A Dog Friendly Stay at Hofsas House Carmel

Just before the pandemic began a new rescue pup joined my family and since then Dixie has become a steady companion on my adventures. Whether it’s an urban hike, a wilderness outing or simply lounging on the beach she’s game for it all. So when things started reopening and I was presented with the opportunity to return to one of my favorite spots, Carmel-by-the-Sea, I figured it was time to pamper the both of us with a weekend getaway and we headed to Hofsas House for a complimentary stay.

Hofsas House has been family run for over 70 years. In the late 1940’s Donna Hofsas moved from LA to Carmel and began hosting guests in cottages a few blocks from the beach. From this grew a full service hotel that has become a fixture of the area. Today, it’s run by Donna’s granddaughter Carrie who continues the family legacy of offering a warm welcome to guests.

With its quaint Bavarian theme featuring historic murals by artist Maxine Albro and more recent touches by artist-in-residence, Marie-Clare Treseder Gorham, it’s an inviting getaway spot for travelers whether they’re alone, with kids in tow or in the company of their four legged friends.

Carmel is just about the most dog friendly town in California and your pet is free to join you on the beach, at the tasting room and in your hotel. Hofsas House embraces this and welcomes guests to bring their canine companions with them on their getaways. On site are several dog friendly rooms, ample space for them to roam and even an area to clean them off after a beach visit.

As you can see Dixie made herself right at home in our room. And what a room it was! There was a fireplace, kitchenette and a cozy seating area…not to mention a stellar ocean view.

Part of Hofsas House charm is their unique rooms. No two are alike and all embrace their historic roots. Ours was especially large, giving Dixie plenty of room to roam, and had a comfy king sized bed. It was also extremely clean which, unfortunately, isn’t always a given when traveling with pets and I could neither see nor smell any signs of prior four legged guests.

While Hofsas House is dog friendly it treats its human guests even better. There’s a heated pool on site (rare in the area), a dry sauna, a deck offering ocean views and complimentary continental breakfast featuring locally made pastries. When you stay at Hofsas House you’re considered family and the friendly staff treats all guests as such.

The Hofsas House logo is Leisure with Dignity and Dixie and I certainly experience that during our stay. Hofas House doesn’t just allow pets but welcomes them and I couldn’t have found a better place for Dixie to experience her first overnight trip.