Christmas with dog in posh hotel?

[Choppychop]

This Christmas im finding myself alone for the first time. I normally either fly to my family (international, every 2 or 3 years) or I stay with distant family in the UK. Occasionally that’s not an option so I stay with my best friend and her husband and their siblings. This year I’m unable to travel to my home country and my best friend is going to her home country with her husband. My UK family are all scattered and not celebrating together so I had this idea that I’d book a fancy dog friendly hotel in London (think Ritz) as some are dog friendly and take my little dog and have a fancy few days over Christmas been treated like royalty. Does this sound like a waste of money? I think we’d love it. Room service, walks around Hyde park, maybe volunteer to feed the homeless on Christmas eve. Im very tempted!

Homeless charities are glutted with Christmas Day/Eve volunteers. If you feel strongly about volunteering, do it at a time of year when they need people.

I agree with a couple of pps about even the most dog-friendly hotels being quite restricted in what you can do with your dog once there, you not being able to eat in the restaurants etc. I think you may just feel very cooped up in your room in a city that’s quiet and familiar, with a real trek necessary for a canine wee. I’d find myself a beach cottage with wonderful walks on the doorstep and bring a load of wonderful food and drink.

I agree - the lovely cottage on the beach or similar would be my choice. And even the priciest per week at Xmas would probably be the same as per night at the Ritz!

Sounds great

Sounds fabulous to me

A few years back I spent Christmas with my exDH, DDs and ex MIL at Luton Hoo. It’s less than an hour from London. MIL had her dog and her room had a little fenced courtyard that she could let him out into. There are rolling grounds for walking, a spa, loads of organised activities such as race nights, carol services. It was amazing and I’d highly recommend it 😊

To be honest if you live in London, I’d just stay home! Personally I’d want access to all my amenities at home like heated mattress, smart lighting, TV set up etc for Christmas films etc. I’m sure a 5* hotel would be comfortable but personally I’d find it a faff, as my set up at home is 100% tailored to my needs.

Central London on the night of Christmas Day is actually super busy - lots of people go in to look at the lights, even though all the shops are shut. We did it a couple of years ago after eating Christmas dinner - walked along Oxford Street, down Regent Street, along Piccadilly and back up Bond Street. Very very busy but lovely festive atmosphere. So if you do want people, you can definitely have them if you stay somewhere central to that area.

very nice! Hubby and I do this in Reims every year after Christmas. We stop by a very beautiful dog friendly chateau. Lovely walks with the dog, siestas. Champagne…
my mum took my dog (granny and grand dog day ) to the Egerton Hotel in Knightsbridge- they do doggy afternoon tea too.

Sounds perfect but I love the sea and I would rent a lovely cottage by the sea . Plenty dog friendly. Enjoy !

Absolute bliss! Treat yourself and you and pooch can make wonderful memories x

Sounds amazing, OP. Treat yourself and your lovely little dog.

Sounds wonderful but if you want an alternative, we took our (big, quite smelly) dog to Chewton Glen in the New Forest. I imagine it would be magical at Christmas with a lovely walk to the sea.

Can I come with you? Sounds perfect!

This is actually my dream. Please do it so that I can
live vicariously through you!

According to AI, the Egerton House Hotel and the Rosewood are luxury hotels in London which allow dogs. One of those two mentioned that they have a special canine tea.
https://egertonhousehotel.com/about/pets

I used to take my 35kg rescue greyhound to the Murraypark in Crieff, he was treated like a Lord and allowed absolutely anywhere he wanted to go. It was always beautifully decorated at Christmas and had a fab ceilidh at night. Happy days.

When my friend comes to Scotland, he always stays in a five star hotel in Glasgow with his two dogs. He’s done this for years and it’s worked out really well. My thoughts are that the more expensive the hotel, the more likely they will accommodate their guests. It doesn’t look like you’re interested in dining in the restaurants so that won’t be a problem and dogs are always welcomed in more casual bar areas anyway.

Love the idea of London, though I’d consider https://www.burghisland.com/ for a change, too.

Lots of great ideas here, thanks! I love central London at Christmas, it’s so pretty. I just really want a 5 star hotel experience too so it seemed like a good idea. Has anyone watched Hannah Rickets 5 star hotel series on you tube? It’s really given me the itch to book one for a couple of nights, but also worry it’s a waste of money. Christmas seemed like the perfect time to spoil myself.

Sounds fabulous! I wish I could do that tbh...!!

Forgive me for being negative, but won’t the restaurant be full of families? I think it would make me feel a bit lonely in a crowd. My other worry would be they’d give me a rubbish room because I have a dog (had that happen a few times in hotels).

I think a seaside cottage would be lovely, I stayed in an old seaside cottage last winter and I think it was haunted! A bell rang at odd hours and my dog would stare at the ceiling and at the walls for hours with a low growl. A bell rang at 8 am exactly and no one else lived in this cottage. This was in Broadstairs. .

Not a waste of money at all - do it, and let us know how fantastic a time you had! Personally, I'd prefer a beach or country cottage - but you do you. Do it fabulously, and don't regret a single pound!

I understand, yes I guess there will be families. I’m not a lonely person! I have lots of friends and family and I love people. I’m just wanting a new fun experience when I will be alone.

It is possible the hotel would give me a bad room for being with a dog, but possibly they’ll upgrade me for being alone at Christmas?