Three Beaches Holiday Apartments, Paignton

Three Beaches Holiday Apartments sit on Cliff Park Road in Paignton, a five-minute walk from Goodrington beach and the run of coves and trails that give the property its name. Dogs are welcome, and the resident host is the thing returning guests mention first: attentive when you need her, out of the way when you do not, and happy to point people towards the dog-friendly pubs nearby. Guests who brought a dog describe it as being made as welcome as the humans were.

Two conditions shape how that welcome actually works, and both are worth knowing at the planning stage. Pets are accepted by prior arrangement only, so this is not somewhere you can add a dog to an existing booking on the day. And pets must not be left unattended at any time, which is the one that shapes an itinerary: an evening out has to be somewhere the dog can come too, or one of you stays in. Pets are also to be kept off the furniture and the bedding, so pack a bed or a throw. No pet fee, weight cap or breed restriction is published, so settle those with the host when you make the arrangement.

The apartments themselves are described as carefully decorated with proper seaside touches, comfortable beds, and enough kitchen equipment to actually self-cater. Sea views from the living room come up again and again, and the compact layout suits a couple or a small family travelling with a settled dog.

Location is what makes it work for dog travellers. Goodrington Sands is a short walk, the South West Coast Path links towards Roundham Head and Broadsands one way and Paignton the other, and there are dog-friendly cafes, pubs and takeaways within walking range. Goodrington has seasonal dog zoning that opens up more of the sands outside the summer months, so check the council's current map for when you are travelling.

One practical thing to know before you arrive: electricity, including the shower, runs on a separate pay-as-you-go coin meter rather than being included in the rate. It is a small additional spend across a multi-night stay and it catches people out, so bring pound coins.

Best suited to dog owners who want a beach-proximate apartment with an attentive resident host who knows the local dog-friendly scene, who can plan around the no-unattended-pets rule, and who do not mind a coin meter for the electricity.