"Service Dog Travelers — Be Careful
Before booking, I called the hotel to confirm that my service dog would be accepted and that there would be no additional fees. The staff member even told me they checked with their boss and confirmed everything would be fine for my stay. I also recorded the call.
Seven days later, when I arrived, the situation completely changed. The hotel suddenly requested an extra $100 security deposit because I have a service dog. They claimed that even though the hotel advertises itself as pet-friendly, the specific room I rented was not pet-friendly and there might be “extra cleaning.”
When I showed my service dog’s proper identification, it got worse — the $100 deposit suddenly became a $200 total deposit. I was then refused access to my room unless I paid it.
This happened during an orange-level hail storm, meaning my only alternative would have been to drive another two hours in dangerous road conditions to find another hotel.
It raises a serious question: if a wheelchair rolled through the same snow that my service dog’s paws walk through, would that guest also be charged an extra deposit?
If you travel with a service dog, get everything in writing. Unfortunately, what is promised over the phone may not be respected when you arrive. "