Carlos Aguilez, a dog handler, points to a dog at the D Pet Hotel in New York
Carlos Aguilez, a dog handler, points to a dog at the D Pet Hotel in New York December 5, 2013. Christmas travel season is one of the busiest times for America's 14,000 boarding facilities and all of the at home pet caretakers. And as Americans increasingly identify animals as members of their families, pet care has undergone an upgrade. Today, many pet hotels offer everything from 24/7 video-cams (so owners can see their pets at all times) to group play sessions and hikes and doggy paddle swims. For a price, of course. U.S. pet owners are on track to spend $2.1 billion on pet boarding expenses in 2013, according to market research firm IBISWorld. While the International Boarding & Pet Services Association estimates the average kennel stay at $30 a day, that number can go much higher, especially on the east and west coasts. At D Pet Hotels in Manhattan's uber-hip Chelsea neighborhood, a basic suite costs $84 a night, while a unit with a full sized human bed goes for $200. To match story PET-BOARDING/ Picture taken December 5, 2013. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton (UNITED STATES - Tags: ANIMALS BUSINESS SOCIETY)