Pet-Friendly Hotels to Love in the South

Posted by Scott Tunstall

Known for its charming locales and unwavering hospitality, the South is also home to a collection of the country’s most pet-friendly hotels. These pristine properties take pleasure in lavishing their four-legged guests with first-class service and five-star amenities that are sure to impress even the most finicky Fido or Fifi. From coastal Georgia to big-city Texas, here are 10 exceptional pet-friendly hotels south of the Mason-Dixon Line.

Olde Harbour Inn

Savannah, GA
“Take me to the treats!” Photo by Facebook.com/oldeharbourinn

Olde Harbour Inn opens its arms and hearts to all four-legged guests. Upon arrival, pups are presented with a special welcome bag that includes flavorful organic treats, waste baggies for bathroom breaks and a sleeve of tennis balls to help raise the fun quotient. Located directly across the street, Emmet Park is perfect for morning and evening strolls. Nearby Forsyth Park features 30 acres of pathways and green space to explore and comes equipped with nose-level doggy water fountains.

For a unique way to see all the historic landmarks and sites the city has to offer, hop aboard a dog-friendly Savannah Pedicab. You’ll have to hold Fido in your lap, but it’s a great way to get around. Just don’t forget to tip your driver. Your peckish pooch can also join you in the outdoor seating area at J. Christopher’s, where he can order a bowl of scrambled eggs, skillet potatoes and tasty meats from the doggy menu.

Olde Harbour Inn accepts pets of any size for an additional fee of $50 per stay. Room rates start at $162 per night.

Wentworth Mansion

Charleston, SC
"Ahh, the good life." Photo by Facebook.com/wentworthmansion

Entering Wentworth Mansion is comparable to setting foot inside a museum of rare antiquities. However, instead of velvet ropes and "Do Not Touch" signs, you’ll only find warm smiles and gracious service at this elegant Victorian-era hotel in Charleston’s beloved historic district. Most importantly, they treat visiting dogs as members of their extended family. Four-legged guests will love the Garden Rooms, which provide easy access to the designated courtyard pet relief area. The hotel’s pet-friendly package also includes homemade dog biscuits, a sporty Wentworth Mansion bandana for your pup to show off back home and a $25 dining certificate for the dog-friendly patio at Kitchen 208.

Nearby Colonial Lake Park is a beautiful spot to take Fido for a leisurely waterfront stroll. If you’re searching for a spooky good time, strap on your pooch’s Proton Pack and bust some ghosts with Old Charleston Ghost Tours.

Two pets of any size are permitted at Wentworth Mansion for an additional fee of $40 per pet, per night. Room rates start at $430 per night.

The Park on Main

Highlands, NC
“Is that UPS truck still back there?” Photo by Facebook.com/theparkonmain

If the metal cutout of the Scottish Terrier in the front yard isn’t evidence of The Park on Main’s fondness for pets, then the handsome resident Scottish Terrier mascot, Mr. Pickles, who greets you upon arrival should close the case. This haven for hounds spares no expense in creating a luxurious pet-friendly atmosphere, from the gallery of framed canine artwork that adorns the lobby walls to the designer ceramic water dish and Orvis Therapeutic dog bed found in every room. Each furry guest receives a tasty welcome treat at check-in and a personal towel to clean dirty paws, dry damp fur and wipe wet noses. The on-site, fully fenced Mr. Pickles Dog Park offers a waste station, benches and a small grassy area to run and play. The Park on Main also houses adoptable foster dogs through a partnership with the Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society and even sponsors special pet events throughout the year like Stop-n-Adopt and Mr. Pickles Howl-o-ween Costume Party.

Stroll down the street to Wild Thyme Gourmet for a delicious, upscale dining experience at a pet-friendly outdoor table, or drive to nearby Highlands Dog Park for some off-leash fun in the sun.

The Park on Main accepts pets of any size for no additional fee. Room rates start at $299 per night.

The Hermitage Hotel

Nashville, TN
“I need my cutie sleep.” Photo by Facebook.com/hermitagehotelnashville

Music City has gone to the mutts at The Hermitage Hotel in downtown Nashville. Its exclusive Pampered Paws Program makes four-legged crooners feel like they belong at the top of the charts. Each canine country star receives a thoughtful welcome letter and is spoiled with swanky in-room amenities such as a doggy daybed, food and water bowls, bottled spring water and a pack of yummy organic pet food. Pups can also order mouthwatering morsels from their personal room service menu. And if that’s not enough for Fido, the nightly pet turndown service offers a mat, delicious treats, a bowl of fresh water and rolled towels. If your pup is still feeling a bit tense after all the special attention, a pet masseuse is on-call to administer a relaxing rubdown. Extra leashes and collars are provided, and dog walking services are available. The nearby, fully fenced Riverfront Park Dog Park features a 13,000-square-foot artificial turf pet playground outfitted with picnic tables and water fountains. It’s a great spot to watch passing boats on the Cumberland River while your pooch enjoys an afternoon romp.

The Hermitage Hotel welcomes two dogs up to 100 lbs for an additional fee of $75 per pet, per stay. Room rates start at $239 per night.

The Willcox

Aiken, SC
“Hello, I can’t walk myself.” Photo by Facebook.com/thewillcoxhotel

The Willcox is a white-pillared crown jewel that delights in flattering dogs like they are the belle of the ball. Convincing your furry pal to leave behind his celebrity status might prove difficult after being spoiled by the Willcox Pets Pampering Program (one of our favorites). In addition to a welcome package that includes a yummy hand-baked treat, plush doggy bed and fancy water bowl, guest canines also receive ID tags in case they wander off, a special Pet Cuisine room service menu and turkey jerky turndown service. Pet sitting and walking services, off-site grooming and Fido photo shoots can be scheduled through the concierge.

If you succeed prying your pooch away from being doted on like an English monarch, the adjacent Hitchcock Woods has 2,100 acres of gorgeous walking trails to explore. Elder dogs might prefer an afternoon snooze on the front porch while you sink into a rocking chair with a tall glass of sweet tea.

The Willcox accepts two dogs of any size for an additional fee of $75 per stay. Room rates start at $189 per night.

Hotel Monteleone

New Orleans, LA
“My owners are totally hogging the bed.” Photo by Facebook.com/TheHotelMonteleone

Located in the vibrant historic French Quarter, Hotel Monteleone showers visiting pets with the same warm hospitality that has infused New Orleans culture for generations. Precious pups are gifted Monte’s Pet Package at check-in, a tidy bundle of joy that includes a paw-print doggy mat, monogrammed food and water bowls, gourmet treats, waste bags and a super fun chew toy. Investigate the Big Easy’s haunted streets and shadowy back alleys with Ghost City Tours, or plan a picnic lunch on the banks of the mighty Mississippi at Woldenberg Riverfront Park. You and your pooch can also sample authentic NOLA cuisine such as handmade beignets and chicken and sausage gumbo in nearby Cafe Beignet’s pet-friendly courtyard seating area.

Hotel Monteleone accepts two pets of any size for an additional fee of $100 per stay, plus $25 per pet, per night. Room rates start at $134 per night.

Universal's Loews Sapphire Falls Resort

Orlando, FL
Fido loves Florida. Photo by @zushy

Located a short drive away from Orlando's most popular theme parks, Universal's Loews Sapphire Falls Resort strives to be the most magical place on Earth for pets. As one of the world’s most pet-friendly hotel brands, the Loews Loves Pets program lavishes visiting Plutos and Goofys with a special welcome treat, food and water bowls, dining mat, plushy chew toys, "Pet In Room" door hanger and a personal pet room service menu. There is also a spacious on-site dog run and grassy walking area with a waste station on the premises located near the Garden Walk.

For off-leash exercise, stop by Dr. Phillips Dog Park, a fenced pooch playground with a separate section for small dogs, water fountains and covered seating. Teak Bar & Grill offers dog-friendly patio tables, 30 craft beers and ciders on tap, and a menu of mouthwatering burgers and hot sandwiches.

Universal's Loews Sapphire Falls Resort welcomes two pets of any size for an additional fee of $100 per stay. Room rates start at $210 per night.

Elyton Hotel, Autograph Collection

Birmingham, AL
“My bed!” Photo by Facebook.com/elytonhotel

Housed in Birmingham’s iconic Empire Building, Elyton Hotel, Autograph Collection blends Southern heritage with modern luxury to create a pet-friendly oasis in the heart of the city’s bustling financial district. Four-legged guests can relax in a cozy boutique hotel room and be spoiled with an abundance of pet amenities, including a chic Elyton bandana to increase Fido’s style cred, a plush doggy bed to ensure a restful slumber, luscious treats for snack time, food and water bowls and complimentary waste bags for bathroom breaks.

Take a jaunt up the street to Paramount, a trendy eatery specializing in tasty pub grub and vintage video games, and grab a table on the dog-friendly sidewalk patio. Leashed dogs are also free to roam the 19 acres of urban green space at Railroad Park, located just a few blocks from the hotel.

Elyton Hotel welcomes one pet up to 50 lbs for an additional fee of $150 per stay, and $20 per stay for each additional pet. Room rates start at $229 per night.

Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek

Dallas, TX
Walk this way. Photo by Facebook.com/RWTurtleCreek

A sumptuous oasis deep in the heart of Dallas, the Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek embraces furry guests with a Texas-sized serving of hospitality. Four-legged buckaroos are given a classy pet bed, fancy food and water bowls, and a personalized blanket to keep them snug as a pug on chilly nights. Nearby Turtle Creek Parkway Park allows pups to sniff out wooded walking trails, catch a frisbee on grass fields and chase frogs in the shallow creek. If you need to leave your best bud unattended, dog walking can also be arranged at the concierge desk.

After living the good life at Rosewood Mansion, take a quick drive to Mutts Canine Cantina, one of our favorite restaurants with attached dog parks in the country. Order a refreshing craft brew and kick back on the spacious patio, or pay $6.99 for a day pass to the fenced dog park and watch Fido mingle with furry friends, race up and down ramps and through tunnels, and cool off in an ice-cold splash pool.

Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek welcomes two pets of any size for an additional fee of $100 per stay. Room rates start at $387 per night.

Salamander Resort & Spa

Middleburg, VA
Splendor in the grass. Photo by Facebook.com/SalamanderResort

Nestled in the scenic Northern Virginia countryside, Salamander Resort & Spa reserves presidential perks for Very Important Pups. Each of the elegant pet-friendly rooms are located on the ground floor to provide convenient access to the dedicated grassy relief area with waste station and miles of walking trails on the property’s 340 acres of lush grounds. In addition, all rooms come equipped with a bevy of pet privileges that include a plush doggy bed, food and water bowls, waste bags, fresh-baked organic treats, a "Dog In Room" door sign and a special toy. Furry friends are permitted to join you for a cool drink on the outdoor terrace at the on-site Gold Cup Wine Bar. The Salamander’s gracious staff will also give Fido the star treatment he deserves by snapping a puparazzi photo while he struts his stuff in front of the step-and-repeat backdrop on the turf dog walk near the resort’s entrance. Just remind him to bark “Cheese!”

Take a short drive to downtown Middleburg and soak in its signature small-town ambiance and picturesque historic district. And if Fido fits in with the wine and cheese crowd, head to Chrysalis Vineyards, one of the East Coast's most respected wineries. Your four-legged sommelier can sniff the bouquet before you savor a glass of Virginia's finest vino. Leashed dogs are permitted on the grounds and in the outdoor picnic area, but are not allowed inside buildings.

Salamander Resort & Spa welcomes two dogs of any size for an additional fee of $130 per stay. Room rates start at $350 per night.

Do you have a favorite pet-friendly hotel in the South? Leave a comment or tweet us @BringFido!

Banner photo by Facebook.com/SalamanderResort.