Sonesta's pet program is called PAWS, short for Pets Are Welcome At Sonesta. Sonesta says its hotels are pet-friendly and welcome well-mannered pets with no breed or weight restrictions, up to two pets per room or suite, and that pet fees vary by location. In practice, the most common fee in the Sonesta hotels we checked was USD 75 per stay, rising to USD 150 for stays of more than a week at the extended stay brands. Some hotels charge nothing, some charge per night, and some set their own weight limits despite the brand line. Red Lion hotels, now part of Sonesta, set their own fees too.
This guide is based on Sonesta's own PAWS page, its pet-friendly extended stay page and the pet policies on 32 individual Sonesta and Red Lion hotel pages, read in October 2026. Fees and some rules vary by hotel, so check the page for the exact hotel or call before you travel.
Sonesta and Red Lion pet policies we checked
| Hotel | Pet fee | Limits |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Sonesta Washington DC Dupont Circle | Free | Any breed or size |
| Nautilus Sonesta Miami Beach | USD 75 per stay | 2 pets, no weight or breed limit |
| Sonesta Select Dallas Richardson | USD 75 per stay | 2 pets, no weight or breed limit |
| Sonesta Select Tinton Falls, NJ | USD 150 per stay | 2 pets |
| Sonesta Hotel Houston IAH Airport | USD 150 per stay | 1 pet, 40 lb |
| Sonesta ES Suites (sampled hotels) | USD 75 up to 7 nights; USD 150 longer | 2 pets, no weight or breed limit |
| Sonesta Simply Suites Stafford, TX | USD 10 per pet per night | 2 pets |
| Sonesta Essential Des Moines, IA | USD 50 per pet per night | 2 pets, 50 lb each |
| Sonesta Essential Houston Hobby Airport | USD 150 per pet per night plus USD 100 refundable deposit | See hotel |
| Red Lion Inn and Suites Bucyrus North, OH | USD 20 per pet per night | Dogs and cats, 2 pets under 50 lb |
Sonesta's brands at a glance
Sonesta runs several brands, and the pet experience differs a little between them. Royal Sonesta and Sonesta Hotels and Resorts are the full-service brands, often in city centers or resort areas; the hotels we checked there ranged from free to USD 150 per stay, and the pet bed is included with the PAWS amenities. Sonesta Select and Sonesta Essential are select-service hotels; most Select hotels we checked charged USD 75 per stay, while the Essential hotels were the most varied, from USD 75 per stay to USD 150 per pet per night. Sonesta ES Suites and Sonesta Simply Suites are the extended stay brands, with the USD 75 and USD 150 tiers in almost every hotel we checked. Red Lion Hotels and Red Lion Inn and Suites are midscale and economy hotels that set their own fees. Knowing which brand you are booking gives you a rough idea of the fee before you read the hotel page.
The PAWS program
Sonesta's PAWS page sets out the brand-wide basics:
- Sonesta hotels are pet-friendly and welcome well-mannered pets, with no breed or weight restrictions.
- Up to two pets are permitted per room or suite.
- Pet fees vary by location, so check with the individual hotel.
- All Sonesta hotels welcome dogs and cats, and most also welcome small domestic pets.
- There is no fee for ADA service animals; emotional support animals fall under the PAWS terms.
On arrival, Sonesta says you get a PAWS welcome letter and treats. At Royal Sonesta, Sonesta Hotels and Resorts, Sonesta Select and Sonesta Essential hotels, your room gets a pet bed, a water and food bowl and a waterproof mat. At Sonesta ES Suites, Sonesta Simply Suites, Red Lion Hotels and Red Lion Inn and Suites, you get the bowl and mat but no bed. Hotels with outdoor space have a designated pet walking and potty area, and PAWS items such as leashes, bandanas and waste bags are for sale.
How much is the Sonesta pet fee?
Sonesta's own pages now say fees vary by location, but its pet-friendly extended stay page says most hotels charge USD 75 per pet, per stay, and USD 150 for stays longer than one week. The hotels we checked mostly fitted that. Nautilus Sonesta Miami Beach, Sonesta Silicon Valley and three Sonesta Select hotels, in Dallas Richardson, Philadelphia Airport and Atlanta Duluth, charge USD 75 per stay. Every Sonesta ES Suites and most Sonesta Simply Suites hotels we checked charge USD 75 for stays of up to seven nights and USD 150 for longer stays.
Others differ. The Royal Sonesta Washington DC Dupont Circle welcomes pets of any breed or size for free. The Yorkville Royal Sonesta in Toronto charges CAD 150 per stay. Sonesta Select Tinton Falls and Sonesta Hotel Houston IAH Airport charge USD 150 per stay.
Where the "no weight limit" line does not hold
The brand says no breed or weight restrictions, but several hotels set their own. Sonesta Hotel Houston IAH Airport allows one pet of up to 40 pounds. Sonesta Essential Beaumont allows one pet up to 40 pounds, for USD 75 per pet per stay. Sonesta Essential Des Moines allows two pets up to 50 pounds each, for USD 50 per pet per night. Sonesta ES Suites Raleigh Cary welcomes dogs, rather than pets in general. If your pet is large, or you have two, confirm with the hotel rather than relying on the brand line.
Per-night fees at some Sonesta hotels
A handful of hotels charge by the night, which changes the cost of a long stay. Sonesta Simply Suites Stafford near Houston charges just USD 10 per pet per night. Sonesta Essential Junction City in Kansas charges USD 25 per pet per night with no weight restriction. Sonesta Essential Des Moines charges USD 50 per pet per night. The highest we found was Sonesta Essential Houston Hobby Airport, at USD 150 per pet per night plus a USD 100 refundable deposit. Always check how the fee is charged before you book a long stay.
Sonesta ES Suites and Simply Suites for long stays
Sonesta's extended stay brands are the best fit for a move or a long assignment. ES Suites and Simply Suites hotels have suites with kitchens, and the common fee of USD 75 for up to seven nights and USD 150 for anything longer means a month's stay costs USD 150 in pet fees. That is far less than a per-night chain. Sonesta Simply Suites Huntsville Research Park even describes itself as a place to stay on pace until you settle into your new home. Our Extended Stay America pet policy guide compares a competing long-stay chain.
Red Lion pet policy
Red Lion Hotels and Red Lion Inn and Suites are now part of Sonesta and take part in PAWS, but the hotels set their own fees and limits. Red Lion Inn and Suites Bucyrus North in Ohio welcomes dogs and cats, two pets under 50 pounds, for USD 20 per pet per night with no deposit. Red Lion Hotel Harrisburg-Hershey lists a USD 25 daily pet fee, and Red Lion Hotel Pocatello in Idaho lists a USD 15 pet fee. Red Lion Inn and Suites La Pine in Oregon charges a non-refundable USD 100 pet fee for one pet and, unusually, sets a minimum weight of 15 pounds. Several other Red Lion pages we read described themselves as pet friendly without listing a fee, so call those hotels to confirm.
Noise and behavior rules
PAWS has a clear rule on barking. Sonesta says disruptive barking and noise is not allowed. On the first complaint, the hotel will call you on the cell number you gave at check-in. After two noise or disruptive behavior complaints, you may be required to make other arrangements for your pet. Leave a number you will answer, and avoid leaving an anxious dog alone in the room for long.
Cats and other pets at Sonesta
Sonesta says all its hotels welcome dogs and cats, and most will also welcome small domestic pets. Because pet policies vary by property, Sonesta asks you to contact the hotel if you are bringing something other than a dog or cat. Bring a litter box for a cat, and keep small pets in their carrier or cage when housekeeping visits.
Service animals and emotional support animals
Sonesta says there is no fee for service animals as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act that accompany registered guests, and that emotional support animals are not service animals under the ADA and are subject to the PAWS terms, including any pet fee. Under the ADA service animal rules, staff may only ask whether the dog is required because of a disability and what task it is trained to perform. Our guide to service dog hotel rights covers the details.
How to check a Sonesta hotel's pet policy
- Open the hotel's page on sonesta.com and find the Pet Policy section or the pet FAQ.
- Note the fee, whether it is per stay or per night, and any weight or number limit.
- Call the hotel if you have a large dog, two pets, or a pet that is not a dog or cat.
- Give the front desk a cell number at check-in.
Our guide on how to find pet-friendly hotels covers the same checks for other chains.
Questions to ask the hotel
- Is your pet fee per stay or per night, and does it change after a week?
- Do you have a weight limit, even though the brand says none?
- Is there a refundable deposit?
- Where is your pet walking area?
- Can my pet stay in the room alone, and for how long?
A sample stay: three weeks with one large dog
Say you are relocating with one 70 pound dog and need three weeks near your new home. At a Sonesta ES Suites hotel charging USD 75 up to seven nights and USD 150 for longer stays, with no weight limit, the pet fee for 21 nights is USD 150. At Sonesta Essential Des Moines, the dog would be over the 50 pound limit. At Sonesta Hotel Houston IAH Airport, it would be over the 40 pound limit. At a per-night chain charging USD 25 a night, the same stay would cost USD 525. For a long stay with a big dog, a Sonesta extended stay hotel with no weight limit is hard to beat.
Sonesta on a road trip
For a single night on a long drive, a Red Lion or Sonesta Essential with a per-night fee can be the cheapest Sonesta option, while a hotel charging USD 75 per stay is better value if you stop for two or three nights. Check that the hotel is on your route and confirm the fee before you set off. Our road trip with a dog guide covers planning stops and breaks.
Tips for a smooth Sonesta stay
- Ask for the PAWS amenities at check-in if they are not in the room.
- Use the designated pet area where there is one.
- Keep your pet on a leash in public areas.
- Answer your phone if the front desk calls; two complaints can end the stay for your pet.
- Check out the PAWS marketplace if you forgot waste bags or a leash.
How Sonesta compares with other chains
Sonesta's PAWS program is more generous than most on paper, with no breed or weight limits at most hotels and a per-stay fee that rarely goes above USD 150. It sits alongside chains like Kimpton, which charges nothing, covered in our hotels with no pet fee guide, as one of the better options for large dogs.
Before you book
Sonesta's PAWS program makes the big promises clearly: pets welcome, two per room, no breed or weight restrictions at most hotels, and treats and amenities on arrival. The details that vary are the fee and, at a minority of hotels, the weight limit. The extended stay brands are especially good value for long stays with big dogs, while a few select-service and Red Lion hotels charge by the night. Read the pet section on the hotel's page, confirm the fee and any weight limit by phone if your pet is large, and leave a cell number at check-in so the hotel can reach you. With those checks done, Sonesta is one of the more welcoming chains for traveling with a dog or cat.