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Pet Friendly Florida
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Choosing a Hotel

Pet-Friendly Hotels in Florida

Weight limits, per-stay versus per-night fees, whether a pet can be left alone, and why a beachfront hotel is not a dog-beach hotel.

Updated September 7, 2026 4 min read By

Florida has thousands of hotels that accept pets, but the phrase pet-friendly can mean almost anything.

One hotel may allow two 75-pound dogs for a flat per-stay fee.

Another may allow only one 20-pound dog.

Another may accept dogs and cats.

Another may technically accept pets but prohibit them from nearly every resort area.

This guide explains how to choose the right Florida hotel for your pet.

Start With the Destination

The best pet-friendly hotel is usually the one close to the places your dog can actually use.

Examples:

St. Augustine

A hotel near beaches where leashed dogs are allowed can be extremely convenient.

Miami Beach

A beachfront hotel may still be far from one of the city’s designated Bark Beaches.

Destin

A pet-friendly beachfront hotel does not give ordinary dogs legal access to the beach.

Naples

A pet-friendly beach resort does not override the city’s prohibition on ordinary pets on city beaches.

Major Hotel Brands With Pet-Friendly Properties

Florida has pet-friendly properties across many major hotel groups, including:

  • Hilton
  • Marriott
  • Hyatt
  • IHG
  • Wyndham
  • Choice Hotels
  • Red Roof

But brand-wide rules are not always identical.

Always check the individual property.

Extended-Stay Hotels

Extended-stay brands can be particularly useful for pet travelers.

Benefits may include:

  • Kitchen
  • Larger room
  • More storage
  • Longer-stay pricing
  • Laundry
  • Less reliance on restaurant dining

Examples include properties under brands such as:

  • Residence Inn
  • Homewood Suites
  • TownePlace Suites
  • Candlewood Suites

Resort Hotels

Resorts can be great for humans but awkward for pets.

A resort may accept dogs in guestrooms while prohibiting them from:

  • Pool deck
  • Beach
  • Restaurant
  • Spa
  • Fitness center
  • Lawn areas

Read the fine print.

Weight Limits

Current Florida hotel examples show how much policies vary.

Examples we have researched across the site include:

  • La Concha Key West: small-dog restriction
  • W Fort Lauderdale: 45-pound maximum
  • Andaz Miami Beach: up to 50 pounds for one dog or 75 pounds combined for two
  • Homewood Suites Destin: up to 75 pounds
  • Residence Inn Naples: lower weight limit than some nearby alternatives

Never assume your dog fits the policy.

Number of Pets

Hotels may allow:

  • One pet
  • Two pets
  • More under special approval

Two-dog travelers should check this before booking.

Cats

Some hotels welcome:

  • Dogs only

Others allow:

  • Dogs and cats

Cat travelers should never rely on a generic pet-friendly filter without checking.

Pet Fees

Pet fees may be:

  • Per stay
  • Per night
  • Per pet
  • Refundable deposit
  • Nonrefundable cleaning fee

Why Per-Stay Fees Can Be Better

Example:

A hotel charging $100 per stay can be cheaper for a week than one charging $25 per night.

Always calculate the entire stay.

Ask Whether Pets Can Stay Alone

This is one of the most important questions in Florida.

You may want to visit:

  • Theme park
  • Museum
  • Boat tour
  • Restaurant
  • Beach where dogs are prohibited

Hotels may require:

  • Crating
  • No unattended pets
  • Owner reachable by phone
  • Pet removed for housekeeping

Check the Relief Area

A downtown or beachfront hotel may accept pets but have almost no grass nearby.

Look for:

  • Pet relief area
  • Park
  • Grass
  • Sidewalk
  • Shade

Check Pavement

Florida sidewalks can become dangerously hot.

A hotel surrounded by asphalt may be difficult for midday bathroom breaks.

Beachfront Is Not the Same as Dog-Beach Front

This matters in:

  • Miami Beach
  • Fort Lauderdale
  • Naples
  • Destin
  • Panama City Beach
  • Pensacola Beach

Always compare the hotel with the actual legal dog-beach location.

Best Hotel Type by Pet Traveler

Large Dog

Look for properties with:

  • 50+ pound limits
  • No weight limit
  • Ground-floor access

Two Dogs

Prioritize:

  • Explicit two-pet policy
  • Per-stay fee rather than per-pet nightly fee

Cat

Filter for properties that explicitly allow cats.

Long Stay

Consider:

  • Residence Inn
  • Homewood Suites
  • Candlewood Suites
  • TownePlace Suites
  • Vacation rental

Noise-Sensitive Dog

Avoid:

  • Major nightlife districts
  • Race weekends
  • Bike Week
  • Festival weekends

Best Florida Hotel Area by Trip Type

Beach Trip

Stay close to a legal dog beach, not just the ocean.

Theme-Park Trip

Choose a hotel with a practical plan for daycare or boarding when ordinary pets cannot accompany you.

Road Trip

Exterior-access hotels or simple properties near interstate corridors can be easier for quick bathroom breaks.

Luxury Trip

Read resort restrictions carefully.

Hotel Booking Checklist

Before booking, ask:

  • Dogs or cats?
  • How many pets?
  • Weight limit?
  • Breed limits?
  • Pet fee?
  • Per night or per stay?
  • Per pet?
  • Can pet stay alone?
  • Crate required?
  • Pet relief area?
  • Grass nearby?
  • Distance to legal dog beach?
  • Parking fee?
  • Resort fee?

Sources

  • Hilton pet-friendly hotels: https://www.hilton.com/en/pet-friendly/
  • Marriott pet-friendly hotels: https://www.marriott.com/en-us/ways-to-stay/pet-friendly
  • Hyatt pet-friendly travel: https://www.hyatt.com/explore-hotels/pet-friendly
  • IHG pet-friendly hotels: https://www.ihg.com/content/us/en/pets