Dog-Friendly Beach Apartment, Broadstairs

This basement apartment sits on Victoria Parade in Broadstairs, directly above Viking Bay, and it is stocked for dogs more thoroughly than almost anything at this price on the Kent coast. Guests arriving with dogs find towels, bowls, beds, blankets, treats and toys already waiting, often in a wooden chest in the living room, and there are small courtyards front and back, so the first trip out in the morning does not mean getting properly dressed.

The location is the other half of the appeal. The beach, the gardens and the high street are all a few moments away, Morelli's is next door, and parking is straightforward with free overnight bays a short walk off. Dogs are banned from the main Broadstairs beach over the summer, but keep walking towards Ramsgate and the sand opens up, with most of that stretch fine for off-lead running.

Two practical points matter more than usual here. It is a basement flat, so there is a steep flight of steps down to the front door: fine for most people, awkward for anyone with mobility problems, and older or smaller dogs may need carrying down. The mattress also comes up repeatedly as too soft, which is worth knowing for anything longer than a night or two. A few guests have mentioned a damp smell with a trace of dog about it on walking in, though others who do not own a dog have reported finding no hair at all, and the bathroom is serviceable rather than smart.

Winter visitors should know that Broadstairs itself is not the easiest town for eating and drinking with a dog out of season, though the flat is cosy enough that plenty of people treat it as the point of the trip rather than a base. With a 4.7/5 paw rating, this suits dog owners who want to step out of the door straight onto the seafront, and who care more about how well a place is kitted out for the dog than about the finish of the bathroom.