Bringing a dog or cat along on an Asian trip is far more realistic now than it was even a few years ago. Pet ownership across the region has surged since the pandemic, and the hospitality industry has scrambled to keep up — five-star chains and scrappy boutique properties alike are actively chasing travelers who won’t board their animals to go on holiday. The catch is that the reality rarely matches the glossy marketing. Rules change from country to country, and two hotels flying the same brand flag can run wildly different policies. Confirm everything before you hand over a deposit.

What follows are ten hotel brands I’d genuinely trust when traveling with a pet in 2025, along with the practical details that decide whether a stay goes smoothly or turns into an argument at the front desk.

Why Pet-Friendly Travel in Asia Takes Extra Planning

Most listicles gloss over the hard part. Booking the room is easy; getting your pet legally into the country is where trips fall apart. Japan still enforces one of the strictest regimes in the world — microchipping, two rabies vaccinations, a rabies antibody (FAVN) test at an approved lab, and a 180-day waiting period counted from the date of a passing blood test before your pet can enter. Miss a single step and your animal can be held in quarantine for up to 180 days on arrival. Singapore’s Animal & Veterinary Service issues import licenses and, for pets coming from higher-risk categories, requires you to book quarantine space at the Sembawang facility well in advance. Hong Kong runs a three-tier group system: cats and dogs arriving from Group I and II places like Australia, the UK, and much of Europe can usually skip quarantine with the right permit, while animals from Group III face a mandatory stay.

Then comes the hotel’s own policy, which is decided property by property, not by the brand. A 9 kg weight cap at one location becomes 15 kg at another under the same name. Fees swing from zero to several hundred US dollars per stay. One property allows two pets per room; the one down the street allows exactly one. After years of booking these stays, my routine is simple: call the hotel directly, get the policy sent to you in writing by email, and pin down every deposit, cleaning charge, and breed restriction before committing. A screenshot of a booking page won’t win the argument when a duty manager tells you the rules changed last month.

1. The Peninsula Hotels

The Peninsula still sets the benchmark for old-world Asian luxury, with flagship addresses in Hong Kong, Tokyo, Shanghai, and Beijing. Several locations welcome small dogs — generally under about 9 kg (20 lbs) — and treat them like paying guests, complete with plush beds, ceramic bowls, treats, and at some hotels a dedicated in-room dining menu for pets. The Peninsula Tokyo has long been a quiet favorite among traveling dog owners for precisely this reason. Because the policy is set locally, lock down your specific hotel’s weight limit and fee at the time of booking.

2. Mandarin Oriental

Mandarin Oriental built its name on service that reads your mind before you speak, and that instinct extends to pets at many of its Asian hotels. Depending on the property, your dog might find a bed, bowls, treats, and a personalized welcome note waiting in the room. Bangkok, Tokyo, and Hong Kong are the three I’d check first, though weight caps and the number of pets allowed differ at each. Verify the specifics for your destination rather than assuming the brand standard applies.

3. Shangri-La Group

Shangri-La operates one of the largest luxury portfolios in Asia, and a healthy share of its hotels take pets. Participating properties typically supply beds, bowls, and treats, and the higher-end resorts add extras like dog-walking or pet-sitting on request. Availability is strictly location-by-location here — a city hotel might say yes while a resort in the same country flatly refuses — so contact your chosen property directly instead of trusting the group website.

4. Park Hyatt Hotels & Resorts

Park Hyatt leans understated and residential, which is exactly what you want if your pet gets rattled by a busy lobby. Select hotels in the group welcome small pets and provide the usual comforts — bedding, bowls, treats — usually attached to a per-stay pet fee. The wider World of Hyatt network has steadily expanded pet acceptance across its brands in recent years, so it’s worth asking even at properties that don’t loudly advertise it.

5. Ibis Hotels

Not every trip needs a marble bathroom and a butler. Ibis, part of the Accor family, is the sensible mid-range choice for pet owners who care more about a clean room at a fair rate than a turndown treat for the dog. Plenty of Ibis and Ibis Styles locations across Southeast Asia and Japan accept pets, often for a small fee or none at all. The amenities are basic, but the welcome is genuine — and for a road trip or a one-night city stopover, that’s usually all you need.

6. InterContinental Hotels & Resorts

InterContinental, IHG’s flagship luxury brand, accepts pets at a range of its Asian hotels and resorts. Expect beds, bowls, and treats at participating properties, with resort locations sometimes offering far more room to roam. IHG One Rewards applies as normal, so this is an easy pick if you’re already earning points with the group. Weight limits and fees are, once again, set at the property level.

7. The Broader Accor Network

Look past Ibis and the wider Accor group — Novotel, Pullman, Sofitel, Mercure, MGallery — is one of the most consistently pet-welcoming networks anywhere in Asia. Coverage runs from budget to genuine luxury, which makes Accor a smart backbone for planning a multi-city itinerary where you don’t want to gamble on finding a pet room in each stop. Policies still vary property to property, but the sheer density of participating hotels means you’re rarely left without an option.

8. The Ritz-Carlton

The Ritz-Carlton, under Marriott, brings real polish to pet travel at select Asian addresses. Where animals are welcome, you’ll find thoughtful touches — proper bedding, bowls, treats, and staff who actually know how to handle a nervous dog. Marriott’s brand-wide pet guidance sets the general framework, but individual Ritz-Carlton hotels tighten or relax it, so confirm before you book. Expect fees at the higher end of the range.

9. Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts

Four Seasons is another dependable name for travelers who refuse to compromise on service. Many of its Asian properties accept pets with beds, bowls, and treats, and several resorts will arrange dog-walking or sitting. The chain’s reputation for flexibility means staff routinely go out of their way to accommodate reasonable requests — though that level of attention is reflected in the pet fee.

10. W Hotels

W Hotels, Marriott’s design-forward brand, has been openly pet-forward for years through its “PAW” (Pets Are Welcome) program. Participating W properties across Asia offer pet beds, bowls, and treats, all wrapped in the brand’s loud, playful energy. If you want a place where your dog is treated as part of the scene rather than grudgingly tolerated in the corner, W is the one I’d book.

Tips for Booking a Pet-Friendly Hotel in Asia

A few hard-won lessons will save you real grief. Book direct and get the pet policy confirmed in writing, because third-party sites almost never carry accurate pet terms. Ask specifically about the weight limit, whether the fee is per stay or per night, whether a refundable deposit applies, and any breed restrictions — some hotels quietly turn away certain breeds regardless of size. If you’re traveling with a dog that needs frequent walks, request a ground-floor or garden-access room. And always ask what happens if you need to leave your pet unattended, since many properties forbid it entirely or require you to arrange a sitter.

Sort the paperwork long before you touch a booking site. The best pet-friendly hotel in Asia does you no good if your dog is stuck in quarantine because the rabies test was dated a week too late.