Dog Friendly Hotel Isle of Wight: Staying at The Fig Tree

Yes, The Fig Tree is a dog friendly hotel on the Isle of Wight. Small, well-behaved dogs are welcome in selected rooms for £30 per stay. They can join you in the bedroom, reception and bar, and there is free parking, a lift and a beach about a 10-minute walk away.

If you have searched for dog friendly hotels on the Isle of Wight, you will have found plenty of lists. What they rarely tell you is what a stay is actually like. So here is the honest version, from the two of us who run the place.

The Fig Tree is an owner-run boutique hotel at 10 Queen's Road in Shanklin, a short walk from the beach. My sister Wendy and I run it, and we have always taken the view that a dog is part of the family that books the room. Our house line is "Arrive as guests, leave as friends", and we mean the four-legged ones too.

Quick facts for dog owners

• Dog charge: £30 per stay, not per night.
• Which dogs: small, well-behaved dogs, in selected rooms.
• Where dogs can go: the bedroom, reception and the bar.
• Not allowed: the breakfast room (you can eat breakfast with your dog in the bar).
• Welcome pack: treats, a toy and water bowls.
• Parking: free on-site, plus free on-street parking nearby.
• Check-in from 3pm, check-out by 11am. We can store your luggage.
• Book direct: call 01983 241 010 or email reception@thefigtreehotel.co.uk.

Which rooms can dogs stay in?

Small, well-behaved dogs are welcome in selected rooms. Because it is a set of rooms rather than the whole hotel, the most useful thing you can do is tell us about your dog when you book. Say how many dogs are coming and roughly how big they are, and we will put you in a room that suits. We can also tell you straight away what is free for your dates.

Every room is non-smoking and has breakfast included, an en-suite wet room, tea and coffee facilities, a smart TV, a safe, a hairdryer, an iron and ironing board, and free high-speed Wi-Fi. Our suites face the sea and have a balcony. Selected suites take a fold-up bed for a child. Our dog-friendly hotel page has the short version.

Owners are responsible for any damage, so if your dog damages anything, tell us on the day.

Where is your dog welcome inside the hotel?

This is the question we are asked most, and it is where hotels differ the most. At The Fig Tree, dogs are welcome in the bedroom, in reception and in the bar. They are not allowed in the breakfast room.

When you arrive, your dog finds a welcome pack waiting, with treats, a toy and water bowls. The lounge bar has bifold doors that open onto our outdoor terrace, so there is a place to sit with a coffee while your dog settles.

We ask that dogs are kept on a lead in the corridors and on the stairs, and that you use the lift with them rather than letting them run ahead. The lift serves every floor and the hotel has step-free access, so an older dog does not need to manage stairs at all. If you would like to know more about getting around the building, see our accessible hotel page.

Can your dog join you for breakfast?

Breakfast is included in every room rate and served from 8am to 10am, with cooked full English options or a self-service continental breakfast. The breakfast room is not open to dogs, but you can have breakfast with your dog in the bar, so nobody is left hovering at the door.

We do not serve lunch or dinner to individual guests. For the evening you have Shanklin Old Village and the seafront, which between them hold plenty of restaurants and pubs. Reception is happy to recommend places, and we would suggest you ring ahead to check that a table welcomes dogs on the night, because policies change. Our breakfast and bar page explains more.

How far is the beach?

The beach is about a 10-minute walk. You leave the hotel, head downhill and you are on the Esplanade with the sand in front of you. In the early morning, before the deckchairs come out, it is one of the best places on the island to let a dog stretch out.

Shanklin beach does have seasonal rules about where dogs can go during the summer. Ask us when you book for the current position. The Isle of Wight Council publishes the current notice, and the signs at the top of the beach carry it too, so you can check for yourself on the day.

Where are the best dog walks from the front door?

You do not need the car for a full day of walking from the hotel.

• Shanklin Chine is a wooded gorge running from the Old Village down to the beach, with a stream, ferns and a path that stays cool on a hot afternoon. Check with the Chine directly for the current position on dogs and the entry charge.
• The Old Village has thatched cottages, a couple of pubs with outside tables and the start of several footpaths inland.
• The coastal path runs in both directions. North takes you along the cliff top to Sandown. South climbs towards Luccombe and, if you have the legs, on to Ventnor.
• The downs behind the town are open chalk grassland with long views over the bay. They are the ground our Vectis Revealed walking weekend climbs. There are sheep in places, so keep your dog on a lead where the signs ask.

For more routes, see our guide to the best coastal walks near Shanklin, our walking breaks page and things to do in Shanklin.

Come back muddy. Ask us on the day and we will sort out somewhere to rinse a wet dog down and something to dry them with.

What should you bring?

Pack for your dog the way you would pack for a child.

• Their own bed or a blanket that smells of home.
• Food, and their usual treats. We provide water bowls in your welcome pack.
• A towel for wet walks, and a spare lead.
• Poo bags, any medication and your vet's number.
• A tick remover. The downs and the Chine are lovely and they are also tick country in summer.

Getting here with a dog

Travelling to the Isle of Wight with a dog is easier than people expect. Each operator sets its own rules about where your dog travels on board, so check when you book, or ask us and we will help you find out. The main crossings are:

• Red Funnel, Southampton to East Cowes: 60 minutes, then about 35 minutes' drive.
• Wightlink, Portsmouth to Fishbourne: 45 minutes, then about 25 minutes' drive.
• Wightlink, Lymington to Yarmouth: 40 minutes, then about 40 minutes' drive.

Book direct with us and our team can arrange discounted ferry crossings for you. Once you arrive, free on-site parking is first come first served, and there is free on-street parking nearby. The nearest public EV charging point is on Queen's Road, a short walk away. If you land before check-in at 3pm, we can store your luggage while you take the dog straight down to the beach. Our getting here page and frequently asked questions cover the rest of the practicalities.

How to book a dog-friendly room

Book Now and mention your dog, or call us on 01983 241 010 and speak to one of us. You can also email reception@thefigtreehotel.co.uk. Booking direct gets you our best rates, breakfast included, discounted ferry crossings arranged by our team, free parking and Wi-Fi, and the certainty that your dog's room has been noted rather than hoping a third-party site passed the message on.