Travel News Roundup: October 2013

That’s October nearly over! Seriously, where is the year going?! It’s been another mad month in the world of travel, so without any further ado, let’s get cracking with this month’s travel news round-up.

Send your teddy abroad

Yes – you heard that right. For as little as £12, Japanese holiday company Unagi Travel promises to take your treasured stuffed toys on an exotic adventure. It’s a great chance for your favourite teddy bear to see all four corners of the globe for a fraction of the price it would cost to take yourself! The package includes a set of photos of them on location, and of course a safe return home to you.

Okay, so the idea might be slightly laughable, but apparently it is a great way for those with anxiety, illness or mobility issues to see the world through the adventures of their favourite toys. Plus, it makes for some very unusual holiday snaps!

Heathrow now family friendly

Travelling with a family is hardly ever easy, but it can make a lot of difference if your departure airport has plenty of facilities to keep the kids amused. That’s why you’ll be pleased to hear that, in the summer of 2013, the UK’s busiest airport also ranked as the most child friendly in Europe.

Heathrow has managed an incredible turnaround in the past 12 months. Only last year it ranked 10th in the UK for child-friendliness, so having climbed to become number one in Europe is a huge achievement.

Thailand considers “Tourist Tax”

If you’re planning to travel to Thailand in 2014, then it might be best to take a little extra budget with you. The Thai authorities are currently considering charging a 500 baht (roughly £10) “tourist tax” to visitors who intend to stay in the country for more than three days.

The charge is intended to attract the “quality tourist”, and the money will go towards initiatives for both tourists and locals alike.

If you want to skip the charge, you’d better be quick: the country is looking to implement it in January.

Tourism gets one step closer to the final frontier

Would you like to explore the edges of space? Well, in 2016 that could be a very real possibility, and all at the bargain price of $75,000 (£46,000) per person.

World View Enterprises plans to fly people up to around 20 miles high in a high-altitude balloon, not totally dissimilar to the one used by Felix Baumgartner for the Red Bull Stratos space dive last year.

Of course, patrons won’t be expected to jump out of the balloon! Rather, they will experience the lap of luxury, be able to have a walk around and even sip a drink from the bar as they admire the spectacular view.

What do you think of this month’s news stories? Share your views with us in the comments!