Where do you get your travel inspiration from? Do you flick through the pages of a magazine, head to your nearest travel agent or plan your trips based on the places you see on TV or in films? The internet is a popular choice, but probably not in the way that you think. Rather than scroll web page after web page looking for recommendations, more people are turning to social media influencers, especially travel YouTubers. It’s only natural really; isn’t it by word of mouth that most people take recommendations seriously? Plus you can see exactly what a destination is like through their YouTube videos and hear a first-hand account of how their experience was. They recommend everything from things to do and places to see to what to eat – information which can help you experience the more local, less touristy side of your holiday destination.
Here at Wimdu, we love anybody who is as passionate about travel as we are so we’ve put together a list of our top 10 European-based travel YouTubers. Check out their videos and get inspired by their local tips; choose a destination, book accommodation and, most importantly, have fun!
Louis Cole/Fun For Louis
First up is English travel vlogger Louis Cole and his channel Fun For Louis. Louis spends his time travelling the world making videos with the goal of inspiring others. He has been everywhere from Spain to the United States, Kenya and Japan. One of our personal favourite trips was when Louis and a group of his friends explored the world’s longest ice tunnel in Iceland – that’s something you don’t get to see every day! Check out the video here.
Ruben Alonso/Ruben y El Mundo
Spaniard Ruben Alonso is a travel documentary maker who posts his travels on his YouTube channel, Ruben y El Mundo (videos are in Spanish with English subtitles). Ruben allows viewers to see destinations through his eyes, offering a personal vision of things. We love his city trip videos which are great for local tips. We were lucky enough to get a special tip from Rueben: “El Hospital de Sant Pau is Barcelona‘s best-kept secret.” Take a look at his channel for some inspiration before you travel.
WhiteSpotPirates
We admire the goal of WhiteSpotPirates: “ to bring people one step closer to putting their own dreams into reality, to build up a community that inspires and supports each other.” With our own mission to make travel more accessible to everyone, we respect WhiteSpotPirates’ encouragement for those who want to follow their travel dreams. If a trip which involves sailing is what you are into, head over to YouTube and check out UNTIE THE LINES – a weekly video series about refitting a sailboat bought in Panama to make it seaworthy again.
Backpacker Steve/Steve Haenisch
Backpacker Steve is our favourite German travel vlogger (videos in English and German). Born in the GDR and unable to travel during his younger years, he’s making up for lost time by taking many fantastic trips around the world. Steve’s channel is perfect for those travelling alone. He provides practical tips about how one can really engross themselves in a destination, from local food and attractions to where to stay. We especially enjoyed Steve’s “Quick Guide to Latvia” video.
Dutchified/Arnaud Wiehe
“A new panoramic tower has recently opened in Amsterdam. My tip is to make a reservation in the restaurant for after 6pm. That way you can go to the top without having to pay the 12.30 fee.”
You have just got to love the amazing tips from Arnaud Wiehe of the YouTube channel Dutchified. If you’re planning a trip to Amsterdam anytime soon, Arnaud is your man. He’s posted several videos online about the general lifestyle of the city. Dutchified is also home to some great videos about India, Benidorm and Dubrovnik.
Eight Miles From Home/Sacha & J
Travelling with children can be hard – but travel vloggers Sacha & J make it look so easy! Sacha and J moved from London to Portugal, along with their baby daughter and dog, to follow their dreams. Their videos range from the pros and cons of living in Portugal to cycle tours in Manila and cool things to do in Oslo. They also vlog about their daily life as a family and discuss topics from vegetarianism to nature and photography. Steal a look at their “Top 10 Things to Do in Coimbra” video for a sneak peak of Quinta das Lagrimas and Restaurante Italia, among other places.
Two Bad Tourists/Dave and Austin
Two Bad Tourists are not bad tourists at all. In fact, they make some wonderful videos on YouTube about just how achievable travel is without spending lots of money. Married couple David and Austin are two expat Americans currently living in Madrid. While travelling around the world, they make entertaining videos which expose viewers to new cultures and ways of life. Their short but informative list of uploaded videos include topics such as “Is Slovenia a Good Destination for Gay Travellers?” and a “Food Tour of London’s East End”.
StoryTravellers/Caspar
Thinking of heading to Italy for a break? Well, according to Caspar of Story Travellers, “Matera is is an amazing gem in the south of Italy” – and who are we to disagree with an expert? Netherlands-based Story Travellers is a collection of storytellers videoing their genuine travel experiences. Their short videos are easy to watch and beautifully artistic; it would be hard not to be inspired by one of them! For something beyond the usual holiday destinations, have a look at “Voices of Ireland’s Ancient East”.
Carol Bersch
Munich-based Brazilian vlogger and lover of all things travel, Carol Bersch has spoiled us with local tips for her favourite destinations:
Prague: “Bohemian Retro Vintage and all of the Zizkov area are great. There you will find a bunch of vintage clothes, toys, accessories, LPs and decorations. You also have a good chance to get something from former Communist Europe.”
Paris: “Le Comptoir Général is something between a bar and a museum. It is a great place to refresh your Instagram. It has a lot of ambiences that reminds Africa and South America.”
Rio de Janeiro: “Ipanema and Copacabana are must-see in Rio, but please also visit ‘Praia Vermelha’. It is the beach directly at the foot of ‘Pao de acucar/ Sugar Loaf’ and it is surrounded by Brazilian army bases. The vicinity consists of Rio middle-class families and Army members. It is clean, safe, family-orientated and not crowded – and offers the best view of Sugar Loaf.“
Carol vlogs in Portuguese over on her YouTube channel where there is no shortage of travel inspiration. Head over to check out her vlogs in Bavaria, Lisbon and Paris among other fascinating destinations.
PsychoTraveller/Aly
Finally, we have Birmingham-born Aly who has been discovering the world for three years straight over on YouTube channel PsychoTraveller. PsychoTraveller was set up by Aly as a platform to inspire people to live their dreams – and we think she is doing a great job. Besides travel vlogs, Aly also posts useful information such as “10 Things Backpackers Need” and “How to Travel on a Super Tight Budget”.
We admire each and every one of these YouTubers (and those not mentioned) for getting out there and embracing the travel bug. If you want to do the same, then why not start by booking a Wimdu apartment. Our accommodation lies in the heart of over 150 top travel destinations meaning you can experience a location as locally as these guys do.
