2 Harbour Views, Rhos-on-Sea

2 Harbour Views is a beachfront apartment on Rhos Promenade at Rhos-on-Sea, facing the water on the north Wales coast, and its appeal for anyone with a dog is the front door. The beach is directly opposite, so the first walk of the day involves crossing a road and nothing else. Guests travelling with dogs mention it more than any other feature, along with a host they describe as genuinely helpful about pets rather than merely permitting them.

The flat is spacious and light, with high ceilings, a bay window looking out over the bay, a washing machine that earns its keep after a wet beach walk, and a well-stocked kitchen. There is a dog and family friendly pub within walking distance, along with shops, cafes and takeaways on the promenade, and a bus stop a couple of minutes away that runs along the coast to Llandudno and Conwy. Rhyl is a short drive the other way.

One thing to check before you plan around the beach: north Wales beaches commonly carry seasonal dog restrictions between May and September, so read the current signage on the promenade rather than assuming.

The honest weakness is cleaning. The apartment is called clean by some guests and in need of a deep clean by others, with dust and sand on the floors the specific complaint and more than one guest saying it had not been properly mopped. In a beachfront flat with dogs coming in off the sand, that is worth knowing, and a mat or an old towel for the door is a sensible thing to pack. The decor is dated in places, the hot water takes a while to come through for a bath, there is no dedicated parking, and the neighbouring building has a bar that plays music until around eleven.

With a 4.5 out of 5 paw rating from four guests who brought dogs, 2 Harbour Views suits people who want the sea directly outside and will forgive a flat that is lived-in rather than immaculate.