The Top Pet-Friendly Vacation Locations: Superb Sojourns With Your Furry Friends

Going on family vacations usually means enjoying holidays with your loved ones, including your fur babies. After all, bringing your pets on your travels can be a transformative experience for everyone.

Travelling with your pets fosters stronger bonds, enabling you to create unforgettable memories together. The delight and infectious enthusiasm of your pets can add an extra layer of joy to your journey as well.

Bringing your four-legged family members also alleviates your worries about leaving them behind. Since they’re with you, you can ensure their safety, well-being, and happiness.

A holiday with your furry friends is a great opportunity to ensure their comfort in Bergan pet carriers, and to pamper and reward them with treats and toys that can make their journey comfortable and fun from start to end. Moreover, with so many pet-friendly holiday destinations, including your four-legged family members in your travel plans is now easier.

 

Pet-Friendly Holiday Destinations in the MENA Region

If you’re planning a holiday or staycation in the Middle East with your furry pals, below are five pet-friendly destinations to put on your list:

 

1. Hatta

Hatta, a quaint village in Dubai, leads the pack of dog- and cat-friendly vacation spots in the Middle East. You and your furry friends will certainly love Hatta where felines and canines, even the stray ones, can freely stroll around and receive care, love and protection.

Out of all the hotels and accommodations in Hatta, 60% are pet-friendly. These include the JA Hatta Fort Hotel, Alberi Lodge and Hatta Orchard.

Here, you can go on a hike, take in the beautiful waters of the Hatta Dam and walk around the lovely village. Hatta also has many restaurants and cafes that welcome canines and felines.

 

2. Al Ain

This emirate is another popular destination among pet lovers for various reasons. Firstly, 40.82% of Al Ain’s accommodations offer special amenities, services and perks for dogs and cats. The Farm Chalet, Bzxmax Guest House and Moods Holiday Homes are some of your best options.

Additionally, many of the city’s popular tourist attractions welcome pets. These include parks and other outdoor spaces.

You also have plenty of activities to do with your pets in Al Ain. You can play a variety of Chuckit! toys with your furry friends at the local parks and other outdoor spaces.

Many pet-friendly restaurants and cafes also abound in Al Ain, several of which have separate menus for your furry friends.

 

3. Riyadh

The capital city of Saudi Arabia is more than just the country’s cultural centre. It is also one of the top pet-friendly destinations in the Middle East.

31.81% of Riyadh’s accommodations are pet-friendly. These include Four Seasons Riyadh, Aquarium Hotel, and Airbnb rentals found around the city.

The city has several spots where you can enjoy long walks with your dog, including King Abdullah Sidewalk in Prince Sultan University and Hyde Bark.

Another great thing about going on a holiday in Riyadh with your four-legged friends is the variety of restaurants and cafes catering to them. For instance, Luca Land has several dining options for both owners and pets and spaces where dogs can play and frolic.

 

4. Cairo

The capital city of Egypt is another popular destination among pet lovers for various reasons. Firstly, 29.55% of Cairo’s hotels offer special amenities, services and perks for dogs and cats. Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at First Residence, Lotus Hotel and City View Hotel are some of your best accommodation options.

Additionally, many of the city’s popular tourist attractions welcome pets. These include the following:

• The Corniche
• Qahwa Khan
• Wadi Degla Protectorate
• The Waterways

Cairo also has several restaurants and cafes where you can dine with your furry friends. You can enjoy authentic local food, different international cuisines and various dining experiences with all your travelling companions.

 

5. Marrakech

The vibrant and bustling capital city of Morocco ranks high on cat- and dog-friendly international destinations with 29.45% of its accommodations accepting pets. Examples of these are Bliss Riad Marrakech, Dar Ayniwen Garden Hotel & Bird Zoo and Fellah Hotel.

You can take your pets in their crate or Flexi dog leash for walks around Marrakech, including their famous markets. Some companies permit canines to join their humans on private tours in the desert as long as they are with your exclusive party.

You can find several parks, restaurants and cafes in Marrakech that allow pet owners to bring their furry friends.

 

Top 10 Pet-Friendly Travel Destinations in the MENA Region

City	Country	% of Pet Friendly Hotels
Hatta	UAE	60.00%
Al Ain	UAE	40.82%
Riyadh	Saudi Arabia	31.81%
Cairo	Egypt	29.55%
Marrakech	Morocco	29.54%
Ras Al Khaimah	UAE	24.82%
Abu Dhabi	UAE	21.32%
Mecca	Saudi Arabia	14.85%
Muscat	Oman	12.83%
Doha	Qatar	11.59%

 

Pet-Friendly Vacation Destinations in the World

With hundreds of pet-friendly hotels, Hatta, Al Ain, Cairo, Riyadh, and Marrakech are some of the best places to go on holidays with your four-legged friends. However, you can also consider these cities, which rank high among travellers with pets:

 

1. Frankfurt

75.29 % of accommodations in Frankfurt are pet-friendly, making it a highly recommended destination for you and your four-legged friends. Ambassador Hotel Frankfurt, Bristol Hotel Frankfurt and Grand Hotel Downtown are some of the city’s most popular hotels that welcome pets.

Frankfurt has many attractions where you can bring your pets. Examples of these are:

• Bockenheimer Anlage
• Hunde-Freilaufgehege am Grüneburg Park
• Hundeauslauffläche im Rebstock Park
• Solmspark

Many restaurants, cafes and bars allow pets to dine with their owners indoors or in their outdoor dining areas.

 

2. Washington

Washington is one of the best cities in the USA to visit with your furry pals. 57.42% of its hotels welcome four-legged guests.

Hotel Madera, Conrad Washington DC and Waldorf Astoria Washington DC are some of the top hotels where you can stay with your fur babies.

You and your furry pals can visit many of Washington’s famous attractions, including the following:

• Theodore Roosevelt Island
• Meridian Hill Park
• The Tidal Basin
• National Mall

Many restaurants and bars in Washington allow customers to bring their pets, especially those with outdoor dining areas.

 

3. Munich

If you want to visit a pet-friendly city steeped in rich history, culture and art, Munich should be at the top of your list.

57.40% of Munich’s hotels have amenities and services catering to pets. These include DO & CO Hotel München, Business Suiten and Mandarin Oriental, Munich.

Several attractions in Munich let you and your pet commune with nature and get some exercise. The most notable ones are:

• Englischer Garten
• Olympiapark
• Westpark
• Ostpark

Most restaurants and bars with al fresco dining areas allow your pets to dine with you.

 

4. Zurich

Zurich is another European city popular among animal lovers. 53.49% of its hotels can accommodate you and your furry pals. These include B2 Hotel Zürich, Baur au Lac and Small Luxury Hotel Ambassador Zurich.

Many of Zurich’s famous attractions are pet-friendly. Some of these are:

• Heiligfeld Park
• Waid Vantage Point
• Lake Promenade
• Cassiopeia Boardwalk

There are also plenty of cafes and restaurants in Zurich where you and your group can enjoy the city’s most amazing food and drinks.

 

5. New York

Although New York is known as a busy metropolitan city, it ranks high on pet-friendly destination lists, with 47.83% of its hotels and accommodations welcoming dogs and cats.

Some of its popular pet-friendly hotels include The Hotel Chelsea, The Whitby Hotel and Crosby Street Hotel. Examples of the best places you can visit here with your fur babies are:

• Central Park
• Prospect Park
• Brooklyn Bridge Park
• Coney Island
• Madison Square Park

Complete your holiday here by enjoying great meals, snacks and drinks at New York’s many dining spots that welcome pets. 

 

Top 15 Pet-Friendly Travel Destinations Around The World

Ranking	City	Country	% of Pet Friendly Hotels
1	Frankfurt	Germany	75.29%
2	Washington	United States of America	57.42%
3	Munich	Germany	57.40%
4	Zurich	Switzerland	53.49%
5	New York, NY	United States of America	47.83%
6	Stockholm	Sweden	41.21%
7	Vancouver	Canada	41.08%
8	Prague	Czech Republic	40.05%
9	Los Angeles, CA	United States of America	38.85%
10	Berlin	Germany	38.21%
11	Buenos Aires	Argentina	38.13%
12	Kraków	Poland	38.11%
13	Mexico City	Mexico	37.36%
14	Tbilisi	Georgia	37.10%
15	Toronto	Canada	36.84%

 

Least Pet-Friendly Destinations

Although many places are now pet-friendly and more are following suit, there are still some well-known vacation spots that are not as accommodating of four-legged guests.  

These include:

 

1. Zhuhai

Zhuhai is a popular tourist destination in China. It has recently implemented several laws, making it one of the top pet-friendly places in the country.

However, the city still has a lot to do to be more accommodating of dogs, cats and other animals. At present, it does not have any pet-friendly hotels (0%).

 

2. Sapporo      

Sapporo is currently grappling with stray animal overpopulation problems. However, many government and non-government organisations are working hard to curb this problem and find the dogs and cats temporary shelters and permanent homes.

Many hotel and accommodation owners are also working on making their facilities more pet-friendly since only 1.20% welcome four-legged guests.

 

3. Singapore   

Singapore has recently made headlines with animal cruelty and welfare cases increasing in 2023. It is also an unpopular destination for holidaymakers with furry companions since only 1.54% of its hotels and accommodations are pet-friendly.

This Asian city has a long way to go to welcome visitors with their furry friends.

 

4. Fukuoka

The gorgeous coastal city of Fukuoka has its fair share of animal hoarding and abandonment issues. But its local government and residents are banding together to make it more pet-friendly and safe.

Fukuoka is also aiming to increase its pet-friendly accommodations, which is only 1.75% now.

 

5. Beijing

Beijing has been plagued with animal welfare problems for years, making it one of the least pet-friendly cities in the world. Additionally, canine restrictions are a huge issue here.

There is also a limited option for accommodations suitable for pets in this city, with only 3.61% of its hotels accommodating four-legged guests.

 

The 10 Least Pet-Friendly Travel Destinations

Ranking	City	Country	% of Pet Friendly Hotels
1	Zhuhai	China	0.00%
2	Sapporo	Japan	1.20%
3	Singapore	Singapore	1.54%
4	Fukuoka	Japan	1.75%
5	Beijing	China	3.61%
6	Kyoto	Japan	4.45%
7	Tokyo	Japan	4.58%
8	Kuala Lumpur	Malaysia	5.20%
9	Bangkok	Thailand	5.59%
10	Osaka	Japan	5.66%

 

Enjoying Your Holidays With Your Four-Legged Family Members

Knowing the best destinations to go with your furry pals ensures you have a fantastic holiday with them. However, you also need to prepare well for your journey with them, especially if you are travelling internationally.

Below are some tips to help you have a smooth, stress-free travel with your pets:

• Research your destination’s pet entry, vaccination, health certificate requirements, and rabies status.
• Consult your veterinarian for travel-specific advice and ensure your pet’s microchip and ID tags are up to date.
• Invest in comfortable and secure dog carrier bags suitable for air travel.
• Pack pet essentials, including food, medications, and favourite toys.
• Familiarise your pet with their carrier a few weeks ahead of travel to acclimate them to the confined space and help reduce their stress.

By choosing the right destination and with careful planning, your holiday can be a delightful and memorable adventure for you, your family, and your beloved pets.

 

Methodology and Sources

For global data, we looked at Euromonitor’s 2023 Index on the Top 100 City Destinations to know the top 100 most popular vacation destinations. We then collected data from Booking.com, analysing the total number of rental properties in each city.

We took the total number of rentals that are listed as 'pets allowed', and to normalise the number, we took a percentage.

We removed any areas with under 20 rental properties listed.

For the Middle East, we looked at the top 15 most popular staycation destinations (that people can travel to from the UAE) and took the total number of rentals in each location. We then compared the total number of rentals to the number of pet-friendly properties to get the percentage of pet-friendly rentals in each location.