It’s tempting to immediately pass judgment on the Unagi Travel agency, which does only one thing: sends clients’ stuffed animals on trips. Oh boy is it tempting. For example, a dashing and thoughtful travel writer that you may know, upon hearing about the service, was heard to say something that rhymes with “Are you yucking titting me?”
But, as much as it pains him to admit, he was deeply off base. Unagi Travel is (mainly) meant for people who are too impaired, physically or otherwise, to manage the trips themselves. Seeing their stuffed animals gallivanting about imbues them with vicarious joy. Needless to say, the cute-ometer rating is somewhere in the upper stratosphere.
And the results, and happy clients, speak for themselves. In one case, a woman was so inspired by her stuffed animal’s travel hijinks that she sought out the necessary therapy for her legs so she too could get out and travel.
If the video above wasn’t enough cuteness for your day, you can spend hours watching four years of videos on their criminally under-visited YouTube channel. Videos include tours of Tokyo, shinto shrines, camping, at the airport, a long haul trip to Estonia and much more silly cuteness.
Still not enough? Their Facebook page is filled with “action” photos of stuffed animals having the time of their lives. I mean, just look at the cute!
You can send Spot, your stuffed panda, or Sheldon, your stuffed turtle, on the “Mystery Tour” for just US$35, though the US$45 Tokyo tour looks like a great value. And, in terms of happy tears, this is the deal of the century.
Interesting. This could also be a good way to prepare kids for trips.
There you go again, Ed. Making good ideas even better.