If you’re a pet owner who thinks of your animal companions as family, this recent trend in new and luxury hotel amenities won’t surprise you. As “pet-friendly hotel” queries on search engines and booking sites have markedly increased in the last couple years, so has the number of new hotels opening with amenities in place for the furry family members of human guests.
Some properties across the Southeast are going above and beyond to accommodate pets, with custom treats, dog-friendly on-site bars, and overall layouts and public spaces designed with canines and the occasional feline in mind. And with the options so agreeable, including hotel pet fees less than $100 per day, boarding the family pet in an oft-sterile facility is looking less attractive and necessary when you’re headed out on a driving-distance getaway. Book the right stay, and you can all take advantage of some of the region’s best food and drink and attractions.
We checked in with a few new Southeastern hotels, located in popular weekend destinations, that are making room for four-legged friends—and happen to be ideal for humans, too.
Pet-Friendly Hotels
The Radical
Asheville, North Carolina
So-named for its location in Asheville’s popular River Arts District (RAD), the Radical is housed in a once-abandoned 1920s warehouse that was formerly a cereal factory. The hotel, designed as a living art installation, offers 70 iconic guest rooms and suites, plus a flagship wood-fire restaurant named Golden Hour, a rooftop bar, and a cafe and bar called after/glow. For the humans, each of the food and beverage concepts are from local Asheville resident and two-time James Beard-nominated restaurateur Jacob Sessoms. Leashed dogs may join their owners at the rooftop bar and on the patio at Golden Hour. Upon arrival at the hotel, pets are welcomed with a snack from local plant-based dog treat brand Botanical Bones, and dog beds and bowls are available in designated pet-friendly rooms.
Hotel Genevieve
Louisville, Kentucky
The NuLu district in Louisville, Kentucky, is the place to be when not tasting through bourbon distilleries. NuLu’s Hotel Genevieve offers a vibrant Parisian-inspired aesthetic and on-site restaurants, making a compelling case to never leave at all, especially if you’re traveling with a pet companion. Canine welcome gifts include an amenity bag with dog treats and waste bags. Beds and bowls are offered in-room with water bowls are placed strategically throughout the property. Dogs and their humans may enjoy the rooftop terrace, the outdoor tables by the pop-art-inspired Mini Marché—a market where pup-cups are available—and in the Art Walk, the outdoor area between the hotel and neighboring Rabbit Hole Distillery. The Art Walk is designed to create connectivity to the distillery and features rotating mural installations from emerging and established local and American artists. The hotel’s periodic pooch-centric events benefit local pet-supporting charities.
bunkhousehotels.com/hotel-genevieve
The Drayton
Savannah, Georgia
The Drayton Hotel reinvents one of Savannah’s oldest buildings, dating from the 1890s—striking the balance between honoring its historic roots while offering a contemporary, luxury experience with modern amenities for bipeds and quadrupeds alike. From a cozy living room lounge entry to cobblestone-style floors and greenery similar to Savannah’s iconic squares, the hotel feels like a historic Savannah residence. The property’s Pendant Rooftop Bar and Terrace is the place to be with your furry sidekicks, while the Vinyl Room and St. Neo’s Brasserie are reserved for humans only. Dog beds, food, and water bowls and treats make your best friends feel right at home.
The Darwin Hotel
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta’s Darwin Hotel, in the Old Fourth Ward, is bold and playful, with the common spaces skewing more local art gallery than buttoned-up business center. Rooms designed to accommodate all types of travelers offer standard singles, playful bunk beds, and plenty of space for dog beds and bowls. Check in for some Big Daddy Biscuits treats upon arrival and then check out the hotel’s expansive pet park, complete with dog run, that ensures a five-paw rating from canine guests. The three-season courtyard, with its collection of cozy fire pits and soft seating areas, provides the perfect spot to enjoy cocktails and small bites with plenty of room for four-legged companions.
Charleston Classics
The peninsula has been hosting pets in luxury accommodations for decades, setting the standard.
The Charleston Place
An legendary destination for many reasons, Charleston Place takes its pet guests seriously. Pets of all shapes and sizes are welcome, and while they are not permitted in the hotel’s beloved restaurants and bars, the pet-sitting service offers humans the ability to explore the Charleston area while giving furry friends a dedicated companion. Each dog guest receives a dog bed and water bowl for use during their stay, along with a custom bandana to keep. Guests can request the use of a leash and collar. The property known for signature events also recently launched Barks and Brews every second Sunday, with proceeds going to local pet-friendly charities. Those who donate are given a dog biscuit.
Wentworth Mansion
Taking dog-friendly to a new level, Wentworth Mansion offers a dedicated pet-friendly package, because, after all, dogs deserve vacations, too. In addition to easy access to the lawn and a quick walk to countless parks, pooches will also receive $30 to spend at Woof Gang Bakery, welcome treats, and luxe accommodations their humans will look forward to revisiting.
Pet-Friendly Staycations
Need to get away with your pet, but not too far? Take full advantage of a few of Greenville’s luxury pet-friendly hotels that offer beds, bowls, and expansive grounds to explore, among other amenities.
