Is Marriott Pet-Friendly?

It’s vacation time, and the whole family is packed and ready to enjoy some days off — including your four-legged (or feathered or scaly) family member.

Some hotels, including those within the Marriott brand, throw you a bone by letting you bring your pets on trips. Let’s take a look at the Marriott pet policy and how it compares to other hotel chains.

Marriott has a pets welcome policy stating, “We recognize that your pets are a valued part of your family, which is why we offer our guests a selection of hotels that invite you to bring your domesticated pets along for your stay within our global portfolio of brands.”

There are more than 1,500 pet-friendly Marriott hotels in the U.S. that allow stays for dogs, cats, birds and fish.

Nonrefundable pet cleaning fees ranging from $20 to $250 either per night or per stay may apply. Additionally, many properties impose pet weight limits ranging from 25 pounds to 70 pounds.

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Depending on the property, animals might not be allowed at the spa, pool or restaurant areas. Be sure to contact the hotel you are staying at to learn more about its specific pet policy.

To avoid ending up in the doghouse instead of a hotel room, we recommend checking an individual hotel’s pet policy carefully before booking a stay.

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Marriott pet-friendly brands include but are not limited to:

• AC Hotels.

• Aloft.

• Delta Hotels.

• Element by Westin.

• Le Méridien.

• Moxy.

• Residence Inn.

• TownePlace Suites.

• W Hotels.

• Westin.

Overall — and frustratingly — the Marriott pet policy is rather inconsistent across its brands, let alone within a single hotel brand.

For example, various Four Points locations can have widely different pet policies, even though it’s the same brand.

• Four Points by Sheraton Chicago-O’Hare Airport: Pets are not allowed.

• Four Points by Sheraton Los Angeles International Airport: Dogs under 40 pounds welcome; $100 nonrefundable fee per stay.

• Four Points by Sheraton Salt Lake City Airport: Only dogs under 70 pounds are welcome; $20 nonrefundable pet fee per night plus $50 nonrefundable pet fee per stay.

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All Marriott hotels located in the U.S. allow service animals, per the Americans with Disabilities Act. The pet cleaning fee isn’t charged in this case, which allows you to fetch a great deal on a hotel stay with an animal.

If you have a service animal and are traveling outside of the United States, you’ll have to read each property’s terms carefully. On the “Overview” page of any Marriott hotel’s website, scroll to “Accessible Hotel Features” and look for the indication that service animals are welcome.

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On the Marriott website, search for a destination and travel dates as you normally would. On the results page, select the “Pets welcome” filter, and your results will automatically narrow down to only properties that allow pets.

In the Marriott app, search for the destination and travel dates. Once the search results pop up, select filters and check the “Pets welcome” box.

Once you select a pet-friendly hotel and pick a room rate, select “Choose Room Features” and check the “Bringing a pet” box. You’ll also be able to view an individual hotel pet policy, which includes the number of pets allowed and the pet fees.

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Oftentimes, the cost of boarding an animal will have you rolling over playing dead. The comfort of being able to bring your furry, scaly or feathered friend with you for a complete family trip can turn even a midrange hotel into a five-star feeling.

Thankfully, plenty of Marriott’s brands allow pets. But policies are unpredictable across the properties, so you'll have to read the fine print at each hotel you’re considering.