Niche travel

HOTELS.COM HAS come up with a list of the world’s top dogs in the hotel-for-dogs stakes.

They include the Hotel Solomar in San Diego, which is home to the world’s first dog yoga class, doga.

In Sweden the First Hotel Amaranten, in Stockholm has a dog spa and a shop selling canine fashion accessories, including, no doubt, fluffy white spa robes.

Germany’s Travel Charme Kurhuas Sellin, has a dog (and owner) only beach, where both enjoy walks and swims. It has a dog bar too, to relax in afterwards.

At Abbots Brae, a four-star Scottish hotel in the seaside village of Dunoon, canine guests get tartan dog beds and homemade treats.

Not much, but a far more practical approach than that taken at the five-star Mandarin Oriental in Miami, which gives all doggie guests a personalised welcome letter from the manager.

There are pet-friendly options closer to home too, with Harvey’s Point in Donegal providing complimentary dog baskets, plus a dogsitting and walking service.

Hotel Dunloe Castle in Kerry provides dog toys and a throw for the sofa, should he or she decide to sleep on it.

Top dog of all however is probably the Hotel Palomar, in Washington DC, which has a canine on the staff roll.

The hotel’s director of pet relations is Luna, a very cute cocker spaniel. You’ll know her because her uniform is quite distinctive – a pink collar. It’s her job to promote the hotel’s Yappy Hours, the canine happy hours the hotel runs from time to time.

There’s paws for thought.