Your must read travel round up 🏔️
Hello!
Coming to you from a bus in the middle of…
Well, that would be telling wouldn’t it!!! But perhaps you can work it out from this blur out the window.
But yes, I’m now on the road filming my latest Christmas Market series which - as I declared last week - began in Hamburg.
And this trip has been such a good reminder of what can take a solo trip from being good, to being memorable - and it has everything to do with the people you meet. Because the days that always stand out for me, are the ones where I force myself to strike up a conversation with a local or fellow tourist.
I find that something as simple as asking people how to say cheers in their local language can work a charm and as unnerving as it is to put yourself out there, I’m always so glad when I make the effort.
Feels too out of your comfort zone? My top tips are to go for drinks at a hostel where people are expected to mingle, or sign yourself up for a group tour or activity. Even a free walking tour works for this!
Perhaps I should write up a few more of my tips for making friends when travelling, but for now let’s crack on with what I have for the newsletter this week for you!
I’ve been reviewing a suitcase in the NEW Ryanair increased size 📐
But does Ryanair even let you bring a case on board for free? 🧳
The best small suitcases with removable wheels 🛞
Winter packing essentials ❄️
Deal of the week: My top Black Friday picks! 🛍️
A case in point 🧳
When Ryanair increased its small bag size to 40 × 30 × 20cm this summer, it was only time before companies started making bigger bags too - and so that’s what we’re testing here! But will Ryanair even let you bring a case on board as your personal item?!
WOW TRAVEL Ryanair cabin suitcase review
Everything you need to know about this new bigger suitcase including how big it is, what fits inside and whether it fits in the baggage sizer.
Can you take an underseat suitcase on Ryanair?
Rumour has it that some Ryanair staff are a bit funny about taking a suitcase as your small bag - so let’s test it out.
Viral Vacay📲
Where we track down travel videos that have gone viral, find out how much it actually costs and if needs be, suggest a cheaper alternative 🕵️♀️
What is it? An epic all-you can eat buffet of oysters, lobster AND roast dinner in London.
How viral? This reel by @wainslie has notched up over 750k views.
How much? This is The Feast at The Ned in London. It costs from £120 per person - or £190 with unlimited champagne. This has got to be the bougiest all-you-can-eat situation we’ve seen!
Cheaper option? Well that’s exactly what Viral Vacay is all about so don’t worry - we’ve found some affordable options for you.
Seen a viral video you want me to do this for? Reply with it to this email! 📧
Travelling light 🪂
There’s not just cases with removable wheels for Ryanair, we’ve found some for Wizz Air and easyJet too! Plus I’m sharing the winter essentials I can’t travel without.
The best small suitcases with removable wheels
If you prefer a suitcase to a backpack, get a load of these handy cases.
Don’t Forget These Winter Packing Essentials
From warm gloves to cold-busting layers, remember to pack these gems when you jet off this winter.
My deal of the week
I’m sure your inbox is drowning in a sea of offers and deals today, and so we’ll get to the point.
The first is our big list of Amazon Black Friday deals that we shared last week but we are still keeping updated.
But today I wanted to focus on the other deals on offer. If you just fancy a browse, then we’ve compiled a list of all the Black Friday travel deals we’ve spotted which includes flights, hotels, packages, luggage, gadgets and even more!
Here’s my top 3 picks from both lists for you:
Get 25% off Interrail passes
I’m so happy to see another Black Friday offer from Interrail - you can save 25% off their passes. It ends on 17 Dec, but the great news is you have up to 11 months to use your pass from the date of purchase.
Save £270 on a Vrbo stay
It’s good to see a Black Friday sale on a holiday lettings site, as I find they rarely do them. Right now you can save hundreds of pounds if you book with Vrbo - on average customers can expect around £270 savings per booking!
Get 38% off an AirTag 4-pack
I always pack an AirTag into my luggage when I travel. It’s essential if your bag goes walkies - and it’s great for peace of mind as well. Right now you can get 4 for £74 on Amazon, which is great value.
What the team’s been loving this week!
When we’ve not been working really hard - ahem - here’s some of the things that we’ve been enjoying over on socials.
Joe: This is the sort of Baked Alaska I want after a week of snow in the Alps 🌨️
Katie: Brb just pitching this content idea to Chelsea 🫧🪩
Chelsea: I've been losing it over this guy who bought a life jacket from a charity shop and has been testing out what really happens if you inflate it 😆 (and don’t worry - there’s a part 2) 🛟
Anna: Reason 39649 to go to Japan 🐾
More from Holiday Expert
Christmas Markets
I'm back on my Christmas Market game this week - and it’s got me reminiscing about my past market videos!
So, if you can’t wait for my next series, grab a cuppa and watch my attempt to do 7 UK markets in one day using only trains from last year - it did not all go to plan…
Passports Please! podcast
This week, we’re talking about Wizz Air’s new ‘business class’ offering and the time James lost his passport… at border control 🙈
Will the WOW TRAVEL case fit under the seat?
If you too are obssessed with tiny suitcases then you can watch in real time as I test the WOW TRAVEL case on my Ryanair flight.
And that’s a wrap!
That’s all for this week – thanks if you made it this far and why not let me know you did so by answering the poll below ⬇️
If you have a mate or family member who loves to travel and could do with a helping hand from us here at Holiday Expert, just hit the button below and share the link!
Are you feeling festive yet?
Speak to you soon!
Chelsea x
All I want for Christmas is… a bratwurst!
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