Travelodge Paignton Seafront

Travelodge Paignton Seafront is one of the few properties actually on Paignton's seafront that takes dogs, and that position is the reason to book it. It stands on Marine Drive facing Paignton Green, so the promenade, the harbour and Roundham Head are all walkable, and Torbay's dog-friendly beaches are spread out either side of you.

Dogs stay for £25 per pet, per stay, with up to two pets on a booking and assistance dogs free. Pets cannot be left alone in the room, which is worth planning around in a town with as many places to eat as Paignton has. Guests who brought dogs describe reception staff as friendly and helpful about it, and rate how much you can reach on foot without moving the car.

On the beaches: Paignton Sands restricts dogs through the main season, but Preston Sands to the north and Goodrington Sands to the south both keep year-round dog-friendly stretches, and the coast path over Roundham Head towards Goodrington is a good hour's walk. Check the signs at each beach entrance in summer, because the restricted zones move.

Two honest caveats. Parking is paid, limited and not reserved, so if you drive out for the day you may come back to a full car park and end up paying twice. Plan the day around walks from the door instead. And the hotel is showing its age in places: alongside plenty of reviews praising clean, comfortable rooms, a steady minority report tired maintenance, stale-smelling rooms and a chaotic breakfast service. The standard is not consistent room to room, so it is worth flagging anything wrong at reception straight away rather than living with it.

Best suited to families and couples wanting a cheap, superbly placed Torbay base with a settled dog. Less suited to anyone who wants a reliably polished room or somewhere with grounds. It earns a 4.4 out of 5 paw rating.