Merrion Hotel, Llandudno

The Merrion is a seafront hotel on Llandudno's South Parade, and its appeal for dog owners has more to do with how the staff behave than with anything structural. The theme that runs through reviews from guests with dogs is that nobody made a fuss about it.

Travellers arriving at short notice with a dog in tow report being taken in without hesitation, which is not a given in a seaside town in season. There is a lift to the upper floors, which is more useful than it sounds after a full day out, because an older or smaller dog does not have to take on three flights of stairs to get to bed. Rooms come back as clean and well kept, with blackout curtains and windows that hold out the noise of a busy promenade, and housekeeping runs daily. Luggage is held after checkout, so you can walk the front for a few more hours before driving home.

The location is the other half of it. The hotel sits on the promenade with the beach across the road, the Great Orme at one end of the bay and the pier at the other, so walks are a matter of stepping outside rather than getting in the car. The shops, pubs and cafes of the town centre are a few minutes inland. Beach access is seasonally restricted in places, as it is on most Welsh resort beaches, so check the current rules if the sand is the point of the trip.

Two caveats. The hotel does not publish its pet terms - no fee, weight limit or cap on numbers appears on its booking listing - so settle those directly before you arrive, especially with more than one dog. And reception has been described as cooler on arrival than the rest of the stay would lead you to expect; it does not seem to reflect how the hotel treats guests thereafter, but it is the first impression some people take away.

Best suited to dog owners who want a straightforward, well-run seafront hotel with breakfast and a lift, in a town built for walking. It earns a 4.5/5 paw rating.