You’ve heard the call of the rugged coastline and pristine natural parks of Big Sur in Carmel-by-the-Sea, a charming city located among this mostly untouched landscape.
It’s only natural that you’ll want to bring your pet along to share this paradise’s sights, smells, and sounds! As such, finding the most suitable accommodation that fits you and your furry friend’s needs is vital.
Carmel residents understand this feeling, so multiple restaurants in the city allow your furry companion to sit under your table with you. Big Sur also has plenty of beautiful beaches for your unleashed pet to run free.
Excited to spend some time at this scenic getaway? In this guide, we’ll explore Big Sur and discover:
- Seven of the best dog- and pet-friendly hotels and other accommodation options in the area
- The style, amenities, and other special features of these options
- What pet policies, rules, fees, and pet-friendly amenities are available when booking a particular stay.
Woof are you waiting for? You can also check out our guide to the best dog-friendly hotels in Carmel-by-the-Sea for more nearby options!
Big Sur Lodge
Accommodation Type: Cottage-Style, Room, Lodge
Pet Policy: Up to two dogs in specified pet-friendly rooms. Extra pet fee of $50 (+ tax) per night. Read the Big Sur Lodge Pet Policy for requirements before, on, and during your stay.
The rustic Big Sur Lodge, nestled deep among the redwoods of Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park (also dubbed “little Yosemite”), has recently welcomed man’s best friend to its lodgings.
A variety of room options are available, sleeping up to four, and with some containing kitchenettes, fireplaces – or both!
The angular roofing adds to the coziness of each cottage alongside the fresh and bright wall paint for a truly serene and restorative feeling.
If food makes or breaks a holiday for you, you’ll love the in-house restaurant’s fresh, seasonal, and organic offerings!
Pick-me-ups in the form of ice cream for the kids and coffee for the adults (among other convenient snacks) are also on offer at the on-site Espresso House.
The lodge even provides shopping options through its onsite gift shop and general store! These will cover all your basic needs, from those crucial camping items you left in your garage to a sweet souvenir to take back to loved ones.
If you’re coming in summer, don’t forget to take a dip in the swimming pool surrounded by the tranquillity of the forest! Deals and discounts also await those looking to hold their events at the venue.
Quail Lodge & Golf Club
Accommodation Type: Resort, room, Lodge
Pet Policy: Up to two pets are welcome per room, with a fee of $150 per pet, per room. This includes a complimentary gift for your furry friend, whether a cat or dog. Quail Lodge provides beds, bowls, toys, blankets, and a grassy area for pet relief.
If you’re looking for a luxurious, resort-like experience with the acreage to match, Quail Lodge & Golf Club could be the perfect choice for you.
This hotel is set on land covering 850 acres, has a sleek aesthetic, and offers a golf course and high-class restaurant serving farm-to-table offerings.
This hotel’s rooms are designed to inspire awe with crisp, modern lines, balanced with the woods and earthy tones of the surrounding landscapes.
There are a variety of size options for your room — some are even decked out with patios, balconies, and fireplaces!
Alongside the elegant room design, spa services and a golf course to practice your swing are also available to unwind in. Health and fitness amenities abound, as well as an on-site pool.
In addition to the activities, Quail Lodge is also a great place for a romantic escape. Covey Grill is an on-site luxurious restaurant providing waterfront dining along Mallard Lake with views on the landscaped gardens.
Ethics are front and center at this establishment, with steaks meeting USDA approval and seafood obtained only from sustainable sources.
It’s important to note that the dinner menu is currently served at the clubhouse nearby due to current renovation work.
Hofsas House Hotel
Accommodation Type: Inn, European, Room
Pet Policy: Up to two dogs are allowed in specified pet-friendly rooms at Hofsas House Hotel, with an extra pet fee of $30 per pet, every night. Hostas House claims to be one of the “most pet-friendly hotels around” with welcome packages, treats, and toys provided.
Nestled in the cute seaside city of Carmel-by-the-Sea, Hostas House Hotel is a delightful location for a relaxing getaway with all the amenities to match.
This begins with the private swimming pool (for guests only) that’s heated year-round. Hostas House Hotel also features two saunas that are split by gender, providing a relaxing and detoxifying dry heat.
A delightful continental breakfast is on offer for you to take according to your liking. You get to eat in the lobby to meet new people, take a tray to your room or a balcony, or have breakfast delivered to your room after 9 am.
We recommend starting and ending your day on the fourth-floor deck with its stunning ocean and sky views and gorgeous sunsets.
Hostas House Hotel has an impressive 75 years of history running as a hotel, but it first began as a small cottage. The decor remains consistent with the style of the house, making the accommodation rustic and homely.
The hotel also offers a poolside meeting facility that can seat up to 40 people, while also being able to be configured for 30 people to sit around round tables for dinner.
While some cooking facilities are provided, guests do have the option of using local catering.
The facility is a truly excellent space for conferences, reunions, meetings, and even small wedding receptions!
The Vagabond’s House
Accommodation Type: Inn, Tudor House, Room
Pet Policy: Pets are permitted in rooms at The Vagabond’s House with an extra pet fee of $30 per pet. Read The Vagabond’s House Pet Policy for expectations from the staff (“Newton’s Paws”) and perks for your pet, such as treats on arrival and a special blanket!
The Vagabond’s House is a 14-room lodging with rooms edging a cute courtyard containing a communal fire pit.
This layout encourages guests to come together to chat and meet new people amid the alluring glow of a fire nestled in beautiful gardens.
Relaxation is at the forefront of this elegant and cozy English-Tudor-style lodge. Rooms offer luxurious soaking tubs and optional breakfast-in-bed service for the ultimate pampering holiday. Even the floors are heated!
It’s important to note that the in-house spa is closed at this time due to Covid-19, along with most of the events and group retreats typically hosted here.
This location is prime for those ready to be enchanted by Carmel-by-the-Sea, as it’s just a few blocks away from downtown Carmel and privy to events such as a farmers market, art walks, and even nightly bagpipe performances in the height of the tourist season.
For any musicians out there, there’s a gorgeous grand piano for you to admire or perhaps even to perform for a small audience!
At The Vagabond, you’ll get to experience the luxury of the old England while lapping up Carmel’s natural scenery.
Ventana Big Sur
Accommodation Type: Resort, rooms, glamping
Pet Policy: Up to two pets are welcome per room, with a one-off pet fee of $150 per dog. At Ventana, luxury is for your pet too. The hotel provides a dog bed and water bowl in your room, and dogs are allowed on the patio during breakfast and dinner. Peruse the “Doggy Brochure” here.
When you think of Ventana, you should start picturing the ultimate in luxury.
This is an adults-only resort of the highest caliber, oozing sophistication at every turn. The same experience applies to your dogs, who will also have access to grooming, veterinary services, and elegant dining experiences.
Adults are encouraged to discover, create, and be inspired in the shadows of the awe-inspiring Redwoods within which this resort is nestled.
Discovery includes foraging, hiking, biking, axe-throwing, and meditation experiences. Creativity might mean beekeeping, portrait drawing, watercolor, and pottery experiences. Inspiration invites you to dabble in yoga, falconry, astrology, and more.
Accommodation includes rooms, suites, and even glamping experiences — camping inside a tent with full furniture, a fire bowl, and luxurious amenities galore.
Each room emanates tranquillity and is the perfect place for humans and pets to come together in peace and harmony.
The on-site spa, Spa Alila, offers a range of experiences with facials, massages and energy work, and more (including couples’ experiences).
After your body is nourished, fill it with the highest-class dining that Ventana has to offer and enjoy dinner that’s only open to resort guests.
Fernwood Campground and Resort
Accommodation Type: Camping, glamping, forest
Pet Policy: Pets are welcome in Campground, RV site, and Tent Cabin accommodation types. Pets are to be kept on a leash and always attended to. They are more than welcome in the Tavern! Pet fees vary depending on the site but typically range between $5 and $10.
Calling campers of all types!
From pure tent and RV sites to glamping options from “adventure tents” with furniture and heaters to lockable “tent cabins” with a fire pit and a picnic table, there’s a forest-nestled experience ready for everyone at Fernwood Campground and Resort.
If you’d prefer, there are also solid four-walled options such as meadow and forest-view cabins and budget motel rooms to keep you out of wind and rain while staying within your budget.
This campground is located in the heart of the Big Sur Valley, adjacent to the sparkling Big Sur River, charming outdoor Tavern (a restaurant bar and grill) and general store – all on site!
There’s also a packed music calendar, weekly “Trivia Tuesday”, and state park activities for the whole family.
When it’s time to rest and rejuvenate for your next adventure, be assured of a restful sleep with the actively enforced quiet hours of 10 pm to 8 am. This camp is well-established and has been serving travelers to Big Sur for over ninety years!
Big Sur Stone House
Accommodation Type: Private home, wedding venue, luxury
Pet Policy: One dog of any size is welcome at the Big Sur Stone House with a pet fee of $250 per stay. By special request, cats may also be allowed in certain circumstances.
As the name suggests, the Big Sur Stone House is an impressive stone dwelling perched upon a hill that overlooks breathtaking private views of the ocean and sky.
This house can sleep up to six people and is commonly used to host weddings and receptions.
To that end, wedding facilities include on-site parking for thirty vehicles and trucks, five bathrooms, kitchen facilities, 70 folding chairs, several outdoor teak benches, and 12 tables that seat over a hundred people.
Of course, you may instead wish to hire this home as your luxury couple’s escape and privately enjoy the full bathroom, bedroom, kitchen amenities, and the beautiful Thai garden.
Aside from that, the Stone House also features three bedrooms (each including one queen bed) and a jetted tub.
Guests report excellent service and fully-stocked pantries and cupboards for all your potential requirements.
Your furry friend simply won’t be able to get enough of this slice of paradise with floor-to-ceiling ocean views – and neither will you!
Key Takeaways
To round out our list, here are a few things to remember when choosing which hotel to stay in during your visit to Big Sur:
Accommodation
- There’s a range of accommodation options available in Big Sur that are pet-friendly, and we’ve highlighted some of the best with this list
- Options range from simple campsites and mid-range lodges to exquisite and exclusive resorts. Some accommodation even have their own dining and shopping amenities!
- Big Sur has a varied landscape. Some hotels are along the coast or in the quaint town of Carmel-By-The-Sea. Other lodgings are deep in the forests or on private resort land
- Consider your budget, pet needs, and location desires when choosing your pet-friendly accommodation in Big Sur.
Pet-Friendly Terms
- Most pet-friendly options refer only to dogs, with a typical maximum of two pups per room.
- A couple of options on our list allow for cats, on request
- Pet-related charges vary. Charges can be one-off for the duration of your stay or be a nightly charge. For the exact fees, it’s best to contact the hotel
- Charges are typically per pet rather than per room, but this also varies. Some charges listed exclude tax, so check this amount when booking
- Typically, the more expensive the accommodation, the higher the pet charge
- Most places will require you to inform the accommodation that you intend to bring a pet when booking, sign a pet waiver on arrival, and follow rules on manners, leashing, and supervision throughout your stay.
With that out of the way, we hope you’re able to find suitable accommodation that fits your needs and has no shortage of gorgeous views.
All that’s left to do is enjoy your relaxed vacation in Big Sur!