6 holiday places you can stay with man's best friend

Booking.com introduces six pet-friendly stays in Korea where travelers can enjoy a vacation with their beloved animals more comfortably. Traveling with companion animals has become more popular as pet ownership increases. gettyimagesbank

By Jun Ji-hye

Traveling with companion animals has been receiving attention as a new trend here, with an increasing number of people thinking of their dogs as a part of their family.

According to Booking.com, one of the big-name online travel services, the use of the pet-friendly filter on its platform has more than doubled since the start of COVID-19-induced travel restrictions last year, compared to the average use of the filter through 2019.

The pet-friendly filter was the third-most-used filter in the facilities section, following swimming pools and parking.

Here are six dog-friendly stays in Korea, recommended by the online travel agency, where travelers can enjoy their vacations with their beloved pets in tow.

Seoul ― Hotel Poco

Hotel Poco / Courtesy of Booking.com

Situated in Seongsu, one of Seoul's trendy hotspots, Hotel Poco is a lifestyle hotel located only a few minutes away on foot from Seongsu Station on Subway Line 2.

Among the 80 rooms here, dog-friendly rooms are available in different room types, such as the deluxe double room and terrace suite.

The dog-friendly rooms offer special beds, as well as customized bathtubs and various pet-friendly amenities, making this hotel a perfect place for those who want to enjoy a delightful stay with their furry friends in the heart of the city.

Incheon ― Ocean Soleview Hotel

If you want to enjoy a vacation with your dogs by the sea at Incheon's Yeongjong Island, there is no better place than the Ocean Soleview Hotel. This hotel offers not only a diverse range of facilities, such as an outdoor rest area and a convenience store, but also spacious rooms and kitchen facilities made with eco-friendly materials.

All of the rooms in this hotel have an ocean view, and various attractions such as the Yeongjong Sky City are located nearby.

The dog-friendly room can be accompanied by a dog under 10 kilograms, with a fee incurred for each additional animal.

Sokcho ― Sokcho Daemyung Heidi

Sokcho Daemyung Heidi / Courtesy of Booking.com

Sokcho Daemyung Heidi is a holiday home-typed accommodation, located near Sokcho IC in Gangwon Province, boasting easy accessibility.

Featuring a garden and mountain-view, this property consists of a living room with a sofa bed, a bedroom with a large double bed, a kitchen with cooking utensils, a bathroom and a terrace.
As there is a swimming pool as well, it is especially recommended for family travelers.

Pets are allowed at this property upon request at no extra charge, so guests can take advantage of this feature and enjoy a vacation with their companion animals at a reasonable price.

Busan ― Arban Hotel

Arban Hotel / Courtesy of Booking.com

Located in Seomyeon, Busan's transportation hub, Arban Hotel has 94 rooms, including dedicated pet-friendly ones, that provide a comfortable rest for its guests.

Guests can bring one pet weighing up to 10 kilograms at an additional fee of 20,000 won ($17) per night, and will be offered pet-friendly amenities, such as clean and disinfected cushions for their pet, training pads, dog food and water bowls.

In addition, this property has a space called The Lounge on its highest 13th floor, which has an outdoor rooftop garden available for guests to take their pets to, with the exception of during breakfast hours.

Geoje ― Oedo Palace

Oedo Palace can be reached by the Oedo cruise ship and is located about 10 minutes away by car from major tourist attractions in Geoje in South Gyeongsang Province ― Korea's second-largest island, next to Jeju Island.

If you make a request to the property in advance, your dog can accompany you during your stay.

If you want to relax by enjoying a walk around the hotel, Wahyeon Beach is located just minutes away. You may prefer to enjoy the scenic view while taking a drive along the coastal road that stretches out from the property.

In addition, guests staying here can enjoy all sorts of barbecued meat in the grilling area or on the terrace offered in each room, as well as use other facilities, including karaoke and an outdoor swimming pool.

Seogwipo ― Heyy Seogwipo Hotel

Travelers can easily find cute dogs in the lobby of the Heyy Seogwipo Hotel, which boasts views of Mount Halla and Seogwipo Beach.

As Seogwipo Olle Market, Lee Jung Seop Street and Cheonjiyeon Waterfall are all located within 10 minutes walking distance, guests staying at this property can enjoy a walk to these destinations with their pets.

The property also offers various special facilities, including a book cafe where guests can use their laptops or read books, and a yoga studio with an ocean view.

If guests select a room type that allows dogs upon making a reservation, they can stay with their pet weighing under 10 kilograms without making any separate request or paying any additional charge.

A pet cushion and training pad for the pet will be provided by the hotel.