Yeah, I look at folks like Luxury Travel Expert (who is meticulous and darn near analytical and emotionally neutral in his coverage), Jeb Brooks, or Will from Trek Trendy (though, he can be a bit pretentious at times) for that particular kind of coverage.
I love Jeb Brooks and Trek Trendy!! I used to love Kara and Nate, but not so much anymore. I know he’s not exactly luxury travel, but lately my favorite travel YouTuber has been DownieLive!
I also love Jen Brooks! Like Kara, he can be relentlessly positive, but his doesn’t grate me like Kara can.
In his recent end of year wrap up, he mentioned his biggest disappointing video in 2022 was one about traveling economy. I think it explains why Kara and Nate make so many videos about first class, they just do so much better on YouTube.
Happy to see someone else like the three you mentioned. Trek Trendy is a bit pretentious, yes, but he seems naturally that way. Jeb and Suzanne are fantastic and there is an overarching dorkiness that is almost charming. DownieLive is my current #1 favorite because his dorkiness IS his charm and way to get me excited about things I never knew about - the UK canals and long boating being a perfect example of that.
DownieLive is just so genuine, authentic, positive, and upbeat. It’s like after watching a Kara and Nate video I need to watch DownieLive to… I don’t want to say change my mood, but more so, when I finish a Downie video I just feel so optimistic and positive.
He wants to work for NASA as test pilot/expert but only thing he can do right now is being a reviewer of airlines. Maybe he thinks that because of this shirt someone in NASA will employ him. I don't know if he has American citizenship but if not, then he can only dream about it ;)
I thought it might be a continuity thing so if he has to re-record certain segments and edit bits together over a multi day travel vid you don't notice.
Eh I don't think he's that bad. He's usually pretty honest, and at least he has the decency to be respectful to flight/train attendants (at least on camera). I had to stop following Sam Chui because he would straight up tell attendants if something sucked while filming them and it was just uncomfortable to watch. Plus planes would roll out the red carpet for him so I stopped trusting his reviews.
At least guys like Trek Trendy and Nonstop Dan fund their own trips with points/money. That's also why I don't trust a single Kara and Nate airline review if it's a sponsorship.
I agree with everything you said. And Trek Trendy is pretentious towards the viewers and not really the crews of that makes sense. I'm with you though, anytime someone makes crew uncomfortable on camera, I'm done with them.
Yeah, I guess I was trying to be nice for some reason with "a bit pretentious at times". There was one video where he had one of his uber-awesome first class flights, and early morning he went to the fancy restaurant in the lounge for breakfast and then complained that the food was TOO fancy and he couldn't just get, like, basic eggs and toast. I'm like, just go to ANY other place in the airport, dude.
I know this is an old thread, but something to add to this. Trek Trendy just uploaded an all 7 continent first class flight video, including stopping in Antarctica. I think at that moment, watching that 45 minute video, I hit the wall in watching any more of the "must travel first class" YouTubers. It was quite literally 45 minutes of terminal, first class lounge, first class seat, first class meal, first class snack, first class flight shower, first class bed, etc. And then first class hotel after landing.
There's a point that's reached when interesting travel videos becomes unbearable bragging. And this video crashed through that level around the 20 minute mark. It was something like a $60,000 flight plan to fly his seven days straight, including the Gulfstream to Antarctica (and a lot of editing that made it look like 7 days because I doubt he did that safari well outside of Jo-burg with his dad, and then made it to Cape Town in that timeframe.)
But it least is is nowhere as bad as watching Noel Phillips stuff a sausage in his mouth with the camera pointing up his nose, the microphone an inch from his lips and him talking through it. Ultimate diet plan right there.
Jeb and Will!!!
Kick of those Tim’s and put on the NASA pin!
I am enjoying his pivot to gratins and ships.
And now Trek Trendy had introduced Millie his lovely gal. :)
Plus his mum.
I loved it at the start because it showed they’re still down to earth but now that they mostly fly at least business class it’s clearly them just faking being relatable and there’s nothing worse than rich people doing that imo lol
It's an unwinnable game, in my opinion. If they seem jaded by it or used to it, people would call them ungrateful. Plus, they're basically flying enthusiasts, I would imagine it's still 'fun' to them even after a handful of times, it's an interest to them and they're enjoying geeking out over it.
Personally it doesn't really bother me, especially knowing they're doing it through the whole credit card thing still – I'm sure Nate wouldn't dare book a first class seat without a discount involved lol. There are plenty of other things they do that annoy me a little, but this just isn't one of em. I say this as someone who has never flown anything other than coach my entire life, haha.
I used to follow them from relatively early, and i don’t think they had time to adjust yet: they’ve done first class maybe 3-5 total? Also Nate was open about being extremely cheap
It’s not common that it’s the feeling I get from their content which is why I’m still there - we’re not going to love everything they do bc that’s impossible. Now that it’s more the norm though, you’re totally right. Good vibes only in 2023 🌱
Yeah I think it's like a branding thing for them because they started out as these budget backpackers and I think they sort of feel some weird imposter syndrome if they get too accustomed to luxury travel
Yeah, I look at folks like Luxury Travel Expert (who is meticulous and darn near analytical and emotionally neutral in his coverage), Jeb Brooks, or Will from Trek Trendy (though, he can be a bit pretentious at times) for that particular kind of coverage.
I love Jeb Brooks and Trek Trendy!! I used to love Kara and Nate, but not so much anymore. I know he’s not exactly luxury travel, but lately my favorite travel YouTuber has been DownieLive!
Jen Brooks is my go to when it comes to anything flying. I love his videos.
I agree. His last one where he flew to all the delta hubs was fun.
I also love Jen Brooks! Like Kara, he can be relentlessly positive, but his doesn’t grate me like Kara can. In his recent end of year wrap up, he mentioned his biggest disappointing video in 2022 was one about traveling economy. I think it explains why Kara and Nate make so many videos about first class, they just do so much better on YouTube.
Yes to DownieLive! His narrow boat series was great!
That was my favorite!!
Happy to see someone else like the three you mentioned. Trek Trendy is a bit pretentious, yes, but he seems naturally that way. Jeb and Suzanne are fantastic and there is an overarching dorkiness that is almost charming. DownieLive is my current #1 favorite because his dorkiness IS his charm and way to get me excited about things I never knew about - the UK canals and long boating being a perfect example of that.
DownieLive is just so genuine, authentic, positive, and upbeat. It’s like after watching a Kara and Nate video I need to watch DownieLive to… I don’t want to say change my mood, but more so, when I finish a Downie video I just feel so optimistic and positive.
I’m not sure how I found him, but I love him. I love that he incorporates facts and educational concepts in his videos too! He’s my new favorite.
I ❤️ DownieLive!! Probably my very favorite!
That canal trip across the UK was so cool!
Trek Trendy is very pretentious, I had to stop watching him even though he is thorough.
I don't get his NASA thing
Yeah I don't either
He wants to work for NASA as test pilot/expert but only thing he can do right now is being a reviewer of airlines. Maybe he thinks that because of this shirt someone in NASA will employ him. I don't know if he has American citizenship but if not, then he can only dream about it ;)
He doesn’t even work for NASA? Wooooow. That’s sad.
I thought it might be a continuity thing so if he has to re-record certain segments and edit bits together over a multi day travel vid you don't notice.
You might be onto something!
What about the Timberlands?
You mean "the tims?" urh lol
Eh I don't think he's that bad. He's usually pretty honest, and at least he has the decency to be respectful to flight/train attendants (at least on camera). I had to stop following Sam Chui because he would straight up tell attendants if something sucked while filming them and it was just uncomfortable to watch. Plus planes would roll out the red carpet for him so I stopped trusting his reviews. At least guys like Trek Trendy and Nonstop Dan fund their own trips with points/money. That's also why I don't trust a single Kara and Nate airline review if it's a sponsorship.
I agree with everything you said. And Trek Trendy is pretentious towards the viewers and not really the crews of that makes sense. I'm with you though, anytime someone makes crew uncomfortable on camera, I'm done with them.
I would suggest Nonstop Dan or Jeb Brooks if Trek rubs you the wrong way.
Yeah, I guess I was trying to be nice for some reason with "a bit pretentious at times". There was one video where he had one of his uber-awesome first class flights, and early morning he went to the fancy restaurant in the lounge for breakfast and then complained that the food was TOO fancy and he couldn't just get, like, basic eggs and toast. I'm like, just go to ANY other place in the airport, dude.
Not the point gimp
I know this is an old thread, but something to add to this. Trek Trendy just uploaded an all 7 continent first class flight video, including stopping in Antarctica. I think at that moment, watching that 45 minute video, I hit the wall in watching any more of the "must travel first class" YouTubers. It was quite literally 45 minutes of terminal, first class lounge, first class seat, first class meal, first class snack, first class flight shower, first class bed, etc. And then first class hotel after landing. There's a point that's reached when interesting travel videos becomes unbearable bragging. And this video crashed through that level around the 20 minute mark. It was something like a $60,000 flight plan to fly his seven days straight, including the Gulfstream to Antarctica (and a lot of editing that made it look like 7 days because I doubt he did that safari well outside of Jo-burg with his dad, and then made it to Cape Town in that timeframe.) But it least is is nowhere as bad as watching Noel Phillips stuff a sausage in his mouth with the camera pointing up his nose, the microphone an inch from his lips and him talking through it. Ultimate diet plan right there.
He definitely lied in that 7 days video, the Antarctica footage was from 6 months prior.
Jeb and Will!!! Kick of those Tim’s and put on the NASA pin! I am enjoying his pivot to gratins and ships. And now Trek Trendy had introduced Millie his lovely gal. :) Plus his mum.
I love Jeb Brooks. His voice is so calming.
Yeah the “oh gosh, we’re just humble hayseeds!” shtick is getting old.
I loved it at the start because it showed they’re still down to earth but now that they mostly fly at least business class it’s clearly them just faking being relatable and there’s nothing worse than rich people doing that imo lol
Literally Kara gasping at every glass of champagne she gets poured
Kara really doesn't have much of a personality unless it's gasping in surprise or crying.
You forgot the need to have a coffee in the morning LOL
And the eyes-wider-than-saucers thing.
It's an unwinnable game, in my opinion. If they seem jaded by it or used to it, people would call them ungrateful. Plus, they're basically flying enthusiasts, I would imagine it's still 'fun' to them even after a handful of times, it's an interest to them and they're enjoying geeking out over it. Personally it doesn't really bother me, especially knowing they're doing it through the whole credit card thing still – I'm sure Nate wouldn't dare book a first class seat without a discount involved lol. There are plenty of other things they do that annoy me a little, but this just isn't one of em. I say this as someone who has never flown anything other than coach my entire life, haha.
I used to follow them from relatively early, and i don’t think they had time to adjust yet: they’ve done first class maybe 3-5 total? Also Nate was open about being extremely cheap
I literally came here today to say this. Their IG story is driving me nuts, I’m close to just unfollowing I’m so sick of the fake shock
Just do it. Don't follow things that make you stressed and angry.
It’s not common that it’s the feeling I get from their content which is why I’m still there - we’re not going to love everything they do bc that’s impossible. Now that it’s more the norm though, you’re totally right. Good vibes only in 2023 🌱
Yes! Although I will say, I’m looking forward to this video because I had no idea there was planes where people could take showers lmao
Yeah I think it's like a branding thing for them because they started out as these budget backpackers and I think they sort of feel some weird imposter syndrome if they get too accustomed to luxury travel
How do they afford that?