Whether you’re spending a weekend away or taking a family vacation during the holiday season, most of America’s leading hotel and motel chains are putting out the welcome mat for doggie guests.

However, it’s important to book in advance, as some properties only have a limited number of pet-designated rooms, and at certain times of the year, they sell out quickly. Here are details for 14 pet-friendly properties, but be sure to double-check info with the specific hotel or motel because it can vary within a chain.

1. Affinia Hotels

This chain allows one dog per room and charges a $50 pet fee, whether you stay one day or more. The fee includes provision of food and water bowls, an oversized pet bed, a choice of toys in varying strengths, pet stairs (if you need them for your pooch to access the bed), poop bags, and treats.

2. Four Seasons Hotels

The hotels in this group have different dog-size policies. Some allow dogs up to 60 pounds and others only up to 25 pounds. Some charge a one-time cleaning fee, and others only require you sign a pet waiver. However, there are no pet daily charges or deposits required and no limit to the number of pets per room. Check with the concierge desk about available pet-sitting services.

3. Hilton Hotels

The Hilton’s pets-welcome policy allows one dog in specially designated rooms. There are no additional charges or fees required. The pet amenities provided include a bed made from special Crypton “mess-resistant” fabric. The company also owns, manages, or franchises Conrad Hotels and Resorts, Doubletree, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hampton Inn, Hampton Inn and Suites, Hilton Garden Inn, Hilton Grand Vacations, Homewood Suites by Hilton, and the Waldorf Astoria Collection.

4. Hyatt Hotels

This group adopted a pet-friendly policy in 2012. Its Pampered Paws Program invites dogs less than 50 pounds to stay for a daily fee of about $30. Your pooch will be given VIP treatment, which includes a food bowl, treats, and toys.

5. Intercontinental Hotels Group

This is the umbrella name for well-known chains such as Hotel Indigo, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Candlewood Suites, and Staybridge Suites. All Hotel Indigo properties accept pets. Pet policies vary by location for others in the group, so call ahead or check the website for specific properties. About 50 percent of the country’s 1,000-plus Holiday Inns are pet friendly. Pets are welcome at about 1,800 Holiday Inn Express hotels countrywide. All the Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites throughout the country are pet-friendly. These brands offer apartment-style accommodations with kitchens and are a good choice for extended stays.

6. Kimpton Hotels

Dogs get VIP treatment at this chain of trendy boutique hotels. There is no pet deposit required, no additional room fees, and no limit to the number of pets. Doggie guests are greeted by name, and the concierge desk offers excellent pet-related information about amenities in the vicinity of the hotel, such as pet stores and veterinary assistance.

7. La Quinta Inns

This chain of more than 700 properties doesn’t charge pet-related fees or deposits. There is no limit to the number of pets either. Many of the hotels are franchised properties, though, so check with the reservation desk at the property where you are planning to stay.

8. Loews Hotels

This chain charges $50 per day for pets in the room. Two pets are allowed per room. The special pet room-service menu varies at each hotel but features dishes such as roasted salmon and roasted chicken. On check-in, you can request the “Doggie Pager” service, which equips pet owners with a pager or cell phone to allow hotel staff to contact you immediately in a pet-related emergency. Loews hotel staff assesses a $10 per hour “time out” fee if a pet is left unattended and needs to be removed from a room.

9. Marriott Hotels

Pet policies vary between the individual hotels within the brand’s umbrella, which includes Courtyard by Marriott, Residence Inn, J.W. Marriott, Ritz-Carlton Hotels Renaissance, SpringHill Suites by Marriott, and Fairfield Inn and Suites. For example, the Marquis on Times Square has a no-pets policy, but a couple of blocks away, the Algonquin Hotel, part of the brand’s very stylish Autograph Collection, is very pet-friendly. So be sure to call ahead to ask for hotel-specific details.

10. Motel 6

Reputed to be the first pet-friendly chain in the country, it has been welcoming furry friends since the 1960s. Today, the chain has about 900 properties. There are no additional fees or deposits required, and there is no limit on the number of pets.

11. Quality Inn

This chain allows three pets per room. Dogs may not be left alone in the room unless crated or secured in a carrier. Some establishments may require a refundable deposit. This hotel chain is part of the Choice Hotels group, which generally has a pet-friendly policy. Most properties within the group have designated rooms for people traveling with dogs.

12. Red Roof Inn

Pets stay free at this chain of more than 350 properties. However, they request one pet per room and the hotel must be notified on arrival. Naturally, you will be responsible for any damage you dog may cause.

13. W Hotels

Dogs are very welcome at this trendy hotel chain, which is part of the Starwood Hotel group. Guests traveling with pets must sign a waiver at check-in, agreeing to uphold the guidelines of the hotel’s pet policy, which requests that pets be leashed or in a carrier while in public areas and that the Welcome Desk be notified if pets are to be left unattended in the guest room. Basic amenities, such as a bed and a bowl, are provided, and the chain has an excellent selection of pet accessories at its on-site Whatever/Whenever stores.

14. Westin Hotels

Dogs get the people welcome here, too. There are no additional charges or deposits required, and there are no restrictions on the number of dogs per room. Furthermore, furry guests get to sleep on a Heavenly Bed, a unique pet bed with Westin’s signature white-on-white striped fabric, offering the same level of comfort as their people beds do. Westin hotels are also a part of the Starwood Hotels group but deserve a special mention because they really put out the welcome mat.

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• 7 of the Swankiest Dog Hotels in the World
• Ask the Experts: What Are Your Top Tips for Traveling with Dogs
• Dog Travel Tips: How to Explore a New City with Your Dog
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About the author: Sandy Robins is an award-winning multimedia pet lifestyle expert, author, and spokesperson. She is the 2013 recipient of the Outstanding Journalism and Contribution to the Pet Industry award, presented by the American Pet Products Association, and has authored three books, the latest one being The Original Cat Bible. She is also the co-host of the popular web series Pet Product TV. Sandy lives in southern California with her family and fur kids, cats Fudge and Ziggy, and has been voted “favorite auntie” by every dog on the block. Follow her on Twitter and Facebook.