Rome’s Fiumicino International Airport has opened a luxury on-site hotel for pets, offering temperature-controlled rooms, private gardens, spa treatments, and even 24/7 video calls with owners.
Rome: Travelers flying through Rome’s Fiumicino International Airport no longer have to choose between a kennel or a sitter for their four-legged companions.
The airport has opened Dog Relais, one of Europe’s first on-site luxury dog hotels, making pet care just a few steps away from the terminal.
The facility, modeled after a similar project in Frankfurt, offers convenience and peace of mind to jet-setting pet owners. Staff can even pick up dogs directly from the terminal, letting passengers head straight to their flights stress-free.
Basic rooms at Dog Relais start at €40 ($47), featuring temperature-controlled floors and private gardens.
Shyer dogs can stay in quieter kennel areas, while more social pups have access to shared play lawns. In the evenings, the hotel plays soothing 432-hertz ambient music to help guests relax.
Optional extras include grooming, bathing, teeth cleaning, and even spa-style treatments like lavender aromatherapy or arnica cream massages for sore joints.
For €60 ($70), premium rooms come with a live videocall screen so owners can check in 24/7 — and even send treats through an app-controlled dispenser.
The service is open to both travelers and locals. Employees working at Aeroporti di Roma, such as HR professional Alessandra Morelli, say it has been life-changing:
“Since I’ve been able to bring Nina to this dog hotel, my work-life balance has changed. I can travel or work with complete peace of mind,” she said of her 2-year-old Labrador.
Dog Relais has quickly gained popularity. In August, all 40 rooms were fully booked as Italy entered peak summer travel season. Average occupancy since the May opening has been around two-thirds, according to Aeroporti di Roma’s chief commercial officer Marilena Blasi.
The timing coincides with Italy’s aviation authority updating rules to allow large dogs in cabins on domestic flights, provided they are secured in crates.
The first such flight is set for Sept. 23. Transport minister Matteo Salvini called the change “a step forward in civilization,” though he acknowledged not all passengers will welcome dogs onboard.
For many Italian pet owners, though, the message is clear: travel is better when dogs are part of the journey.
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