Five of the homes we manage are confirmed pet friendly: Tucson Oasis in Tucson, Salida Del Sol in Desert Hot Springs, City Lights & Rooftop Nights in San Diego, Ultimate Outdoor Oasis in Palm Springs, and Brandyapple Retreat in Raleigh.
That is the list. If a home is not on it, please do not assume — ask us first.
Here is the part we think matters more. The pets-allowed checkbox tells you almost nothing. What decides whether you spend the week relaxed or vigilant is whether the yard is genuinely enclosed, whether the house can absorb a wet dog without you apologising, and whether there is anywhere sensible to walk. We have been in all five of these homes ourselves, so below we have answered the questions dog owners actually ask us — and where we do not know something, we have said so instead of filling the gap.
Which of these homes has a genuinely fenced yard?
Two of them, on the record.
Tucson Oasis has a fully enclosed backyard with a private pool inside it. Four bedrooms, three bathrooms, sleeps 8, rated 4.72 across 219 reviews. The pool is cleaned weekly and comes with floats and towels. Worth thinking about if your dog is not a swimmer — an enclosed yard and an open pool are the same space here.
Brandyapple Retreat in Raleigh’s Six Forks North neighbourhood has a fenced yard with a deck, corn hole and a fire pit. A guest who moved across the country and stayed seven nights had dogs with them and was specifically thankful for a safe, fenced yard. It is rated 4.99 across 200 reviews, the highest of any home in this post.
Walk it before you book:
The homes with pet-friendly outdoor space where we have not verified the fence
Salida Del Sol in Desert Hot Springs is listed with a pet-friendly backyard — a pool with toys and optional heating, a hot tub, a fire pit, yard games, and an outdoor dining area with a BBQ. Sleeps 8, rated 4.86 across 445 reviews. What we do not claim is that it is fully enclosed, because that is not in our listing detail. Ask us and we will go and look.
Ultimate Outdoor Oasis is a private, fully renovated Palm Springs home five minutes from downtown, family and pet friendly, with a pool, hot tub, mini putting green, fire pit and a hammock. Rated 4.85 across 364 reviews.
The one with no yard at all
City Lights & Rooftop Nights in San Diego is a two-bedroom townhome, family and pet friendly, with a private rooftop lounge with a firepit and city views. There is no enclosed yard — but it is steps from the San Diego Zoo and Balboa Park, and for a lot of dog owners a genuine park at the end of the street beats a small yard.
Is there hard flooring, or somewhere muddy paws can go?
We will be straight with you: our listing detail does not specify flooring type home by home, so we are not going to tell you which of these five are carpet-free. That is exactly the kind of question to send us before you book — we know these houses personally and can answer it in a sentence.
What we can tell you is that all five have their own outdoor space or private access, so there is somewhere to towel off before anyone comes inside.
How walkable is the neighbourhood, and where is the nearest green space?
- San Diego — the strongest answer of the five. Balboa Park and the San Diego Zoo are steps away, and the home comes with a digital guidebook of local tips.
- Raleigh — Brandyapple Retreat is close to Umstead State Park, Pullen Park, Historic Oakwood and downtown Raleigh, plus Marbles Kids Museum and the North Carolina Museum of Art if you have brought children as well as dogs.
- Palm Springs — Ultimate Outdoor Oasis is five minutes from downtown, with its own pool, hot tub and fire pit. Ask us about the nearest green space for a walk and we will check it for your dates.
- Tucson — Tucson Oasis is near shops and parks, and a guest found it easy to locate and walkable to restaurants and a grocery store.
Both Palm Springs homes and Salida Del Sol sit in the Coachella Valley if you want to see the wider market first.
What would you warn us about?
Desert and Tucson heat is genuinely dangerous for a dog, not just uncomfortable. Pavement gets hot enough to burn paws. A Tucson Oasis guest put it plainly: the location is walkable, but they would not recommend walking around in July — too hot. If you are bringing a dog to Tucson, Palm Springs or Desert Hot Springs in high summer, plan on early mornings, late evenings, and shade in between. We would rather say that than sell you a summer walking holiday.
City Lights has a lot of stairs. A guest told us they did not expect there to be so many — stairs to the first floor and stairs to the second. For a young, fit dog that is nothing. For an older dog, a short-legged breed, or anything with hip trouble, it is a real reason to choose elsewhere.
Tell us about the pet when you book, not when you arrive. This is not a formality. Pet policies and any applicable fees differ by home, and the honest answer to how much it costs is that it depends which house you have chosen — so ask us. A pet disclosed at booking is easy. A pet discovered at check-in is a problem for everyone.
Why is bringing a dog better as a conversation than a dropdown?
Because “pets allowed: yes” cannot tell you whether the fence has a gap, or whether the stairs will hurt your twelve-year-old spaniel.
When you book direct with us, you are talking to the family who runs the company and has stood in every one of these houses. You can ask about the fence, the flooring, the pool, the walk to the park — and get a real answer rather than a template. That is the honest case for booking direct, more than the money.
The money helps too: booking direct saves you about 10% on a like-for-like flexible booking, because there is no platform service fee. Direct booking does carry a card processing fee, which is a fraction of what a platform charges, and that roughly 10% is calculated after it. You will also see our cancellation terms at checkout before you pay — 96% refunded up to 14 days before arrival, 46% up to 7 days. If you want the fuller comparison, we have written it up in booking direct vs. Airbnb and VRBO.
Frequently asked questions about travelling with a dog
Which of your homes has a confirmed fenced yard?
Tucson Oasis, with a fully enclosed backyard, and Brandyapple Retreat in Raleigh. Salida Del Sol has a pet-friendly backyard, but we do not claim it is fully enclosed.
Do I have to tell you I am bringing a pet?
Yes, at the time of booking. Pet policies and any fees vary from home to home.
Is there a pet fee?
It depends on the home. Ask us and we will tell you exactly what applies before you pay.
I have an older dog who struggles with stairs. Where should we stay?
Not City Lights & Rooftop Nights, based on our own guests’ feedback. Brandyapple Retreat is generally gentler.
Can we visit the desert homes with a dog in summer?
You can, but plan walks for early and late and keep the day indoors or by the pool.
Are any other homes in your portfolio pet friendly?
Only these five are confirmed. Ask us rather than assuming. More general answers live on our vacation rental FAQ page.
Ready to book with your dog along?
Pick the home that fits your dog, not just your group — then book direct with us and mention the pet in the same message. We will confirm the policy, the fence, the flooring and anything else you are wondering about before you pay a cent.
Because there’s no place you’d rather be.
