Bringing your companion to a dog friendly hotel in Paris
Plenty of travellers give up on a trip because they cannot face leaving their dog in a kennel. Others book a hotel that says it accepts animals, only to find a single designated room at the end of a corridor. A true dog friendly hotel in Paris works differently: the dog is part of the booking from the start, and the team treats it as a guest rather than an exception. At the Hôtel Pas de Calais, dogs are welcome. The hotel’s frequently asked questions say so without small print.
A family business now in its fourth generation, the house counts many regulars who never travel without a dog on a lead. The rule is simple: dogs only, announced when you reserve, which lets the staff ready the room and write down any particular need. A short message is enough, and it saves a conversation at the desk on arrival.
The rooms themselves are not special kennels. They are the same rooms every guest sleeps in, each with its own decor and a good amount of comfort, so the choice depends on how much floor space you and your companion prefer. The descriptions of every category list the surfaces in square metres, which helps when a large dog needs room to stretch out. Ask the team which door suits your companion best; they know every room by heart and will suggest one close to the staircase if that makes the walks easier.
Rooms guests with dogs often choose:
- The Superior Room, 17 square metres for a small breed
- The Luxury Room, roomier for a medium breed
- The Suite, the largest floor for a big dog
- The Family Room, two rooms when the whole family travels
Whatever the category, double glazing keeps the street noise out, which helps a dog settle into an unfamiliar place. The staircase is short, and the walk to the front door is quick when a late evening outing is needed. One limit applies to people rather than dogs, since wheelchair access is not possible here. Choosing a dog friendly hotel means choosing a team that answers questions honestly, and that is the approach the house takes on every point.
Mornings and evenings at home, with the dog at your feet
Breakfast is the first routine of the day in any dog friendly hotel, and here it is relaxed. The continental buffet waits in the glass-roofed veranda, among the climbing greenery, or brought up on a tray for those who prefer to start the morning in the room with their companion. The services page lists the full spread, from croissants to eggs prepared on request.
Guests who travel with a dog often prefer the tray, especially on the first morning, while the animal gets used to the new place. The team brings it up without fuss, and the timing can be arranged the evening before.
A dog friendly hotel also has to think of the small practical moments. The desk can point you to a pet shop in the quarter if food runs short, and a dog waiting patiently in the lounge while you collect a key never raises an eyebrow. For a hotel that welcomes dogs, those small gestures matter as much as the room itself, and they are what regulars mention when they come back the following year. Allergies or particular diets for the humans in the party are recorded through a questionnaire sent before arrival.
Comforts the Hôtel Pas de Calais provides:
- A breakfast tray, carried up to the room
- Reception day and night, for an early walk or a late return
- Laundry service, handy after a muddy park
- Concierge advice, on parks and quiet streets nearby
When evening comes, the veranda turns into the hotel bar, where champagne, wine and a selection of spirits are poured in comfortable armchairs. It is a calm room, with no music blaring and no crowd, so a well-behaved dog lying beside the armchair is rarely noticed, and the staff are well used to four-legged guests.
Dinner is taken outside the house, since there is no restaurant on the premises, and that is rarely a problem in this quarter. Paris is used to dogs in cafés and bistros, and many neighbourhood tables accept them on a lead under the table. The concierge can suggest addresses known for welcoming animals, which saves a refusal at the door after a long day of walking.
Walking a dog through Saint-Germain and along the Seine
Saint-Germain-des-Prés is a pleasant quarter for a dog. Pavements are wide on the boulevard, side streets are calm, and the river is a few minutes away for the longest walk of the day. Rue des Saints-Pères itself slopes gently down to the quays, where the lower level by the water offers space away from the traffic and a breeze on warm days.
The banks of the river are also some of the most beautiful in Europe. They are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, and walking them at dawn, with the dog in front and the city still quiet, is one of the pleasures guests describe most often. Later in the day, bookstalls and benches give reasons to pause.
Practical help for travelling with a dog:
- Advance notice, so the room is ready on arrival
- The airport shuttle, arranged before you land
- A chauffeur, for a day trip with the dog
- Luggage storage, on the day of departure
Getting around with a dog takes a little planning in any capital. Our journal’s article on moving around the city from the hotel compares the options, and the team will gladly explain which routes suit a day on foot. Most of the quarter’s attractions, from the antique galleries to the public gardens, can be reached without public transport at all.
The Hôtel Pas de Calais also makes a good base for a day beyond the city. A chauffeur booked by reception can drive you towards the forests west of Paris for a long run in the open, then back in time for dinner on the Left Bank. Closer to home, the side streets of Saint-Germain are at their quietest early on Sunday, when shutters are down and the pavements belong to walkers and their dogs. That is the kind of morning a dog friendly hotel in Paris makes possible.
A dog friendly hotel in Paris should make the whole stay simpler, from the first message to the last morning walk. Reserving on our site means the best price we show anywhere, and you can mention your companion straight away. At the Hôtel Pas de Calais, the dog’s name is noted with yours, and both of you are expected.
