Homely 4 Bedroom House, Bournemouth

This four-bedroom house in Southbourne suits dog owners who would rather have a whole property to themselves than negotiate hotel corridors and lifts. You get the run of the house, so there are no shared spaces to think about, no neighbouring rooms to disturb and no awkward conversations about where the dog is allowed to sit. With four bedrooms and two bathrooms, including a bath downstairs, it works for the kind of trip where a big group travels together and the dog is simply part of the party.

The back garden is worth knowing about before you book. It is laid with artificial grass rather than a lawn, which not everyone loves, but it is a practical surface for dogs: no churned-up turf to feel guilty about, and far less mud walked through the house after a wet morning on the coast. It gives you somewhere outside to let a dog out first thing without getting properly dressed for a walk.

Location is the strongest card. The house sits on a quiet residential street in Southbourne, on the eastern side of Bournemouth, within walking distance of the shops, cafes and restaurants along Southbourne Grove and a short way from the clifftop and beach below. Hengistbury Head, one of the best dog walks on this stretch of coast, is a few minutes away by car. Parts of the Bournemouth seafront carry seasonal dog restrictions over the summer, so check the council's current zones before you travel; out of season the sand and the clifftop paths are excellent walking.

Be realistic about what this is. It is a well-priced holiday let rather than a polished boutique stay, and guests are split on its condition: some find it homely, spacious and a genuine bargain for the location, while others have found the furnishings tired. Parking is the common gripe, with no dropped kerb for the off-street space and street parking often tight. The listing does not publish a pet fee, a limit on the number of dogs, or any weight or breed rules, so confirm those directly with the property before you book. For dog owners who want space, an easy-care garden and the beach within reach at a sensible price, it earns a 4.3/5 paw rating.