Marine Apartment, Whitley Bay

Marine Apartment is a self-contained flat a short walk from the seafront in Whitley Bay, and its appeal for dog owners is mostly about geography. A large grassy area sits a minute away, the beach runs north towards the lighthouse and stays open to dogs along that stretch, and the allocated off-street parking space means you are not circling for a space with a dog in the back of the car.

Dogs stay as a matter of course rather than by special arrangement. Guests travelling with pets describe the booking as straightforward and the owner as quick to answer questions before and during a stay. There is front and rear access to the flat, which makes coming and going with a wet dog less of a production than it is along a shared hotel corridor.

The apartment itself is spacious for its type, with a good-sized bedroom and living area, a well-equipped kitchen and a bath as well as a shower. Cleanliness comes up repeatedly as a strength. The main criticism raised by guests with dogs is the bed, which is not to everyone's taste, so it is worth weighing if you are a light sleeper.

Whitley Bay itself does a lot of the work. The town is well kept, the promenade is walkable in both directions, there are pubs and restaurants within a few minutes and a convenience store close by for supplies. Guests with dogs do note that only part of the beach is open to dogs during the summer months, so it is worth checking which stretch applies before you travel.

Best suited to a couple or a small family with one dog who want a seaside base with parking and their own front door rather than hotel service. It earns a 4.8/5 paw rating.