Dog friendly Stay Near Manchester Airport

Dog friendly stay near Manchester Airport: Our weekend at the Delta Hotel by Marriott (with Betty the Poodle)

If you’re looking for a genuinely dog friendly hotel near Manchester Airport, this one really surprised us, in the best way.

We were meeting a friend off a flight from Dubai and decided to turn it into a weekend away. Instead of a quick in-and-out airport stay, we booked the ‘Paws & Relax’ package at the Delta Hotel by Marriott and brought Betty along (who, for the record, assumes all trips are booked entirely for her benefit).

Our chosen hotel has Styal Woods on its doorstep which makes it a perfect choice if you’re staying with dogs. The weather was beautiful so we headed straight to the woods to stretch out our legs and hopefully tire Betty out. The woods were ideal with plenty of space and lots to sniff. Betty approached it like a full time job, conducting what I can only assume was a highly detailed scent investigation.

We wandered over towards Quarry Bank Mill (saving a proper visit for another day), but couldn’t resist stopping at the ‘Ship Inn’ just outside the woods. The Ship Inn is dog friendly and a perfect spot for a well earned drink for us, a hydration break and people watching opportunity for Betty.

Checking in was quick and easy, the staff couldn’t have been more welcoming, especially towards Betty, who received, as always, significantly more attention than we did. Our room was spacious and thoughtfully set up for a dog friendly stay. The ‘Paws & Relax’ package meant Betty had her own padded bed, along with treats and a toy to take home, a personalised note welcoming us, which we thought this was a really nice touch.

There was plenty of space, Betty is small but even if you have a larger dog or two dogs (maximum), you wouldn’t feel like you were all trying to coexist in a suitcase.

We decided to have dinner at the hotel in the evening since the restaurant and bar looked inviting and we were able to bring Betty along, which always feels like a win.

There’s a designated dog friendly section in the restaurant with bowls provided for water and her food (which we brought along) this meant Betty could dine with us. We were able to relax and enjoy the evening without worrying about leaving her behind. 

We started with a spicy margarita and ended with an old fashioned, the food and service were both excellent. Betty settled down easily beside us, occasionally lifting her head to remind us she hadn’t been offered anything for a while.

A comfortable night’s sleep 

The bed was incredibly comfortable. Betty stayed in her bed all night so I’m guessing hers was super comfy too.

Before heading into the restaurant for breakfast (poo bags at the ready), we had a walk around the grounds. The gardens have a seating area and would be a nice place to relax with Betty if we had more time. 

Breakfast was excellent, a buffet with both hot and continental options, and once again Betty was welcome in the dog friendly area.

It was then time to pack up and check out and head to the airport to pick up our friend. The rest of the day was very enjoyable. We had a walk around Altrincham (ten minutes from the hotel) which has a cool and buzzy independent feel, with lots of dog friendly bars and restaurants. The market house also with independent food sellers, both indoor and outdoor seating, gave Betty the opportunity to charm lots of new people and a strong chance of finding some dropped food. There’s also an outdoor market selling various food produce, vintage clothing and crafts. 

All in all we had a fabulous couple of days, choosing the Delta Hotel by Marriott, close to the airport was a great decision. It’s not just dog tolerant, it genuinely feels dog friendly which makes all the difference. Beautiful walks on the doorstep, thoughtful touches in the room and the ability to dine with your dog, easily makes for a stress free option.

Would we stay again? Absolutely we would. In fact Betty assumes we’ve already re-booked.

Betty’s verdict: 10/10

Charge for extra dog: £35