Leaving the UK for Europe! | Solo female vanlife

In this video I leave the UK alone and head across Belgium en route to Austria! 🫶
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✨ About Always Away:
We are Dominic and Emma. Travelling together as a couple for the last 10 years, we started off backpacking through South East Asia and in 2016 began vanlife as a means to travel with our pug, Percy. We've lived out of all kinds of vans in both Europe and Japan and, after some time living in Thailand as teachers, we're back on the road in Europe! Subscribe for all things travel 🙌🏼
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#travel #solofemale #vanlife

[@susanmcclain1965]

You are so cute. Emma, I'm so impressed on how you can drive that big van & navigate your way through Europe. You are brave, smart & quite an explorer. Be careful & safe travels. Can't wait to discover Dinant with you. Being in the front seat is so much fun... it's like I'm there in person.thank you. Miss seeing Dom & Percy too.

[@AlwaysAway]

Thanks so much 🥰🥰

[@SaffasAbroadRugby]

I love this episode so much. It really shows your vulnerability and how it is possible to be a female and travel solo. I love that the van is so big but you are still managed to cope with all the chores and you’re doing everything absolutely fine so don’t stress enjoy every moment and look forward to seeing the rest.

[@AlwaysAway]

Thanks Darren! Think it’s super important to be really honest with how it feels and show it’s totally possible, enjoying it so far! ❤️

[@writewatson]

Great trip. Unsurprisingly, Google Maps is a blessing and curse. And does anyone else notice Percy is always mentioned first? "Going to meet Percy... and Dom." My wife is the same way with me and our dog...

[@AlwaysAway]

Thanks, and it is 😂 I have to keep ignoring it. And I thought that might get picked up 😅 I can’t let Dom think he’s more important than Percy 🫣

[@UnboundedArtandCrafts]

I'm glad you caught that route change on time as you might have gotten stuck ❤

[@AlwaysAway]

Me too 😂 really want to avoid getting stuck 😅❤️

[@UnboundedArtandCrafts]

@@AlwaysAway yeah backing up isn't my favorite either 🫣

[@Kristen-kp6dh]

Yes! Another upload😀 Thank you for taking the time to film everything. So beautiful. Living in Minnesota, we don't get to see buildings like that. Continued safe travels to you.

[@AlwaysAway]

Thank you! 🥰🥰

[@cheefeth]

Awesome video> You are doing great. I laughed when the intrusive thoughts of "to do or not to do" dishes" popped in your head. thats me every day. Also took me a second to realize the hair on the screen towards the end wasn't from one of my bazillion cats. lol Have a great day and be safe!

[@AlwaysAway]

Thanks! Haha it’s an everyday battle 😂 and hahaha I had a heart attack when I saw that on the screen thinking I’d scratched my lens. I found a dog hair under where the lens attached to the camera body 😅 3 weeks away from Percy and his hair still shows up 😂

[@halcyonandon]

Belgium looks so pretty with the architecture and the rivers! I definitely have the same odd feeling when I’m alone for a day or two. Hope you enjoy your solo adventure before being reunited with Dom and Percy!

[@AlwaysAway]

At least I’m not the only one 😅 thanks! Enjoying it for sure, only a few days until they’re back now! 😄

[@firemage1990]

I actually liked having my own schedule when I traveled by myself. I can do what I need to do when I need to at my own pace. No one telling me what or how to do things(which is my family most of the time). I am also a fellow short person at 5 feet tall. I hope for safe and happy travels for you.

[@AlwaysAway]

Yeah I’m quite enjoying that! Going my own pace, but I’m so bad in the mornings I keep waking up way too late 😂 yesss short people unite! 😅 Thank you 🥰🥰

[@DreamsInWild]

I was just in The Netherlands in January, and we took a long weekend trip to Belgium and stayed in Brugge! It was such a wonderful trip! Belgium is a beautiful country. I really loved Ghent as well; we went to Gravensteen and it was amazing.

[@AlwaysAway]

It’s definitely an underrated country, it’s so lovely!

[@alexandergiesser]

Bruges is SO SO good and CUTE it's been forever since I've been so thanks for taking me (us) along! :D I love these little windows into solo van life-ing!

[@AlwaysAway]

Love Bruges so much! Wish I could’ve filmed more there but it chucked it down and I had to retreat back to the van very quickly 😅

[@MrVectrexUK]

Congrats on the van purchase, it looks fantastic (van tour please!). With regard to sat nav, you may need to give up on google/apple maps and get a van-specific sat nav that allows you to set "motorhome" or "car" as the vehicle, because they are designed to cut out any routes that are not suitable for your vehicle. Keep enjoying the vanlife!

[@AlwaysAway]

Thank you! And yeah I’ve looked in the past and they’re a bit pricey 😅 but I might invest In one, I’ve had some very dodgy moments in Italy and Austria before from it! Thank you 🥰

[@MrVectrexUK]

@@AlwaysAway We've got one for our van and the one time I forgot to press the "motorhome" button when planning a route to Youlgreave in Derbyshire, the satnav took us down a tiny, one lane track that was so bumpy it was like that opening scene from Breaking Bad!!

[@AlwaysAway]

Oh no!! 😂😂 what a nightmare, I got stuck up a one way tiny road in Italy and couldn’t make a tight bend in the road, had to reverse 1km back up it 😭

[@arthurg7894]

THIS vibe. Omg I love it! Another new favorite video. A lot of travel stuff feels like you're being shown stuff (obv you are lol), but this feels like I was there also trying to figure out how to plug plugs into the side of a camper lmao. Absolutely love this video. Stay safe!

[@AlwaysAway]

Awh thank you!! Hahaha we’re all learning together 😂

[@nicolef1327]

I'm enjoying the trip with you 😅 thank you for new idea of holiday Be safe!

[@AlwaysAway]

Glad you’re enjoying it! 😊 thank you ❤️

[@ronknox3376]

Big vehicle or compact car, they drive differently but the physical effort is pretty much the same. i guess most are just not used to seeing that many women alone with a camper-van. They'll think differently now that they've seen you! Loving the scenic shots. I've driven through Europe but not Belgium. Beautiful, really beautiful! Thanks for the ride along!

[@AlwaysAway]

Yeah it’s easy to overthink driving such a big thing, it’s mostly easy! I think Belgium is very underrated, it’s great! Thanks!

[@sharonsmith9250]

I’m 5foot 2 also

[@Cateaclysmic]

Those blue skies 😍 It's nice to see Europe after so long, I forget how pretty it is 😊 and yeah being alone for the 1st time is weird, you really have to discipline yourself to eat properly and sleep and stuff 😅 Vlogging definitely helps as it keeps you a bit accountable especially when you're editing yourself and think wtf am I doing I need to sort that out haha 😅

[@AlwaysAway]

It’s so pretty! Yeah I’m so bad at the discipline haha, I need to sort it out 😂😂

[@bonafide11]

Loving the trip vlogs! You’re a brave woman driving such a big van. I’m short like you and I can barely park a normal car because I can’t see squat 😂

[@AlwaysAway]

Thank you! Haha I can barely park a normal car but I’m quite good at parking the big vehicles 😂 Dom finds it hilarious

[@CK_MAKE]

Entertaining and varied Video! Hoping to enjoy the passenger view on the tripod more often!

[@AlwaysAway]

Thanks! Haha I’ll try my best to get it set up better next time 😂

[@ti-ande]

I rented a 32 foot RV once and little 5 foot tall me driving that big thing got some LOOKS 😂 I noticed the double takes on the highway and at the gas stations lol. People don't expect a woman to be driving a big vehicle, and certainly not solo 😅 Hopefully that will change one day as more women go on these types of adventures!

[@AlwaysAway]

Haha I love that!! Totally relate 😂 it’s so funny how confused people look 😅 I hope it does change!

[@karindv9477]

Oh wow, I have been to Dinant in my early teens. Will be interesting to see if I remember anything. Probably not, my memory is rubbish. 😅 I just love travelling and exploring. You never know what places you end up seeing. ✈️ You are doing so well! I love your earrings btw, are they from Thailand? Greetings from Waihi beach New Zealand! 🏖

[@AlwaysAway]

Dinant is lovely, I’m sure it’ll come back when you see it 😅 thank you! And I got them online in the Uk, I can’t remember the name of them but they have lots of hoop charms you can change out, If I manage to find the name again I’ll let you know 🥰

[@GiGiWellness28]

Enjoy your solo vanlife videos. Noticed how you locked your steering wheel, thought this video will help. Very clear instruction from this policeman 😊 kzbin.info/www/bejne/hp2YmaKsbbxsfskfeature=shared

[@AlwaysAway]

Thanks! And thanks for the vid 😊💕

[@mariadange06]

Girlie question 'what colour & brand is your lipstick?

[@AlwaysAway]

Its L’Oréal, called infaillible 24hr lipstick (it’s like a dual one) in shade incessant russet 😊❤️

[@mariadange06]

@@AlwaysAway Thanks will check it out... v nice colour 💄

[@Stephen-up3sd]

Very impressive looking motorhome! Great video - it sent me for a wander down memory lane. I went to Bruges about 30 years ago for a romantic weekend. I remember eating moules mariniere, drinking fantastic dark Belgium beer and visiting a huge morning market in a large square. Cannot for the life of me remember the name of the girlfriend I went with or what she looked like! I am now trying to decide whether that makes me a terrible person or not!?🤔 Anyway, looks like you are smashing it! Bon voyage!

[@AlwaysAway]

Thank you! Ooh moules mariniere and dark beer are the best (saving those for when I return with Dom 😅) and that’s hilarious! Must’ve been quite the player 😂 Thanks again! 🥰

[@Stephen-up3sd]

@@AlwaysAway No I am not - that’s the really sad thing!🤣

[@AlwaysAway]

I don’t believe it 😂😂

[@chrisyravenconlin]

These European cities look so nice! I love the old architecture, I’d love to see it one day. I need to side in your suitcase. Obviously here it took awhile for people to come over and tear down our teepees and long houses and build ugly buildings over it celebrating all of us they killed. Not really the buildings I’m looking for.

[@AlwaysAway]

The architecture across Europe is great, you’ve got to come see it one day ❤️

[@greatrp]

I'll go with you! Naw,my wife and kids would have something to say about that lol!

[@AlwaysAway]

Hahaha bring everyone! 😂

[@junglehacker]

How long have you lived in a van? I think the bromide-containing plastic smell can make people sick.

[@AlwaysAway]

No plastic smell in here 👍