Though more and more hotels across the globe are offering pet-focused amenities, why not give Fido his own vacation? These days there's an international outcrop of high-end pet hotels—by which we don’t mean hotels that are simply pet-friendly, but rather hotels that exclusively host guests of the four-legged variety—where owners can leave their “furry babies,” as one GM termed them, for short or long-term stays. Many of the hotels, which are equipped with play and training facilities and grooming services, also function as uber-luxe pet daycare centers for local clients who are chauffeured to and from daily. For overnight guests, these hotels offer all the same amenities, and then some: king-sized beds, personal chefs, spa services, masseuses, personal TVs and music selection, webcams for daily check-ins, and more. Call it excessive, call it obsessive—just don’t call it a kennel.
D Pet Hotel, Scottsdale, Arizona
With soft caramel-colored hues and well-appointed details—a plush throw blanket here, a graphic monochrome carpet there—the D Scottsdale might as well be the canine equivalent of staying at the Ritz. “D Pet Hotels was born out of our own selfish needs,” says owner Alissa Cruz. “Tired of not being able to find a boarding facility for our precious pups, we decided to open one exactly the way we wanted it.” Owners can arrange for their pets to have scheduled visits to the hotel’s three indoor dog parks, totaling 4,000-square-feet, and their in-house salon (grooming, massages), as well as pick-ups and dropoff in chauffeured luxury vehicles (Ferrari, Lamborhini Gallardo, Bentley, etc.). At their New York and Hollywood locations, the hotel also offers private chef amenities and training sessions, respectively. Rooms, from $90: dpethotels.com.
The Wagington, Singapore
This Singapore pet hotel has taken luxury just about as far as it can go, with 25 sumptuous suites all decorated in Edwardian style. Its most over-the-top offering, the Royal Suite, is a whopping 96-square-feet and includes a Queen-sized bed and a chandelier. For meals, owners may provide their own food or opt to order off the unfathomably varied in-room dining menu, which includes gluten-free muffins, slow-cooked pork rib risotto, and venison stew. Naturally, the hotel also boasts the expected array of in-house groomers and chauffeurs. Its outdoor fiberglass Bone Pool is an especially popular venue for birthday parties (starting from $280)—catering and photography included. Royal Suite, from $135; 27b Loewen Rd.; 65/6471-1689; thewagington.com.sg.
Posh Pet Hotel, West Palm Beach, Florida
A clean, modern aesthetic pervades at this Florida resort for cats and dogs—a kind of W Hotel for pets. Their 85 accommodations boast an impressive range of suites, including the Royal Suites, which includes 64-inch flat-screen TVs, 24/7 streaming web-cam access for owners and classical music and movie selection for pets. The hotel’s Zen Wellness Spa, helmed by a veterinarian trained in holistic medicine, also offers pets acupuncture, massage, and more, and the nearby Four Seasons hotel gladly delivers steaks from their kitchen. Among their most popular services is the bedtime belly scratch. “We sit with them for up to 10 to 15 minutes and read cute dog stories like 101 Dalmatians or Biscuit,” Lincoln explains. Royal Suites, from $95; 6710 S Dixie Hwy.; 561-225-1559; poshpethotel.com.
Actuel Dogs, Vincennes, France
This French hotel takes a more pet-forward vision of canine luxuries, offering more down-to-earth services for pets and their owners. (In other words, no manicures and fur dye here). Located near the Bois de Vincennes, Paris’s biggest public park, their menu of services emphasizes time spent outdoors. Still, Actuel has its own plush amenities, including a heated pool, massage room, indoor gym, and televisions in every room. Overnight accommodations, from $50; 3 Rue Faie Félix; 33-1/48-08-00-97; actueldogs.com.
Stay Pet Resort, Harmans, Maryland
Stay Pet Resort appeals to the well-socialized dog, where group playtime is considered an opportunity, not a drawback. First-time guests must schedule an evaluation day in advance so the canine can become acquainted with his or her suite, the other dogs, and the hotel staff. Their "villas" category offers a range of plush amenities, including king-sized beds, webcams and TVs, full privacy, and a secure outside turf area. A spa bath and extended massage come complimentary for stays of two days or more. All room types include the option of locally made, holistic dog food, late night potty breaks, and daily exercise. Garden villas, from $95; 1209 Old Dorsey Rd.; 443-860-6000; staypetresort.com.
Elmtree Canine Country Club, London, England
When it comes to wide open spaces for outdoorsy dogs, there’s no beating Elmtree. Nestled in the verdant Theobalds Park Estate bordering London and Hertfordshire, their Canine Country Club is spread over 9.5 acres of farm- and woodland, making it something like a Downton Abbey for dogs. (No wonder, we’re told, that visiting footballers and royal dignitaries put up their pups here.) Boarding is also available at their North London location, Elmtree Luxury Pet Hotel, which is a more traditional, though still high-end, kennel. For spa treatments and visits to the splash pools, guests of the Country Club will be chauffeured to and from the North London pet hotel, which also accommodates cats and a range of exotics, including tropical birds, fish, rabbits, guinea pigs, and even the occasional goat. Country Club suites, from $70; 8 Cooks Hole Rd.; 44-20/8367-4625; elmtreepethotel.co.uk.
Pooch Hotel
With ten locations across California, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Texas, Pooch Hotel is one of the biggest brands among luxe pet stays. Each of their locations offers some variation on the same amenities: suites in three classes (Standard, Palace, and Presidential) and a program with either group-oriented All Day Play or Individual Play for pups who enjoy a more solitary schedule. All Pooch Hotel branches feature doggie “spaws” with "pawdicures," facials, baths, and brush outs on the menu. For recreation, some locations offer indoor pools. Suites, from $45; poochhotel.com.
The Barkley Pet Hotel and Day Spa, Westlake Village, Los Angeles
The Barkley Westlake has an impressive range of accommodations that recreate the Los Angeles area with punny, dog-focused twists; their Rodeo Drive suites, for example, are dubbed Jimmy Chew, Pawda, Fursace, Pucci, etc, and come with wrought-iron beds. The facility has over 10,000 square feet of play area, an outdoor pool area, and room for one-on-one playtime in a private play yard. Plus, with the Four Seasons Westlake hotel (for humans) so close by, owners can arrange to have a steak delivered for in-room dining. Suites from $70; 818; 889-2275; westlakepet.com.
Canis Resort, Freising, Germany
What this German pet hotel lacks in over-the-top luxuries (there’s no mention of a spa, though grooming services are offered daily) it makes up for with impeccable training programs, suited to canines young and old. Rather than rooms or suites, pets share cozy wood cabins with fenced in lawns with up to four other dogs—though these modern lodges can also be booked as singles. The park-like environment features in- and outdoor play areas with landscaping by Erdmann & Kicherer, a team responsible for a variety of public spaces in the Stuttgart region. Lodges, from $90; Training, from $90/hour; Erdinger Straße 135; 49-8161/884-6974; canisresort.com.
Wag Hotels, California
With its large interior spaces filled with natural light, Wag Hotel exudes a distinctly happy, wholesome California vibe. With outposts in San Francisco, Redwood City, Oakland, and Sacramento, the brand’s strong suit is their 24/7 on-site care and bevy of à la carte services for dogs and cats, including evening strolls, one-on-one training sessions, puppy socialization, grooming, and more. Their sizable 200-square-foot Ultra Suites—the most luxurious of the bunch—come with plush beds, a complimentary bath, room service, and other custom services; all accommodations offer their four-legged guests 24/7 web cam access, TVs, and daycare or two hour-long supervised group play time. Ultra suites, from $110 per night; waghotels.com.
Photo Credits: Actuel Dogs; Wag Hotels
