11 Best Pet-Friendly Hotels in Carmel, CA

Carmel-by-the-Sea, also often simplified as just Carmel, is one charming town in California. If you’ve never visited this gem, it’s time to make plans! When we were there, we were always captivated by the beautiful beaches, world-class golf courses, and unique shops. It’s also a nice place to bring your furry friend. Knowing Carmel is a pet-friendly place, we decided to bring our dogs with us. Then, the next step was to find the perfect Carmel pet-friendly hotel. If you want to follow our steps and visit the gorgeous Carmel with your pet, you’re at the right place. Below are some of our favorite pet-friendly accommodations, and we’ve stayed at each of them. They have a great location, amazing service, and superb pet amenities. Can’t wait to learn more about them? Keep reading!

Carmel Fireplace Inn

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Surrounded by shops and restaurants, the Carmel Fireplace Inn is the perfect first accommodation option to show you. One of our favorite things about this inn is none other than its courtyard garden. It’s well-maintained and has a decent size. We would always spend our mornings with our dogs there. There was no better way to start the day than by letting the sun kiss our skin and fur. However, you should note that cats aren’t accepted on the property.

When it comes to the policy, this accommodation accepts two dogs up to 25 lbs. There was a little pet fee that we paid every night, and it was 25 USD for each of our dogs. However, like many other hotels. Not all rooms are pet-friendly. Also, your dog may not be left alone in the room. But don’t worry too much as Ocean Avenue is only a couple blocks away from the hotel, so that you can bring your dog there.

Coachman’s Inn, A Four Sisters Inn

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The Coachman’s Inn, A Four Sisters Inn, is a quaint and comfortable lodging that won’t disappoint. We had such a great time at the hotel, and everything was perfect. All the pet policy from this hotel was applied. It welcomes two dogs (no cats) regardless of the size for an extra pet fee of 30 USD for each pet per night. To confirm the availability of the pet-friendly room, you can book it online. We booked ours online, and the overall process was easy and simple.

We were told we couldn’t leave our pets alone in the room during our stay. It was never a problem for us, though. Since our room was clean and big, our doggies enjoyed their time inside with us. We also appreciated how there was a table by the registration desk where we could enjoy our breakfast with our dog. Best of all, the dog-friendly Carmel Beach is only a short walk away. Speaking of beaches, have you read our list of the best beaches in California?

Carmel Garden Inn

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A charming B&B that deserves more attention, Carmel Garden Inn is surely an option that you don’t want to ignore. Like many other pet-friendly hotels near Carmel, CA, this one features a lovely garden setting, which is easily its highlight. Our room wasn’t only big but also came with a private patio, which was the perfect place for us and our dogs to spend our morning. Afterward, we would head to the restaurant for a lovely breakfast. Our dogs were allowed to follow us, which was a huge plus for us.

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When it comes to the pet policy, this inn is pretty generous. If you stay in the Queen Room, you only have to pay an extra pet fee of 25 USD per night. However, note that it can only accommodate one pet. However, if you stay in the King Patio Suite like we did, you’ll have to pay 40 USD for each night. However, the suite accepts two dogs! Also, the hotel provides dog beds, bowls, and treats. To make your doggie’s experience memorable, make sure to also visit the dog-friendly park only a block away from the hotel.

La Playa Hotel

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Are you looking for a hotel with the best views and garden? Look no further than La Playa Hotel! The experience you get at this hotel is like no other. We brought two dogs with us, and since they were both under 40 lbs, they were allowed to stay here. But considering how kind and helpful the staff members were, if your pet is slightly over 40 lbs and well-trained, we’re sure the staff can help you out. The pet fee here is more expensive, though. We had to pay 250 USD for each of our pets. Luckily, the fee covered the entire stay, so we didn’t have to pay every night.

When you’re staying here with your fido, you can only book one of the Garden Patio Rooms or Terrace Suites. However, this wasn’t a problem for us as both were the perfect option for our dogs. We ended up with the Garden Patio Room, which allowed us to enjoy unmatched views of the garden from our patio and access the garden easily. Our dogs had a lot of fun smelling the grasses, running around chasing their newly made friends, and doing their own businesses. Sadly, cats and pit bulls aren’t allowed here.

Svendsgaard’s Inn

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Best Budget. Who says you have to sacrifice comfort when staying at a budget hotel? Svendsgaard’s Inn is here to prove otherwise. We’ve stayed here before, and we are thrilled with our experience. It was nothing fancy, but it had everything we needed. From the moment we arrived and spoke to the front desk staff, we were welcomed with generosity. We brought two of our dogs and paid an additional fee of 25 USD for each of them every night. The fee is actually affordable compared to the rest. Better yet, you can also arrange a pet sitter through the front desk if you want.

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What’s so special about this inn is the fact that it’s not picky at all. Both dogs and cats are allowed to have the best time of their lives here, and you don’t have to worry about any weight policy. In addition to that, treats, water bowls, blankets, and beds are all available for your little one here. However, the highlight has to be the spacious garden where your dog can meet new friends and run around freely.

Tradewinds Carmel

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Most Comfortable. Need some tranquility during your trip to Carmel? Why don’t you spend a few nights at Tradewinds Carmel? This is a charming boutique hotel that will enchant even your doggies. Only moments away from Downtown Carmel, this serene property welcomes dogs and cats with warm hugs and smiles. Each room can only have two pets at max, and during our stay, we paid 100 USD per night as we had two pets with us. If you only have one pet, the fee is only 50 USD. We were happy to know that the staff members were super kind. When we were busy at check-in, they would keep our pets busy and give them treats.

Speaking of which, the hotel also provides pet owners with waste bags in case they need them. Though there weren’t that many pet relief areas on the property when we were there, we could easily find some near the hotel. Lucky for us, the streets weren’t busy, and there were tons of sidewalks. Want to relax and meet new people together with your favorite furry friend? You can spend some time on one of the hotel’s porches or lounge areas.

Carmel Mission Inn

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Of course, we can’t talk about the best Carmel pet-friendly hotel without mentioning Carmel Mission Inn. This inn is a haven for pet owners and their four-legged companions. We had two dogs with us at that time, so we had to pay an extra fee of 150 USD for the entire stay. But if you only have one pet with you, the fee is significantly cheaper, which is 100 USD. However, make sure your pooch isn’t more than 75 lbs. Once we arrived, our dogs received a care package. So thoughtful of the hotel! In addition to that, I was also thrilled to find water bowls scattered throughout the property, allowing dogs to keep themselves hydrated.

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The rooms here are modern and comfortable. Our room was bigger than we first expected, and our dogs loved it a lot. They were jumping around and checking out every corner once they entered the room. But for easy lawn access, you should note that all pet-friendly rooms are on the ground floor. We loved bringing our dogs to the courtyard and meeting other dogs. Want to take a dip in the outdoor pool or work up a sweat in the gym? Feel free to leave your pet inside the crate in your room. Also, don’t forget to spend some time enjoying your snacks on the patio with your dog!

Bernardus Lodge & Spa

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With several green areas on the property and fabulous spa menus, it’s hard not to love the Bernardus Lodge & Spa. First of all, let us tell you that cats are also accepted on the property, which is a huge plus. Who doesn’t fancy an inclusive lodging like this? We stayed there for three nights, and the fee that we had to pay was 300 USD. You only have to pay the pet fee once, and it covers the entire stay. And if you only bring one dog, you only pay half the price of what we paid. During check-in, our dogs were busy playing with the staff members. They gave our furry pals some belly scratches, water bowls, and dog beds.

We really enjoyed our time in our room. It faced the garden and was surprisingly big. Though our pets couldn’t stay in the room without us, we had a fun time playing together. When we were bored, we would play fetch in the garden. We loved seeing our dogs running around and sniffing the flowers there. If you need recommendations about the pet-friendly spots in the vicinity, the staff will be more than happy to help you out.

Quail Lodge & Golf Club

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Set in the stunning Carmel Valley, the Quail Lodge & Golf Club offers you and your pup a five-star experience that you won’t forget. While this lodging is widely loved for its award-winning 18-hole championship golf course, we want to highlight its pet-friendly amenities and service. First of all, this accommodation says yes to both dogs and cats, regardless of their size, which is amazing. It’s hard to find hotels that accept cats nowadays, so it’s great to know it does. There’s, however, an extra fee pet owners have to pay, which is 150 USD per pet. The fee is for the entire stay, and since we brought two of our dogs, we paid 300 USD.

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To ensure our dogs have an enjoyable stay just like we did, the hotel provided them with beds, toys, bowls, and blankets. Though we couldn’t leave them in the room alone because of the policy, we did manage to bring them to the on-site grassy area. It was pretty big, and our dogs had fun there. Oh, the hotel also provides guests with poop bags if needed.

The Vagabond’s House Boutique Inn & Spa Studio

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Best Facilities. If you’re feeling like a mogul and don’t mind spending a lot for an unforgettable trip with your furry friend, look no further than The Vagabond’s House Boutique Inn & Spa Studio! We were welcomed with nothing but smiles when we entered the lodging. While we were busy submitting the vaccination card and paying for the extra fee, the staff members gave our dogs food bowls, blankets, and treats. The thing about staying here is that the fee depends on how many pets you bring. Since we had two pets, we needed to pay 50 USD per night. However, if you only have one pet, the fee will be 30 USD. On the other hand, those bringing three pets have to pay 70 USD.

This boutique hotel is known for its spa services. Of course, we couldn’t just spend our days here without trying them out. What about the dogs, though? Fret not! This hotel also has a certified pet masseur. A pampering spa session with your dog sounds like the perfect way to enjoy your day in Carmel, doesn’t it? Also, if you decide to stay here, don’t forget to check out the courtyard. There’s a lovely water feature there, too.

Carmel Valley Ranch

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Best Overall. There’s no denying that the pet-friendly hotels in Carmel, California, are amazing. However, we don’t think anyone can hold a candle to Carmel Valley Ranch. From its service to amenities, everything about this accommodation is perfect. When we were there, we brought two of our dogs and paid an additional fee of 175 USD per pet for each stay. The good thing is that you don’t have to worry about your pet’s size, as there are no weight restrictions. Plus, cats are accepted, too. We didn’t think the fee was expensive, especially because we were completely spoiled, including our doggies.

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“We’ve never experienced anything like Carmel Valley Branch. The service was splendid, the location was perfect, and the amenities were flawless. Staying there was truly the highlight of our trip.”

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The staff gave our dogs pet bowls, beds, and treats during check-in. Our room was huge and clean, and we were glad when we found out that we could leave our dogs in the room. But what startled us was that there was an in-room dining menu for four-legged guests. During our stay, we would also enjoy our hearty breakfast at the in-house restaurant together with our furry friends, as there were a few pet-friendly tables in the outdoor seating. Are you looking for something adventurous? Feel free to visit the trails near the hotel with your pet!

Our Verdict!

All of the hotels above may have different pet policies and amenities to offer. However, all of them can be the perfect place for you and your four-legged friend. To help you decide which one is the right one for you, we’ve categorized some of our favorite options based on the following criteria:

• Best Overall: Carmel Valley Ranch
• Best Facilities: The Vagabond’s House Boutique Inn & Spa Studio
• Most Comfortable: Tradewinds Carmel
• Best Budget: Svendsgaard’s Inn

Where To Stay in Carmel, CA, with Your Pet?

One of the most pet-friendly places in Carmel is downtown. It’s a super dog-friendly area where furry companions can accompany you in most stores and restaurants. The streets here are charming and pretty, and the shops are worth exploring. Don’t hesitate to explore the secret paths that may (or may not) reveal some hidden gems!

Another neighborhood to consider is Mission Fields. This is a family-friendly area that’s near the beach but also quiet. Want to splurge? The Crossroads Shopping Center is nearby, too. And for dogs, there’s a dog park in the neighborhood. In addition to that, consider Carmel Point! This area is sandwiched between Carmel Beach and Carmel River Beach. The views here are nothing short of breathtaking.

Honestly, no matter where you’re staying in Carmel, you’ll never be too far away from the dog-friendly parks and spots. Plus, the people here are super friendly and welcoming, even to your dogs. Did you know that Carmel is also a great day trip destination from the Bay Area? So, if you’re from there, don’t hesitate to visit this charming town!

Pet-Friendly Restaurants / Bars in Carmel, CA

• The Forge – This bistro-style restaurant is a must-visit. Here, you’ll see many people with their dogs. The patio is pretty big and lovely, and the food here is amazing. Dogs will be served with water and chicken, too.
• Carmel’s Bistro Giovanni – With a dog-friendly outdoor area, this eatery is a popular place among pet owners. From salads to crab cakes and pasta entrees, the menus here are endless. Dogs are greeted with water and a blanket.

Pet-Friendly Activities In Carmel, CA

• Visit Carmel Beach – Of course, going to this world-famous beach is a no-brainer. It’s a popular spot for not only swimmers and sunbathers but also dog walkers. Here, dogs are free to roam the beach off-leash.
• Go to Garland Ranch Regional Park – Visit this beautiful park and thank us later! Dogs are allowed to be off-leash in the designated areas. There are plenty of trails for hikers of all expertise as well.

Best Pet Stores In Carmel, CA

• Diggidy Dog – Are you looking for new, cute accessories for your dogs or cats? Make a stop at Diggidy Dog! It’s home to a wide variety of collars, leashes, toys, treats, and other pet essentials you may need.
• Carmel Dog Shop – This is another great pet store with everything your dog and cat need. Like other amazing pet stores, it offers you a wide collection of high-quality pet accessories and dog food. Pets will receive free treats here!