one with a chill host.
The personal touch. Staying at a local’s place can be a truly great experience, especially when the host is a big dog lover. On a recent trip to Rio de Janeiro, our host left us plenty of her own dog's amenities, along with a list of her favorite dog parks and restaurant recommendations. We felt really welcomed and comfortable staying at her place rather than at a random hotel.
Fewer shared spaces to worry about. In an Airbnb, you won't have to share elevators packed with other guests and their suitcases, or a busy lobby you have to walk your dog through. If your dog barks a lot, staying at a private place might also be less stressful. For a nervous or reactive dog, this alone can make or break a trip.
The Case for Hotels
Someone there to help. A hotel has a front desk, a manager, and a paper trail. If something goes wrong, there's someone right there to sort it out. With Airbnb, you're often texting a host and praying they respond.
Extra Amenities. While we don't usually go the ultra-luxurious route, some of our most memorable dog-friendly stays have been at hotels leaning all the way into the pet experience — special dog meals, robes. Airbnbs are rarely set up to pamper your dog the way a hotel actively trying to win pet owners' business will. Sometimes they won't even have soap or shampoo in the bathroom, or salt in the kitchen you wanted to cook in.
More services. Hotels offer services that can be extra convenient when you're traveling with pets. Holding your baggage before or after check-in/check-out so you and your dog can walk freely? Priceless! The same goes for taking advantage of perks like hotel pools. I recently had an evening flight with my dog and we got to spend the whole day hanging out by the pool together. If this had been an Airbnb, we would have had to kill time outside all day.
So which do we pick?
It depends on the trip. For longer stays, or trips where we want to cook and have real space to spread out, we lean Airbnb. For shorter stays, or destinations where we want the safety net of a front desk and a place to wait after check-out, we lean hotel. Neither one is universally better; they're just built for different kinds of trips.