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Award-winning spa hotels, lost passports and Norwegian robot ships

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It's time for this week's travel news again! This week, we can tell you that Swedish spa hotels have won great prizes in the "World Luxury Spa Awards" Hanoi, that every fifth young Swede loses their passport and that our neighbouring country Norway intends to send autonomous robot ships out on the seas as early as next year.

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Free roaming provides relaxation

Surfing in the EU has been unleashed, leading to new holiday habits. According to a survey of 1000 Swedes commissioned by Telenor, almost one in two people feel more relaxed knowing they are always connected. 

Six out of ten have more contact with loved ones on holiday and 75% say they don't have to worry about high mobile phone bills. However, a small number (3%) feel more stressed by always being available abroad.

Fri roaming
Photo: Pixabay

Swedish spa hotels are winners

At the recent World Luxury Spa Awards in Hanoi, Sweden was showered with awards. The awards are given in 32 categories and are based on service levels and guest votes. Hotel Tylösand won two awards and was named both Northern Europe's best resort spa and best business spa hotel. Other Swedish winners included Sankt Jörgen Park Spa Hotel in Gothenburg and Stenungsbaden Yacht Club's spa - Bluewater Sports & Health Club.

Spa
Photo: Pixabay

One in five young people lose their passport

One in ten Swedes have lost their passport at some point and one in five young Swedes have lost their passport. This is according to a survey conducted by the insurance company If. There are significantly more men (13 per cent) than women (6 per cent) who lose their passports. 

Losing a passport creates problems for the traveller, but the lost passport can also contribute to crime. Police suspect that there is widespread abuse of Swedish passports, which are highly sought after and can be sold for tens of thousands of dollars on the black market.

Pass
Photo: Pixabay

Google introduces personalised news feeds

Google is about to implement its biggest change since 1996: personalised news feeds. The idea is to directly compete with Facebook, which is taking up more and more of our time. The feeds will display personalised information on sports, viral videos and news.

Google
Photo: Pixabay

Soon most people will own a mobile phone

Two-thirds (66 per cent) of the world's population is expected to use mobile phones by 2022, according to a survey by Forrester. This is a huge increase from 2013 when the figure was 21 per cent. The study also shows that the use of tablets is decreasing. Android is expected to account for 73% of the mobile market this year (1.8 billion users), followed by Apple (21%) and Windows (4%).

Mobiltelefon
Photo: Pixabay

Norway will soon be running robot ships

Norway has developed a robotic ship that will launch as early as next year. The ship is fully autonomous, battery-powered and has robotic arms that can load and unload at the harbour. The ship is called Yara Birkeland, has zero emissions and is entirely controlled by robotics and artificial intelligence. "Who will the Somali pirates kidnap and hold hostage?" asks Dagens Analys.

Did you miss the last travel news? Read the Camping records, coffee in the suitcase and lots of googling of Sweden!

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