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The Latest Travel News from the WorldEscape Community

Animals can chill in luxurious surroundings before flying

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Starting next year, animals flying into and out of John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York will have a chance to relax before or after their flight in luxurious surroundings. A new facility called The Ark at JFK will open in 2016 for animals that require quarantine services.

This will be a bonus for those travelling with their animals to stay in the city’s holiday apartments. They will be able to take advantage of the 24-hour quarantine facilities at the terminal, which are fully USDA approved.

The terminal for animals will cover 178,000 square feet of space and is set to cost $48 million. Work is currently under way. When it is complete, it will provide services for a range of animals coming into and going out of the city, including pets, birds, horses, and livestock.

The pets will even have their own departure lounge that includes food, water, and stalls for the horses. The individual horse units all have their own climate controls and come compete with natural light and bedding. There will be a veterinary hospital on site to provide emergency and general care to the animals, including diagnostic checks and surgery. The pet resort will provide a pool for dogs shaped like a bone, the option of flat screen TVs, a cat gym, grooming services, pet massage, and obedience training.

When it opens next year, The Ark at JFK is set to be the only facility of its type in the world, providing pets and other animals with services that even some airline passengers can only dream of.

Chicago’s Navy Pier gets centennial makeover

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To mark the centennial celebrations of Chicago’s Navy Pier in 2016, the city has commissioned a new Ferris wheel to replace the current one. This is just one part of the redevelopment work that is set to draw 55 million tourists into Chicago by 2020.

The new Ferris wheel will offer an enhanced experience for visitors to the area. Once it is installed, it will stand 49 feet higher than the existing one, which has been in place since 1995. It will also be capable of accommodating 180 more people in a single ride. The gondolas will be temperature-controlled, providing a comfortable and pleasant journey throughout the year.

It is set to be completed before next summer and will feature a number of safety elements. This includes the ability to withstand up to 115mph gusts of wind and safety glass that is suitable for strong storms.

The smooth ride will last 12 minutes and complete three full rotations; passengers currently get a single seven-minute journey.

Tourists booking luxury rentals in Chicago for the 2016 celebrations will be able to enjoy all the sights of the redeveloped pier. In addition to the new wheel, a number of new food and drink outlets are coming to the area.

This work will showcase the luxurious and contemporary side of Navy Pier and maintain its status as the number one leisure attraction in the city. It will bring a new energy to the area, drawing in more tourists and boosting the local economy.