What is getting me through this period of stay-at-home orders and a countrywide lockdown? Why my favourite travel YouTubers, of course! It’s incredible how even seeing other people travelling the world (in the past) and getting a glimpse of what was once “normal” is a great comfort. So I wanted to share with you all of my favourite travel vloggers and wanderlust-inspiring videographers who will quench your thirst for the world outside your bedroom! This is part of my series on virtual travel, which will hopefully help you escape a little bit during this global pandemic.
Eileen Aldis
The travel vlogging world is filled with so many different personalities. But when I tell people I loved watching vloggers, I find sometimes this is met with a raised eyebrow. I think people have a very narrow idea of what a vlogger can be. And for me, Eileen Aldis is the very best of the best. She will put even the most skeptical viewer to rest. Her thoughtful narrations, wonderfully researched and informative videos paired with their incredible cinematography make for a perfect travel video! I find myself absolutely mesmerized throughout as she and her partner travel the world together. Eileen has a fantastic back-catalogue of videos to choose from. She travels to such unique and sometimes lesser travelled locations, making them even more fascinating to watch from your room!
Bald and Bankrupt
Benjamin Rich, better known by his YouTube channel name Bald and Bankrupt, is an English travel vlogger. He is mostly known for his travels to long forgotten states within the former Soviet Union. Most of these places are tiny villages and towns, that most of us would never put on our travel bucket list. But Mr. Bald, as his subscribers call him, sets out to explore them with unencumbered enthusiasm and has us all excited to see what they have in store for him. Rich speaks Russian fluently, which helps him greatly on his travels through these mostly undocumented parts of the world.
Rick Steves’ Europe
My travel guru has always been Rick Steves. When I was 14, I went on my first international trip, and I had his guide book with me like my bible. His voice guided me throughout the city. I will always thank him for such gentle and easy instruction for travelling. Rick Steves’ Europe is a series that Rick began producing for PBS in 2000. Since then, they have made over 129 episodes.! Each episode focuses on a different city in Europe and features Rick’s charming narration leading you through the best things to see and do while in town. Although the show is meant more as a travel planning guide, it is a great way to travel to these cities from the couch during the lockdown! Most of the episodes are now available on Rick Steves’ Youtube Channel.
The Chateau Diaries
The Chateau Diaries focuses on the busy life of Stephanie Jarvis. Jarvis bought the 16th-century “Chateau de Lalande” in the heart of France, 15 years ago. Ever since she has been slowly restoring the castle. A few years ago she opened it up as a B&B to supplement her renovation costs. But when the pandemic hit, all her guests cancelled their reservations and she was left with no monthly income. She had been vlogging periodically over the years but the shutdown inspired her to get serious about it!
But Garvis doesn’t live here alone! Her palace is filled with volunteers, each of whom possesses their own set of artistic skills and camera-ready stories. Her mother and her adopted brother are also two of the most hilarious personalities. This cast of characters makes watching her vlogs feel like you are stepping into her world and you get to know all of them as friends. Her channel has brought so much happiness to people all over the world. The Chateau Diaries were even covered in a recent CNN article! For those of us at home, dreaming of a life outside our four walls, her fairytale existence is just the thing we need to escape (at least virtually)!
Crash Course
Crash Course is a series of educational videos created by Youtube royalty John and Hank Green. These two real life brothers have been on YouTube almost as long as the platform has been around and their content is some of the best of the site. This series, partnered with PBS Digital Studios, is meant as a literal “crash course” for anyone interested in learning more about world history. While the channel doesn’t physically travel to these faraway destinations, it instead dives deep into their histories and myths. From these videos you can better understand the cultural heritage of your favourite destination or learn a little bit more about someplace you’ve always dreamt of visiting. It’s endlessly fascinating and will keep you entertained for hours and hours!
This Natasha
When I was planning my first trip to Japan, I sought so many YouTubers’ advice to learn about the country. And Natasha was my #1 resource. Natasha was lucky enough to live in Japan for a few years. Although she has now moved back to London, she has since visited Japan dozens of times and documented it for our viewing pleasure.
Natasha is the perfect resource since she has that comprehensive blend of being both a local and a tourist. Sometimes full-time locals don’t always see their cities in the same magical way that tourists do. Even the most ubiquitous things entertain me endlessly when I’m visiting a new city. And locals can’t tap into that curiosity in the same way. But Natasha has curiosity in spades! She is always investigating things and asking the questions we are dying to know! I love her trips into the country and the beautiful vistas that Japan has hidden away in the villages far away from the big cities.
Abroad in Japan
Abroad in Japan is a channel hosted by Englishman, Chris Broad. Chris is one of the funniest people on Youtube (in my obviously biased opinion). He moved to Japan from the UK in 2012 and has been there ever since. Although he started off in Japan working as an English teacher, his growing audience on Youtube allowed him to make Youtube his full-time gig. His videos focus on Japanese culture, Japanese food and travel in Japan. Since Japan hasn’t seen lockdowns as severe as elsewhere globally, he and his friends could still continue to travel the country. This series filmed during the pandemic is called “Journey Across Japan.” If you’re looking to have a laugh, see Japan from your computer chair and enjoy some exciting anecdotes, then that’s the channel for you.
Jay Swanson
Jay Swanson is an American who moved to Paris for a job and fell in love with the city so much, he has been there ever since! He loves Paris’ rich history, and his vlogs are full of fascinating anecdotes of what life in Paris is really like. Spoiler: it’s not all macaroons and berets! His life-hacks for travelling in Paris are unparalleled. And his wonderful video skills and unique vlog subjects always keep me coming back to watch week after week.
Cecilia Blomdahl
Cecilia Blomdahl is a vlogger who completely blew up this year with her addictive TikToks. Her newly created Youtube channel is all about her life on Svalbard, an arctic island close to the North Pole. Originally from Sweden, she has lived on this otherwordly island for the last 5 years. Svalbard is the northernmost town in the world! During the winter, they experience “polar night,” a phenomenon where the nighttime lasts for more than 24 hours. Conversely, in the summertime, they also have a “polar day” when the sun remains above the horizon for more than 24 hours! Whenever she leaves the house, she must be armed with a gun, in case of polar bear attacks! She is a drone instructor and her drone skills are UNREAL. All of this allows up to peek into life inside this unique village and its artful and historic glaciers that surround it.
Thomas Heaton
If you love travel photography and want to hone your skills during the pandemic, then Thomas Heaton is the channel for you! Heaton is a landscape photographer and travels to some amazingly remote locations to get shots that belong in an art gallery. His on-location videos are full of excellent tips and tricks for landscape and travel photography. Plus his destination vlogs clips take you with him on his photography adventures. His channel also has lots of technical tutorials and how-to videos to help you learn how to be a better photographer. If you find yourself with some spare time, his videos are an excellent resource for training up your skills.
Drew Binsky
Drew Binsky is probably the most well-known YouTuber on this list, but with good reason. His down to earth attitude is a refreshing take compared to many other vloggers and “influences.”. Drew’s goal is to travel to every country on earth, and he was less than 10 countries away from his plan before the pandemic struck. But that just means you have a lot of videos to catch up on! His vlogs are more like mini-documentaries, all about the unique people he meets along the way, the food they eat and the culture that defines them and their country.
I hope these vlogs help with the yearning to get out there and explore! Not only are these videos a great way to get outside your house (virtually), but they can also inspire some future trip planning. We will be back out there one day! Until then, enjoy these charming, binge-able travel vlogs!
Happy (Virtual) Travels, Adventurers
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