Travel on Nicole van der Hoeven

My Remote Work Setup While Traveling for a Month

Fri, 19 May 2023 18:00:14 +0200

In this video, I go through everything that’s in my remote work setup while traveling for a month in 5 different countries– all in one backpack and one sling. I work remotely full-time, and in this trip I have three talks in one month, several meetups with friends and family, and livestreams to do. Here’s what I chose to bring with me to remain fully operational while also travelling.

For a list of everything I mentioned in this video, check out my Gear list.

Foreigners Try Latvian Food (Lucky Dippers)

Thu, 10 Feb 2022 20:04:46 +0100

Latvia was the last country we travelled to in 2018. We took the bus out of Tallinn and into Riga, Latvia. We unfortunately didn’t have much time there before we had to fly back to our home in the Netherlands, but we DID have enough time to sample some Latvian food!

Pizza and Antiquing in Tallinn Estonia (Lucky Dippers)

Thu, 03 Feb 2022 10:59:00 +0100

In December 2018, my husband and I went with a few friends to Tallinn, Estonia, where we spent some time going around the cool district of Kalamaja. We ended up doing a bit of antiquing, thanks to some local friends who were willing to show us around!

Old Town Walking Tour of Tallinn Estonia (Lucky Dippers)

Thu, 27 Jan 2022 23:25:13 +0100

Here’s a walking tour we went on in Tallinn, Estonia, in December 2018.

Why I'm Leaving the Netherlands

Wed, 26 Jan 2022 21:15:31 +0100

It’s been almost five years since I first moved to the Netherlands, and while I love the country and I’m grateful for all the experiences I had here, I’ve decided to move away. Here’s why.

My Workflow for Making Tech and Travel Videos Online

Sun, 23 Jan 2022 16:16:33 +0100

In the last 5 years, I’ve made ~220 videos across 4 YouTube channels. Here’s what I’ve learned so far about making videos.

Why make videos?

A 10-minute video takes me anywhere from 7 to 15 hours to produce. I wouldn’t be doing it if I didn’t enjoy it!

It can be the most genuine form of expression.
Videos were a big part of how I got into tech, and I want to pass that on.
I’d rather make a video once than explain the same thing to 100 people.

I don’t think my way is the best way, but maybe sharing my workflow will make it easier for you to get started, too!

Pre-production: Ideation

Ideas are cheap. The best idea is worthless if I can’t convey it well.

I start with the idea, then the title and thumbnail. I search YouTube to see what titles have worked for others. Then, I use @Canva for thumbnail creation and thumbsup.tv to test combinations.

Only then do I start to outline the video or research it. I use @obsdmd as my project management tool and content calendar.

Production: Filming and editing

I like to film with talking points rather than a full script. It saves me time, and it comes across as more natural. My main gear: Sony A6600 + Sigma 16mm f/1.4, Røde PodMic, Elgato keylight.

I edit everything myself in Final Cut Pro, using stock footage from @StoryblocksCo and sound effects/music from @epidemicsound.

Post-production: Publishing

I export and upload the video to YouTube, adding the title, thumbnail, description, cards, end screen… I have a checklist so I don’t forget these.

I send most videos to humans at @Rev for captioning. I then use the captions to create YouTube chapters. From there, it’s just about publishing to appropriate platforms.

Optimize for consistency and fun

When in doubt, I chuck technique out the window and do what will keep video creation fun for me!

First Look at Estonia | Getting to Tallinn (Lucky Dippers)

Thu, 20 Jan 2022 20:36:59 +0100

In December 2018, my husband and I met up with some friends and went from Valkenburg and Maastricht in the Netherlands to Riga, Latvia; and then to Tallinn, Estonia. Three countries in one day!

Top 10 Last Minute Tech Gifts (2021)

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 17:20:19 +0100

In this super last-minute video, I talked about 10 awesome bits of tech I’ve loved throughout this year, and why I think each of them would make great gifts for the techie in your life (or maybe even yourself).

Below are all the items I mentioned. I include affiliate links where possible, so I will get a miniscule commission if you buy something through my link. However, I wouldn’t be recommending these if I didn’t genuinely use and love them all!

Røde PodMic: https://amzn.to/3dKhflp
Røde PSA1 boom arm: https://amzn.to/3sdVSkK
Rødecaster Pro: https://amzn.to/3rYZnv9
Elgato Wave 3 USB condenser microphone and digital mixer: https://amzn.to/3GDo5oV
Keychron K6 mechanical keyboard: https://amzn.to/3s6cScz
Keychron K3 mechanical keyboard: https://amzn.to/3DL35Ln
Omnicharge 20c: https://amzn.to/31RP3KU
Elgato Keylight Air: https://amzn.to/3ynpjSp
Aputure Amaran MC bundle: https://amzn.to/3oOf2vh
You Need a Budget app (YNAB): https://app.youneedabudget.com/gifts
0Kindle Oasis: https://amzn.to/3IODEMr
Yubikey: https://amzn.to/3ETRvyH
Trezor Model T: https://shop.trezor.io/product/trezor-model-t
Kindle Oasis: https://amzn.to/3GIXas7
Leatherman Skeletool RX: https://amzn.to/3m0drks
Bose NC 700 headphones: https://amzn.to/3q3xD5W

Grotten Sint Pietersberg Maastricht (LuckyDippers)

Thu, 12 Aug 2021 12:21:09 +0200

Another travel vlog from safer times: in September 2018, my husband and I took a friend out to Grotten Sint Pietersberg, a fortress and cave system in Maastricht, the Netherlands. They had been used in the times before that area was not yet part of the city of Maastricht; they were in a small village called Sint Pietersberg that had gotten caught between several invading foreign armies and the people of Maastricht. We enjoyed the day out!

Balkan Bites free food tour with Bulgarian food | Sofia, Bulgaria (Lucky Dippers)

Fri, 06 Aug 2021 13:01:44 +0200

In September 2018, while my husband and I were in Sofia, Bulgaria, we decided to try some delicious Bulgarian cuisine by going on the Balkan Bites free food tour, which let us try Bulgarian relish, yoghurt, doughnuts, cheese, and desserts. Afterwards we went back to one of the restaurants we had gone to on the food tour to have a full meal, which ended up being very delicious. Along the way, I talked about how ilearned the Cyrillic alphabet, and why I thinks it’s worth learning even for a short trip like this one.

We really enjoyed the Balkan Bites food tour, so if you want to join as well, check them out.

And here’s the website for the restaurant we ate at, “Hadjidraganov’s House”.

Free walking tour in Sofia, Bulgaria (LuckyDippers)

Fri, 30 Jul 2021 16:00:48 +0200

We haven’t travelled since January 2020 for obvious reasons, but fortunately (?) I have a whole lot of footage taken from trips pre-pandemic that I haven’t yet turned into travel vlogs. In case you weren’t aware, I learned a lot of what I know now about creating videos from making travel vlogs for friends and family as my husband and I travelled around the world for months at a time.

Here’s a trip we took in September 2018. We had just finished off a trip to Greece with some friends from Australia, and on the way home, I decided to book a three-day stopover in Sofia, Bulgaria– a city I really knew next to nothing about. Here’s that first day!

Shopping at Bicester Village and welcome my niece to her new home | London, England (Lucky Dippers)

Fri, 16 Jul 2021 18:38:17 +0200

Here’s a fun little vlog that I’ve been meaning to make of the last trip my husband Rob and I took before the pandemic. In January 2020, we went to see my cousin and her daughter (my “niece”, whom I grew up with) in London. My niece, Steffi, had just arrived in London for some studies abroad (she normally lives in the Philippines), so Rob and I popped over to meet up with her and help her settle in.

Poor thing– not a month after Steffi got to London, news of the pandemic began to spread. Rob and I had intended to visit her again, but of course that didn’t happen.

Lucky Dippers 103: Sleeping in the Isle of Skye | Portree, Scotland

Fri, 12 Mar 2021 21:57:56 +0100

This is a travel video from January 2020, when my husband Rob and I did a roadtrip in Scotland with our good friends, Nikki and Basti Filler. This is towards the tail end of that trip, and it involved some of the best scenery I’ve ever seen. Scotland is a gorgeous country that we thoroughly enjoyed exploring, despite its awful weather. As a bonus, this was also our first trip with our new niece, Cassie.

Why AirBNB Plus Could Make or Break AirBNB

Sat, 24 Feb 2018 23:24:00 +0100

Originally published on Medium.

“We’ve done the anywhere part,” Brian Chesky announced a few days ago, “but AirBNB is still, for some, an alternative way of travelling… until today.”

AirBNB Plus is a new tier of service that AirBNB have introduced for homes and hosts that go beyond the Superhost standard.

Here’s what an AirBNB Plus listing means:

The home has been verified by an AirBNB representative in person to have passed a 100-point checklist of quality. AirBNB has not yet publicly released the contents of the checklist.
The home comes with a list of extra amenities, such as a fully-stocked kitchen, wireless internet, and even paintings on the wall.
The host has received an average rating of at least 4.8 out of 5 stars.
You will be able to check in reliably at any time of the day. This could be due to an electronic keypad, safe lockbox or simply a host that’s willing to come out and let you in when you’re ready.
You automatically get premium support from a designated AirBNB Plus team in case anything goes wrong.
AirBNB has indicated that for now, only those who are already Superhosts will be eligible to request AirBNB Plus status.
According to the Verge, the host needs to pay $149 to apply to be considered for AirBNB Plus status.

AirBNB Plus listings are already available in several cities around the world: Austin, Barcelona, Cape Town, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Melbourne, Milan, Rome, San Francisco, Shanghai, Sydney and Toronto, so you can go check them out yourself.

On the surface, this sounds like a great idea. I almost always travel with AirBNB, and when I’ve chosen to book a typical hotel, it’s always because I couldn’t find a Superhost listing to book. I’ve had bad experiences with AirBNB in the past, and have since decided to only book with Superhosts. However, even that is not a real guarantee of quality — in contrast to AirBNB Plus, becoming a Superhost has much less stringent rules.

Here’s what a Superhost listing means:

The host has received an average of at least a 4.8-star rating for all stays.
The host reponds to messages within 24 hours at least 90% of the time.
At least 10 guests have stayed at the property in the last year.
The host has never cancelled a reservation.

It’s almost entirely review-based: the requirement to maintain at least a 4.8-star rating is the most difficult hurdle. There are otherwise no quality requirements that the listing must maintain. In effect, Superhosts are community-selected, which is tricky because a string of teenagers used to hostels and leaving glowing reviews on a listing could make it appear more attractive than it actually is. I’ve stayed with Superhosts that had faulty showers, unstable internet and a kitchen that consisted of a sink and a kettle.

So I really like the idea of a higher class of accommodations that have been independently inspected. This is the first time they have ever offered anything like a guarantee for the quality of their things. Previously there was still a bit of a risk with booking an AirBNB, but this should dispel all doubt. AirBNB is doing what every company does after its initial growth spurt: it’s bunkering down, standardising its product… and, in effect, increasing some of its prices.

While price increases are not explicitly mentioned, it seems reasonable to expect that listings in this new category would fetch higher prices. After all, it costs more labour on AirBNB’s part to inspect these listings and it also costs the host at least $149, not to mention extra costs spent to meet the 100-point checklist. AirBNB Plus is no doubt a premium offering, catered towards a wealthier clientele.

Another concern is that the line between AirBNBs and hotels are blurring, and not necessarily in a good way. The original appeal of an AirBNB was that it was someone’s personal home, with all the quirks and defects that come with it. AirBNB’s overwhelming success then brought about a new class of landlords who buy properties with the specific intention to rent them via the platform. Already there are several boutique hotels that have been allowed to list accommodations as well.

The new Plus tier seems to narrow the gap between corporate hotel chains and spare rooms owned by real locals substantially. This feels less like a disruption of the hotel industry and more like a return to the status quo. I remain a huge fan of the brand, and I worry that AirBNB will lose that disruptive “plucky startup” charm — because they’re no longer a startup. They’re a major player, and if this announcement is anything to go by, they’re about to get even bigger.