Pampered pet stays: Our swishest pet hotels

Relaxing massages, scented baths, cuddle time and bedtime treats are just some of the services available at The Pets Hotel. Reward your furriest friend with a stay in the two-room Presidential Suite where designer beds and a flat-screen TV await, as well as daily playtime sessions and ‘Yappy Hour’. Keep an eye on your loved one via webcam from anywhere in the world as they have a blast at Central Bark, the hotel’s indoor, purpose-built playground. And what’s a holiday without some memories? Book in your pet for a holiday photo shoot during their stay.

Looking for a peaceful escape for a very special loved one? We Love Dogs Kennel on the Mornington Peninsula is a new seven-star all-suite resort, catering especially for dogs with unique needs. Geriatric guests – or ‘golden oldies’ – of all breeds are welcomed, as well as very small dogs, and those looking for palliative care or post-operative rehabilitation. Guests are treated to plenty of one-on-one attention from resort staff and dine on freshly made dishes such as slow cooked chicken and rice. All areas, including low-line beds, are accessible for dogs with disabilities, and 24-hour individualised care is available, with physical rehabilitation and medication administration as needed.

Offering boutique accommodation exclusively for cats, Cloud Nine – just off Chapel Street in Prahran – caters for some of Melbourne’s fanciest felines. The resort provides a ‘home away from home’ environment, carefully designed to minimise cat stress while away from family. Guests may access the gym or TV room, feast on freshly prepared food, and then retire to a comfortable suite with beds, scratching posts and ramps for curious kitties. Cloud Nine also offers special kitten rooms for tiny guests.

Four-poster feline beds, daily cuddle time and a spritz of doggy cologne are just some of the perks of a stay at Vern Ryan’s Pet Resort. Operated by dog behaviourists, resort staff are committed to ensuring your pet’s mental wellbeing, but their physical needs are also amply catered for. The Penthouse Suites offer single beds with sprung mattresses, a three-seater sofa, TV and an exclusive, individual grassed play area for each room. Plus, the resort offers a pick-up service from a range of check-in centres around Melbourne, from Albert Park to Yarraville.

A limousine service for the whole family makes The Royal Pet Package at Hanrob Pet Hotel pretty special. A luxury car will take you and your pet – plus luggage – to the airport, and then deliver your best friend to their accommodation in style. From there, the red-carpet treatment continues with aromatherapy grooming and blowdries in the Doggy Day Spa, specialised canine exercise classes with Fitpaws equipment and one-on-one obedience training. And when they’re exhausted from all their activities, they can relax in grassy play areas or watch TV in a light-filled private suite.