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There’s no one happier than I to see that the holiday industry have decided that our faithful dogs are good for business. So how long before we can enquire … ” are there any drone-friendly holidays yet?

The Original – Man’s Best Friend

You’ll notice on travel websites, that there’s often a handy list of icon-ed highlights, outlining the essential dos-and-don’ts/ cans-and-can’ts at a prospective property.

Well, dog owners instantly speed-scroll to see if the Monopoly-style dog icon is a) present and b) not crossed out with a red prohibition sign..

(I wonder what century I’d have to live through before there is a naughty child icon?)

A New Travel Companion

So, can the new travelling companion achieve similar social acceptance? I’m talking about the family drone.

Ok, so it doesn’t lick your face or show any signs of love and affection. However, when you’ve got one (or two) you just want to take it everywhere!

Your very own, private celebrity film crew, at the touch of (a few) buttons! Skilled pilot? Once upon a time, but now it’s a bit like riding a scooter.

Functions and Capabilities

There’s onboard intelligence and, similar to dogs, it can be taught new tricks.

In fact, every year drones have new capabilities and functions to create your own little action movies.

Incidentally, these things can film from angles I thought only possible from a modular space station. It recognises my face, follows me around and responds to my hand-gestures! It’s a flying dog!

Launching and Landing

Our latest drone can hover, pan, shoot stills, avoid obstacles, chase cattle and trick wasps into thinking it’s the mother of all hornets.

You don’t even have to keep it within your line of sight anymore because the return-to-home function places it back exactly where it took off from.

Ultimately, at the end of the day, it goes home with you and, instead of regurgitating a stomach-full of sea water, it presents you with an editable memoir of your day’s antics, before silently discharging it’s batteries, in the seclusion of it’s travel case.

So why do people dislike them?

Troubleshooting

Primarily, I feel that a lot of people think drones are spying on them.

Worse still, they think that some unfavourable, flat-haired snapshot of themselves is going to appear all over social media. That one friend who jumps on every post that’s ever published will tag them in it. Its a fair review.

Is it a fear of them losing power and falling on your head?

An unauthorised acceptance of cyber dystopia?

Is it the uncertainty of whether or not my 300g starter kit has a well-disguised arsenal of military assault weapons?

Is it the fear that one may suddenly flip over your garden fence and hover in front of your window on date night?

The Competition

Dogs are clearly threatened by this rivalry for popularity.

They either stare up with complete bafflement (before side-glancing their owners for a formal explanation), or they do that dominant goat-leap, prior to a full ABS emergency halt proceeded by a tucked-tail retreat.

Generally, I think there was 50/50 feelings towards sharing your own air space with drones until the recent airport incidents. Self-validated jackasses flying dangerously close to cargo and commercial aircraft and therefore, putting everyone’s life at risk for mass media acknowledgement and international shock.

Not to mention scuppering the fun and excitement of responsible drone-owners everywhere. Those who merely desire a birds-eye video of themselves and their loved ones, for their own personal enjoyment.

Any Drone-Friendly Holidays Yet? – We’ve A Long Way To Go

We’re taking a drone on a long-haul flight to the US later this year. I am having to email the airline in advance to make sure I comply with aviation regulations for carrying an offensive weapon, or something like that… I may end up having to buy it it’s own seat.

Perhaps I’m going to have to wait a long time before the drone-friendly holiday icon appears between the cots and 2-car parking provisions. I’ll wait.

If you were looking for a review or anything remotely useful in this article, please head over to my ‘Top 4 Drones To Pack Under Your Pants” here in Lifestyle Blog. There’s even a list of drone-friendly holiday countries (complete with important flying regulations info).

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