Martell's Hotel, Blackpool

Martell's Hotel is a small seafront guesthouse on Alexandra Road, a couple of minutes' walk from the sand at South Shore, and it has quietly become one of Blackpool's easier stays to arrive at with a dog. It is a two-star, family-run bed and breakfast rather than a big hotel, which is exactly why it works: there is no lobby to cross, no lift to share, and the owners are usually the people who check you in.

Dogs are welcome throughout, and guests travelling with them single out the welcome rather than the tolerance. Owners describe staff making a fuss of their dog at reception and, on request, keeping an eye on it for a short while when they needed to head out for the evening. Dogs have also been allowed to join their owners in the dining room at breakfast, which is unusual for a property this size and makes the morning far less of a logistical problem than it is at most Blackpool hotels.

Breakfast is charged separately and is worth taking - it is cooked to order, with vegetarian options, and it gets mentioned more than anything else about the property. Rooms are simple and clean, and families travelling with children and a dog have often had the top floor more or less to themselves. Parking is a genuine advantage here, because Alexandra Road is the only street in the area without a residents' permit scheme, so it is often possible to park directly outside. There is also a church car park round the corner at around £7 for 24 hours.

A couple of things to know before booking. There is a per-night charge for dogs, reported by guests at around £10 a night, and it is not flagged on the property's booking listing, so confirm the current amount directly rather than assuming it is included. Rooms are on the small side, a room has been reported as slow to warm up, and because so many guests bring dogs, barking from a neighbouring room is a possibility if you are a light sleeper. Best suited to dog owners who want a friendly, low-fuss base near the beach and the tram, and who would rather be a short ride from the Tower than right underneath it; on that count it earns its 4.6/5 paw rating.