Family travel news roundup

Wackiest airline commercial ever. [via YouTube] Yotel is the first hotel to be built inside the Gatwick airport terminal. Inspired by the smart way first-class airline seats use space, Yotel charges rates from $50 a night (but more typically about $110) for a pod that measures between 75 and 107 square feet. Each has a double bed, bathroom with shower, pull-down desk, flat-screen TV--plus free Wi-Fi. At last, the word is getting out that budget travelers like a bit of style. More info: Until recently, most transatlantic flights from the U.S. flew into rival airport Heathrow. But within the next nine months, several airlines will begin transatlantic service to Gatwick, making Yotel's new rooms more appealing to Americans. Related: Discount carrier Zoom flies into Gatwick from N.Y.C Photo contest at the national parks. From now through Sept. 29, Canon invites you to submit your favorite digital photographs of an American park to its Digital Learning Center. The prize for the best landscape and wildlife pix is a trip to one of the major U.S. parks of their choice, along with a full suite of Canon photographic equipment. Earlier: How to take better photographs of your friends. Related: Free photography classes this summer at Yellowstone, Yosemite, and the Grand Canyon. For more details, call 888-390-9829.

Today Zoom Airlines, a Canadian air carrier, began its first flights from New York City (JFK) to London (Gatwick). From today until July 14 you can fly to London round-trip for between $536 and $546, after taxes. So, what's the catch? Seats are assigned first-come, first-serve--unless you pay extra to select a seat in advance. "If you do not pay to pre-select your seat, there is no guarantee that you will be sitting next to your travelling companion(s)." Some of the transatlantic flights--on Tuesdays and Saturdays--have layovers in Bermuda. Check the itinerary of your flights before you book. One meal and one snack are included. Only about 44 pounds of luggage is allowed--below the limits for other airlines flying transatlantic right now. (If you fly "premium economy" you can carry up to 66 pounds of luggage.) Earlier: Zoom promises to frequently offer round-trip airfares from New York City to London for $700, after taxes. The airline flies new Boeing 767-300ERs and it only has economy class and economy plus seats. In other words, seats with 36 inches of legroom are available for roughly twice the cost. Related: London's smoking ban starts July 1. [BBC] As this smoking ban map shows, European governments are trying to get their citizens to kick the habit. London's top tea parties. The best daytrip out of London: Battle. What $200 buys in a London hotel.

Singapore native Chang Yang Fa, an engineering consultant, still has his first toy, a Matchbox 73 RAF refueling truck he bought when he was 6. This month, at age 57, Chang officially opens the Mint Museum of Toys to hold the 50,000 pieces he's acquired since then. He believes his five-story glass building is the first purpose-built toy museum ever. Among the rarest objects in the collection is a water pistol from the 1950s based on the English sci-fi comic book hero, Dan Dare ("It's the only one known to exist in the world," says Chang). The toys, many in their original packaging, are arranged by theme, rather than by country of origin. "Toys from Brazil and Japan are next to each other to provoke visitors to ask: Why are they so similar?" says Chang. "The world of toys is universal."