More and more guests are no longer looking for someone to take care of their dog while they are on holiday. They are looking for accommodation where their dog can come with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is particularly important for holiday homes. A single booking often includes several families, guests arrive by car, stays last seven days or longer, and outdoor space, privacy and room are important to them. The larger the group, the more likely it is that at least one family has a pet they want to bring along.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For accommodation providers, accepting pets can open up a large part of the market and increase the number of bookings. It can also bring more pet hair, additional cleaning, damaged fabrics, unpleasant odours, problems with neighbours and disputes about what the guest has actually paid for with the pet fee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In most cases, the pet itself is not the problem. Problems arise when the pet owner assumes that \u201cpets allowed\u201d means that beds, sofas, the pool, the hot tub and guest towels may all be used by the pet, and that the dog may be left alone in the house all day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The decision should therefore not simply be whether to accept pets or not. Accommodation providers should determine in advance how many pets are allowed, how much to charge, where pets may stay, what counts as regular cleaning, and what is considered an additional expense or damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The claim that pets are included in 50 percent of all holiday home bookings sounds convincing, but we have not found any reliable public statistics supporting this figure across the entire market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are several similar figures that are often misrepresented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Based on data from May 2024 to May 2025, HomeToGo reported<\/a> that 49.5 percent of its users who used amenity filters searched for pet-friendly accommodation. This does not mean 49.5 percent of all bookings, but almost half of the users who actively used filters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The same data nevertheless demonstrates how important this segment is. On HomeToGo, 25.8 percent of listings in Croatia accepted pets, while those listings received 138 percent more bookings per listing than those that did not. HomeToGo also correctly points out that this difference is not necessarily caused solely by accepting pets. The number of bookings is simultaneously influenced by price, location, quality, amenities and season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2023, Airbnb recorded an almost 50 percent increase in the number of nights booked with pets<\/a> compared with the previous year. This also does not mean that half of all overnight stays included pets. It refers to the growth rate. Airbnb also stated at the time that slightly more than 27 percent of its active listings worldwide accepted pets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a survey published in 2025, Booking.com stated<\/a> that it had recorded 7.74 million searches for accommodation using the pet-friendly filter over the course of one year. In a survey of 6,000 dog owners from five European countries, 29 percent of respondents from Italy said they chose their destination based on whether they could bring their dog, while holiday homes were the most frequently mentioned type of accommodation for such stays. This figure also describes a specific group of dog owners, rather than all European travellers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The broader picture points in the same direction. According to a European FEDIAF report published in 2025<\/a>, almost half of European households live with at least one dog or cat. This is not travel data, but it clearly shows how many potential guests also base their holiday decisions on the needs of their pets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The fair conclusion is therefore that we cannot claim every second stay in a holiday home includes a pet, but we can say that this represents a large and growing share of demand. In some portfolios of large holiday homes, particularly in destinations reached by car, the share of such bookings may indeed approach 50 percent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A practical example of how this demand translates into a specific local offering can also be seen on the Visit Krk portal, which has published a guide to pet-friendly accommodation on Krk<\/a>, featuring selected holiday homes and villas that accept pets, as well as information about dog-friendly beaches and other practical amenities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A hotel or a small city apartment is often not the first choice for a guest with a larger dog. A holiday home offers what matters more to them:<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is particularly noticeable on Krk because a large proportion of guests arrive by car from Croatia, Slovenia, Austria, Germany, Italy and other nearby markets. Travelling with a dog by car is easier to organise than travelling by plane, while a house with a fenced garden may be more important to a guest than an additional bedroom or a sea view.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is another simple reason in the case of larger houses. If two or three families are staying in the house, only one of them needs to have a dog for the entire group to look exclusively for accommodation that accepts pets. An accommodation provider who does not accept pets therefore risks losing not only the guest with the dog, but a potential booking for the entire house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many dog and cat owners do not see their pet as an addition to the trip, but as a member of the family. This should be understood because it is precisely why they will not simply choose the first property that says \u201cpets allowed\u201d. They will look for a secure garden, shade, space for bowls, opportunities for walks and a clear answer to whether their pet is genuinely welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the other hand, the habits guests have in their private homes do not automatically apply in someone else\u2019s holiday home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If a dog sleeps in the bed at home, this does not mean that it may sleep on the accommodation\u2019s bed linen. If it climbs onto the sofa at home, this does not mean that the same is allowed on a sofa that other guests will use just a few hours after its departure. If it swims in its owner\u2019s private pool, this does not mean that it may enter the pool or hot tub at the rented property.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Setting boundaries is not unkind to animals. Boundaries are part of the agreed rules for using the property.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Serious damage caused by a dog is possible, but it is not an everyday occurrence. Minor problems that collectively create additional work are far more common:<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is also important to distinguish between different types of pets. Tourist accommodation mostly hosts dogs, but the term \u201cpets allowed\u201d may also include cats, rabbits, birds or other animals. A cat may present different risks from a dog, such as scratching furniture, marking its territory or requiring a litter tray.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If an accommodation provider actually accepts dogs only, this should be clearly stated. Vague rules are almost always interpreted in favour of the person reading them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is no single set of house rules suitable for every property. A house with ceramic floors, washable covers and a large fenced garden can have more relaxed rules than an apartment with wool carpets and delicate furniture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nevertheless, the following rules are reasonable for most holiday homes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The rule should be brief, clear and visible before the booking is made. House rules that guests see for the first time on a table after arrival provide a weaker basis for charging additional costs or terminating the stay than rules they accepted during the booking process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many dog owners allow their pets on the sofa or bed at home. It is therefore not enough simply to state that this is prohibited and expect every guest to follow the rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If a property accepts pets, it is sensible to adapt at least the most vulnerable areas:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having this equipment does not mean that the pet is allowed on the sofa. It means that the accommodation provider is prepared for situations in which a guest does not follow the rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The property owner can and should clearly state that pets are not allowed in the pool. The reasons are maintenance, safety and the protection of equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dog hair, dust and dirt place an additional burden on the filtration system. Claws can damage delicate linings, covers or edges, while a dog that cannot find its way out of the pool may panic and endanger itself and the people trying to help it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time, exaggerated claims that a dog entering the pool once will automatically ruin the water or that properly maintained chlorinated water is inherently toxic to dogs should not be spread. Veterinary guidance published by the American Kennel Club<\/a> states that properly maintained chlorinated water is generally safe for short periods of swimming, provided the dog is supervised and does not drink the water. However, this is not a reason to turn the pool at a tourist accommodation property into a pet pool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The rule for hot tubs should be completely clear: pets are not allowed to enter. The high water temperature, small water volume, sensitive filtration system and the way a hot tub is used make such a ban reasonable for both the animal and the property.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For holiday homes on Krk, a practical market range is generally between \u20ac10 and \u20ac25 per pet per day. This is not a legally prescribed fee, but a range that should be adjusted according to the accommodation price, level of amenities and actual cleaning costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The following can be used as a guideline:<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhy are holiday homes particularly attractive to guests with pets?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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A pet is a family member, but a holiday home is not the guest\u2019s private home<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The most common problems are not dramatic, but they cost time and money<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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What should be allowed, and what should not?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Sofas and beds: a ban without preparation often does not work<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Are dogs allowed in the pool?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How much should you charge for a pet?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n