[2026 Chinese New Year Pet Hotel Price Guide] Fluv’s Recommended Dog & Cat Boarding and Sitter Services | Cost Comparison, Availability & Holiday Surcharge Explained

Traveling for Chinese New Year and not sure what to do with your pet? During the holiday rush, popular pet hotels fill up fast and prices spike! Want to know the latest rates for New Year pet boarding? Whether you’re looking for a cage-free environment or a caring in-home sitter, this complete New Year pet boarding guide covers price comparisons and tips for choosing the right option — so you can avoid the pitfalls and find the best care for your furry family member!

Which boarding option is best for your pet?

If you’re not lucky enough to have friends or family nearby who can look after your pet for a few days (or weeks), you’ll probably need to book a pet boarding service for the New Year holidays — but what kind of prices are we talking about? The answer isn’t straightforward. Based on research, depending on location, pet size, and services included, pet boarding costs can range anywhere from $500 to $3,000. As a responsible pet owner, it’s your job to figure out which New Year boarding option works best for your cat or dog.

Why are pet hotel prices so high over the New Year holidays? Reasons explained

Several key factors affect the price of pet boarding:

The first is your location. If you live in a large city or a popular tourist destination, demand is higher, so pet hotels and boarding services in your area will naturally charge more during the New Year holidays. Even in smaller towns or rural areas, prices can still be steep — because you have fewer options, and providers face less competition, allowing them to maintain higher rates.

Another factor is your pet’s size. Cats tend to be more uniformly sized, but a dog’s size can significantly affect the price — especially for medium to large dogs.

But the most important factor is the type of boarding you choose. There are many different options for New Year pet boarding, and the right one depends on your pet’s needs and your budget.

Popular pet hotel prices and cost comparison | Recommendations across regions

If you’re planning New Year pet boarding, here are the four main types to know:

1. Traditional cage-based pet hotels

Traditional cage-based pet hotels are the most common and widely recognized form of pet boarding. Most New Year pet hotels operate this way. They offer basic care — feeding, water, one to two walks or play sessions per day, and sometimes time with other dogs or cats. Pets are usually kept in a cage or small enclosure at night, and additional walks or playtime typically cost extra.

• Price: Prices vary, but most cage-based pet hotels fall in the $400–1,100 range. For example, Hehuan Pet Hotel in Sanxia (map) charges $500/day for small dogs and $800/day for large dogs. Woof Inn in Taipei’s Minsheng Community charges $650–1,100 per night (map), with an additional after-care fee if pick-up is after 7pm (charged between 7–9pm).

Which pets and owners are a good fit for cage-based pet hotels?

2. Cage-free luxury pet hotels

If you want the ultimate in luxury, a high-end New Year pet hotel might be the answer. These are designed for social dogs who don’t do well in cages. They typically offer private rooms, beds, air conditioning, and even TV time. Most luxury pet hotels feature 24-hour cameras, swimming pools, and activity areas — your dog’s holiday might honestly look better than yours.

• Price: Luxury doesn’t come cheap — high-end New Year pet hotels typically cost $800 to $1,800 per day. For example, Nordic Pet Hotel, which has a swimming pool, charges up to $1,800 per day (map).

• These hotels fill up quickly — book at least one to two months in advance.

Which pets and owners are a good fit for cage-free luxury pet hotels?

3. Animal hospital boarding

Many animal hospitals offer boarding services, and some pet owners find it reassuring that their pet is already familiar with the staff. While it may seem like a natural fit — especially for pets on medication — American veterinarian Dr. Ken Tudor notes that it isn’t always the best option for dogs.

“Many animal hospitals use traditional, clinical metal cages for boarding, because medication and surgery are the primary concern — it’s better suited to short-term care rather than comfortable long-term stays.”

• Price: Animal hospital boarding rates during the New Year holidays vary by location, but generally fall in the $350–$1,500 range. For example, Xinxin Animal Hospital charges $350–$450 per day (map).

More than just a pet hotel! Fluv’s one-on-one sitter boarding is more flexible — with no holiday surcharges

4. In-home pet boarding

The newest and most popular New Year pet boarding option in Taiwan is platform-based in-home pet boarding — a trend that has been popular in Western countries for about a decade. Your pet stays in a personal sitter’s home and is treated just like one of their own. Your cat or dog can roam freely, lounge on the furniture, and cuddle on demand. This option is ideal for pet owners who are worried about sending their pet to a crowded cage-based hotel, or who want personalized, one-on-one care for their pet.

Home is always the most comfortable place for your pet — and the second most comfortable place is someone else’s home.

Wu Ru-ting offers in-home pet boarding in Sanchong, New Taipei City through the Fluv platform. She believes in-home boarding is the best possible environment for pets.

“When I do in-home boarding, I provide personalized care. I only look after one pet at a time. I give them the kind of love and attention they’d never get in a cage-based facility — and there’s no cage, ever. They come with me when I go out, we go on walks, we visit the park, and they can even sleep with me.”

Taipei pet owner Anny Pai has said: “In-home boarding is the best thing for our little guy. The sitter’s whole family treats him like their own.”

• Price: In-home pet boarding is actually very affordable compared to other options. Platform matching fees are typically $600 to $1,100 per day; daytime-only care (12 hours) is around $300.

• Wu Ru-ting, for example, charges around $700/day for a spacious 50-ping home, with one-on-one care and no cage.

Introduction to Fluv in-home pet boarding

Which pets and owners are a good fit for cage-free in-home boarding?

Pet boarding add-ons

Many providers offer add-on services such as transport, dog walking, extra playtime, and grooming. Some pets may be declined — for example, those who don’t get along with other animals, are unvaccinated, unsterilized, very young, elderly, prone to excessive barking, or have separation anxiety.

With in-home boarding, almost everything is included in the price (except transport), and drop-off/pick-up times are flexible.

Pet boarding comparison table

Feature	Standard cage-based pet hotel	Cage-free luxury or suite-style pet hotel	Animal hospital	Pet sitter or in-home boarding
Environment	Pets are typically kept in a cage or small enclosure.	More spacious accommodations, sometimes with suite options.	Metal cage or ward-style housing, focused on medical care.	Pets live freely in a home environment with more space and no cage.
Price range	Generally the most affordable, starting from $400.	Usually more expensive, especially during the New Year holidays, starting from $1,000.	Varies depending on services and treatments; generally on the higher end.	Flexible pricing (platform matching fee) based on services and duration — great value for money, starting from $600.
Cleanliness	Staff clean cages and common areas on a regular basis.	Higher standards of cleanliness and hygiene, with regular cleaning of all areas.	Medical-grade cleanliness maintained by a professional cleaning team.	Clean environment, dependent on the sitter’s own standards.
Individual attention	Limited individual attention; one caregiver to many pets.	More individual attention, but still typically one caregiver to five or more pets.	Medical care requires individual attention, but it’s not the primary focus.	True one-on-one attention, able to meet each pet’s individual needs.
Hours of service	Fixed opening and closing times.	Extended hours, sometimes with 24/7 supervision.	Fixed business hours; emergency care sometimes available 24/7.	Flexible hours based on the client’s needs; 24-hour companionship available.
Best suited for	Short trips on a budget. Sterilization and vaccination required.	Short and long trips where pets need a higher level of service.	Health checks, vaccinations, emergency treatment, or pets with medical needs.	Top choice for New Year pet boarding, pets with special needs, pets that don’t require sterilization, or pets that need companionship.

This comparison table can help you understand the differences between cage-based New Year pet hotels, cage-free luxury hotels, animal hospitals, and cage-free in-home boarding — so you can make the best decision for you and your pet. Choose based on your needs and what’s right for your furry family member.

FAQ: New Year pet boarding costs and common questions

Q1: Are New Year pet boarding prices higher than usual?
A: Yes. Most pet hotels raise their prices during the Lunar New Year period, with daily rates increasing by an average of 20–50%. We recommend booking early and confirming whether a “New Year surcharge” applies to avoid any surprise charges.

Q2: How far in advance should I book New Year pet boarding?
A: Popular hotels typically fill up 1–2 months before the New Year holidays. Fluv recommends booking at least 45 days in advance to secure the right boarding option or one-on-one sitter for your pet.

Q3: Do Fluv sitters charge a holiday surcharge for the New Year?
A: Some Fluv sitters do adjust their rates during the Lunar New Year period, and this will be clearly displayed on the booking page. You can also filter for sitters with no holiday surcharge, giving you transparent pricing and flexible arrangements for your pet’s New Year stay.

How to choose the right pet boarding option

Whatever option you choose, the most important thing is that you trust the person you’re leaving your pet with. If you have time, browse all the New Year pet boarding reviews and feedback on Fluv — and don’t forget to book a free in-person visit to check out the environment beforehand. You can also easily make enquiries and bookings online.

If possible, try bringing your dog for a short daytime trial a few days before the actual boarding begins ($300–600) so they can get used to the environment. If it doesn’t feel right, you can always try a different boarding option.

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