Our Favourite YouTube Channel’s

Hey everyone, sorry we haven’t posted in a while but life has been hectic! We have had the chance to take a couple of weeks time off and travel around Ireland so plenty of content will be published soon!

We have been watching a lot of YouTube over the past few months and our favourite channels have revolved around something we haven’t been able to do – Travel. There are a ton of great Youtubers, but we decided to limit ourselves to 5 for this post as follows:

Gary Bembridge – Tips for Travellers

Gary runs the channel Tips for Travellers, his videos generally focus on cruises – we have only been on one cruise, and our two following have been cancelled. However we love watching him to get a bit of cruise hype – he has kept us up to date with all that’s going on in the cruise industry during Covid-19 and its become a tradition in our house to shout that Gary has a new video.

We highly recommend watching his videos if you are interested in cruising – he has tips around cruise lines, destinations and how to save money. Gary can be found on instagram @GaryBembridge

Ben and David

Cruise With Ben and David is another cruise channel that we love – we originally discovered them through their Scarlet Lady video – we really enjoy their style of video and they are entertaining to watch. Again, through Covid they have provided regular updates. We really enjoy their informative videos on different cruise lines they can be found on Instagram @cruisewith

Emma

Emma Cruises is another of the YouTube channels we follow for cruise news and updates, we discovered her after watching Ben and David’s video on the new Virgin Voyages ship – the Scarlet Lady. To be honest we have only watched a few of her videos, but we have found them very informative and entertaining. If you follow her on Instagram @EmmaCruises she occasionally has live streams!

Paul and Carole

Paul and Carole Love to Travel is another channel we love to watch – we initially discovered them through their Instagram @paulandcarole We find them really fun to watch and read, Brianna discovered recently they even have now have a TikTok account! They have videos reviewing, hotels, cruises and lately we have watched their touring caravan series.

Travel Blog Jamie

We also came across Jamie initially through Instagram @TravelBlogJamie, his YouTube channel is Travel Blog Jamie. We enjoy watching it as Jamie reviews a range of different accommodations and types of trips and he also has videos around lifestyle! He is really positive and supportive of his followers and we recommend engaging with his accounts if you get the chance!

These are our favourite five to watch at the moment!

Until next time stay safe and keep planning the next adventure!

Brianna and Iain

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Hotels Versus Airbnb

Often when you go away on holiday, one of the most important questions is where you’re going to stay. For us, we want somewhere that’s central, not too pricey, and comfortable and clean. We feel like it’s important to check out all your options before you visit somewhere, and find the option that’s best for you for whichever trip you’re going on. So, we always think it’s a good idea to check out both hotels and Airbnbs. There are many reasons to choose either one, and today we’d like to talk about them. This isn’t a post pitting one against the other – both accommodations have their pros and cons. We’ve stayed in some beautiful hotels and Airbnbs, and we’ve staying in some rather dire hotels and Airbnbs.  It’s just about finding what’s right for you, and bear in mind that can change from trip to trip.

First up, hotels. For most of us they’re the more familiar of the two, and many people would automatically gravitate towards them. The idea of a hotel is well established in our minds, when you book one you generally know what you’re getting. They’re generally easier to find when you arrive in a new location, especially if you get a taxi and don’t speak the language. They’re perfect for those of us who love to book an early flight so we can kick off exploring a new destination right away, because even if you’re room isn’t ready, there’s normally a storage room to drop your bag off in. Hotels are also great as there tends to always be someone there if you have an issue, or need something for your room. They also tend to feel more secure, although this isn’t saying that they are. We also think they’re great as they often have a bar and restaurant on sight. This makes them perfect if you can’t be bothered venturing out, or if you want somewhere to go back to for a nightcap before bed.

Hotels are great, and can be perfect, especially for a shorter stay. However, they’re not without their negative points. Often they are part of a chain, and can begin to feel generic and duplicated in style. While we know this isn’t a massive issue, it is something we think it worth pointing out. Also, depending on the style of hotel, they can attract loud and disruptive crowds of people, such as stag or hen parties. This means they’re not great if you like to get an early night, or wake up early. They’re also not ideal if you can’t afford to eat out for all three meals, as they don’t allow for self-catering. It’s always handy having small kitchen facilities to whip up something for breakfast and lunch, even if it’s just a small fridge and some cutlery and crockery for cereal and sandwiches.

Next up is the relatively new Airbnb. We had never stayed in one until we went on our honeymoon to Italy, and then we stayed in three back to back. Because it was our first time, and our honeymoon, we were a little bit apprehensive. However we’ve found them to be a pleasant experience for the most part. Unlike hotels, they’re great for those of us that love a self-catering element to their holidays. This is great for two reasons – it allows you to save some money on eating out, and it can lead to a home from home feeling, which is perfect if you’re planning on staying for a few days. Speaking of a homely feeling, Airbnbs often tend to feel more personalised. They can be bare and basic, but they can also be beautiful, unique, and reflect the style of the person renting it out, which we find to be pretty cool. The personalised feeling also extends to a local knowledge that tends to mean you find out about places off the beaten track.  

Our Airbnb in Florence

This was our favourite Airbnb we stayed in, it was based near the centre of Florence and the host Chiara was amazing. It can be booked here – please note this is an affiliate link and we will earn a small amount of money if you book through it.

They aren’t without their disadvantages though. We found them to be problematic on three fronts. Firstly, they can be difficult to find, especially if they’re in a less touristy areas. Because they’re just an apartment or house, there’s no signage outside to indicate you’re at the right building. Which is fine if you have a way of contacting the owner for directions. But we’ve been in situations when we’re wandering around with our bags, unable to find an apartment or get an answer from the person renting out the Airbnb. And that leads us to the third negative point – what to do with your bags. Many Airbnbs won’t be ready for check-in until the afternoon, which means if you have an early flight you’ll be stuck pulling suitcases around, and having to keep an eye on them. There’s obviously the option to book a later flight, but this doesn’t suit some people.

So, hotel or Airbnb? Honestly, there’s no one answer. We think the best thing to do is plan what kind of trip you want to go on, and then choose the option best suited for your needs at that time. Like anything, it’s just about weighing up the pros and cons, and then going with what feels right. Either way, you’re still going to be on holiday!

Until then, stay safe and keep planning the next adventure!

Brianna and Iain