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The Real Reason We’re Leaving China and Returning to the UK…
Leaving China: An Honest Update & New Beginnings for OTWD
After 6 month we are finally leaving China and returning home to the UK. there's been some stuff that's happened and stuff we need to do. in this video we reveal everything about what's happening now and what's happening next for OTWD. This is our most honest update yet.
September 2025 | Vlog 555 |...
After 6 months we are finally leaving China and returning home to the UK. There's been some stuff that's happened and stuff we need to do. In this video, we reveal everything about what's happening now and what's happening next for OTWD. This is our most honest update yet.
September 2025 | Vlog 555 | Beijing, China
When we finally started our adventure.
Hello and welcome to our channel. We are Reanne and Ben living in Portsmouth, England. We have been together from the age of 15. We brought our first house together at 23, got married at 25 and Reanne started her own business at 27. We have been wanting to travel the world so the day has finally come. We sold our business and our house to explore as much of the world full time.
We created this YouTube channel to share our adventure with everyone who wants to explore but don’t know how. Let us know what you think of our channel so leave a comment we’d love to hear from you.
Join Reanne and Ben as they bid farewell to China after a six-month adventure, sharing their honest update on why they're heading back to the UK. Discover the personal stories and future plans that led to this decision. This vlog captures a significant moment for On Tour With Dridgers, marking a new chapter after selling their business and home to embrace full-time travel. Their journey from Portsmouth to exploring the globe is an inspiration for aspiring travelers.
After 6 months we are finally leaving China and returning home to the UK. There's been some stuff that's happened and stuff we need to do. In this video, we reveal everything about what's happening now and what's happening next for OTWD. This is our most honest update yet.
September 2025 | Vlog 555 | Beijing, China
When we finally started our adventure.
Hello and welcome to our channel. We are Reanne and Ben living in Portsmouth, England. We have been together from the age of 15. We brought our first house together at 23, got married at 25 and Reanne started her own business at 27. We have been wanting to travel the world so the day has finally come. We sold our business and our house to explore as much of the world full time.
We created this YouTube channel to share our adventure with everyone who wants to explore but don’t know how. Let us know what you think of our channel so leave a comment we’d love to hear from you.
After an immersive six-month journey through China, Reanne and Ben, a UK-based full-time travel couple from On Tour With Dridgers, are heading back home. Their departure from Beijing is marked by the typical traveler's challenge of accumulating more belongings than initially packed, including newly purchased winter coats. Thankfully, their friend Mai offers a ride to the airport, showcasing the genuine warmth and hospitality they've experienced in China, with Mai referring to them as 'her kids.'
At the airport, they navigate the complexities of two international airports in Beijing and discover a surprising perk: during the national holiday, highway tolls are waived to ease traffic. This leads to a discussion about the economic differences between China and the UK, particularly regarding such initiatives. They consider upgrading their flights to business class for the long journey to London, with a budget of £200 each, and discover they have lounge access through their China Mobile SIM card, a welcome perk for a long travel day.
The initial flight to Shanghai is short, but the subsequent leg to London is an extended journey. They reflect on their experiences with China Eastern, noting the airline's slightly dated feel but praising the service. The video touches upon the allure of Chinese McDonald's offerings, with unique items like black buns and shrimp bites, and the surprisingly affordable prices compared to the UK. They also discuss the nuances of air travel, including the discomfort of night flights and the strategy of seeking last-minute upgrades.
Upon arriving back in the UK, the couple shares their initial impressions. Contrary to some media portrayals of Britain struggling, they find things to be better than expected, enjoying their time reconnecting with family and celebrating their YouTube channel's 100k subscriber milestone with a party. They even attend a Portsmouth football club match, albeit a nil-nil draw, and share a lighthearted moment discussing Ryan Reynolds' ownership of the team.
Looking ahead, Reanne and Ben are exploring new ventures, including a potential podcast to share more unfiltered conversations. Their upcoming travel plans include a return to Beijing with Reanne's father, seeking recommendations for hidden gems and food. They also anticipate a trip to Harbin, bracing for extreme cold, and express a need for advice on winter clothing. The couple emphasizes the value of authentic experiences and encourages viewers to be discerning about information, highlighting YouTube as a valuable source for real travel insights. Their journey continues with planned trips to Australia and other Asian countries, promising more diverse travel content beyond China.
After six months exploring China, Reanne and Ben of On Tour With Dridgers are returning to the UK. Their departure from Beijing involves navigating airport logistics and reflecting on the generosity of local friends. They discover surprising benefits like waived highway tolls during a national holiday and utilize lounge access before their flights. The journey includes insights into China Eastern airlines, unique local food experiences like Chinese McDonald's, and the challenges of long-haul travel. Back home, they find Britain better than anticipated, celebrate milestones, and plan future adventures, including a return to Beijing and ventures into extreme cold climates like Harbin, all while exploring new content formats like a podcast.
A UK travel couple shares their journey leaving China, highlighting airport experiences, local kindness, and the contrast between expectations and reality upon returning home. They look forward to future adventures.
Leaving China: Beijing Airport, UK Return & Future Travel Plans
3:20 During China's national holiday, highway tolls are free, which can help traffic flow and save travelers money on road trips.
4:06 Consider checking China Eastern for potentially cheap flight upgrades, especially for longer routes, to enhance your travel comfort.
4:11 Having a local SIM card, like China Mobile, can sometimes include perks such as lounge access, which is valuable for long travel days.
5:57 It can be cheaper to ask for flight upgrades directly on the plane, especially if you have some flexibility with your travel plans.
6:45 While China Eastern might be a bit outdated, the service is often rated highly, making the flight experience pleasant despite the airline's age.
7:16 Night flights can be challenging for sleep, so consider booking business class or ensuring you have comfortable seating for longer journeys.
8:48 Always double-check your gate number and seat assignment to avoid confusion, especially when boarding a long-haul flight.
11:09 Emergency exit seats offer significant legroom, which can make long flights much more comfortable, though they may have solid armrests.
16:36 When visiting Beijing, seek out local recommendations for hidden gems and authentic food beyond the popular spots like hotpot and Peking duck.
17:36 For extremely cold destinations like Harbin, focus on layering clothing and seeking advice on appropriate winter wear to stay warm.
3:20 During China's national holiday, highway tolls are free, which can help traffic flow and save travelers money on road trips.
4:06 Consider checking China Eastern for potentially cheap flight upgrades, especially for longer routes, to enhance your travel comfort.
4:11 Having a local SIM card, like China Mobile, can sometimes include perks such as lounge access, which is valuable for long travel days.
5:57 It can be cheaper to ask for flight upgrades directly on the plane, especially if you have some flexibility with your travel plans.
6:45 While China Eastern might be a bit outdated, the service is often rated highly, making the flight experience pleasant despite the airline's age.
7:16 Night flights can be challenging for sleep, so consider booking business class or ensuring you have comfortable seating for longer journeys.
8:48 Always double-check your gate number and seat assignment to avoid confusion, especially when boarding a long-haul flight.
11:09 Emergency exit seats offer significant legroom, which can make long flights much more comfortable, though they may have solid armrests.
16:36 When visiting Beijing, seek out local recommendations for hidden gems and authentic food beyond the popular spots like hotpot and Peking duck.
17:36 For extremely cold destinations like Harbin, focus on layering clothing and seeking advice on appropriate winter wear to stay warm.
0:01 Checking departure gate and seats
1:40 Getting picked up for airport
2:43 Arriving at Beijing airport
3:20 Discovering free highway tolls
3:44 Inquiring about flight upgrades
5:07 Checking luggage and boarding
6:17 Finding departure gate and relaxing
7:40 Exploring airport lounges and food
8:28 Boarding the first flight
9:47 First flight completed, Shanghai arrival
10:07 Arrived back in the UK
11:09 Second flight experience
11:31 Celebrating 100k subscriber plaque
12:18 Visiting Fratton Park stadium
13:17 Reflecting on UK vs China
14:34 Catching up with family
15:11 Movember mustache discussion
15:36 Planning a podcast
16:23 Upcoming trip to Beijing
17:10 Anticipating Harbin's extreme cold
18:13 Booking a trip to London
18:42 New countries planned
0:01 Checking departure gate and seats
1:40 Getting picked up for airport
2:43 Arriving at Beijing airport
3:20 Discovering free highway tolls
3:44 Inquiring about flight upgrades
5:07 Checking luggage and boarding
6:17 Finding departure gate and relaxing
7:40 Exploring airport lounges and food
8:28 Boarding the first flight
9:47 First flight completed, Shanghai arrival
10:07 Arrived back in the UK
11:09 Second flight experience
11:31 Celebrating 100k subscriber plaque
12:18 Visiting Fratton Park stadium
13:17 Reflecting on UK vs China
14:34 Catching up with family
15:11 Movember mustache discussion
15:36 Planning a podcast
16:23 Upcoming trip to Beijing
17:10 Anticipating Harbin's extreme cold
18:13 Booking a trip to London
18:42 New countries planned
What was the reason for leaving China?
After six months, we've decided to return home to the UK for personal reasons and to attend to some things we need to do.
What was the experience like leaving Beijing?
We had a lot of luggage, including new coats, and a kind friend gave us a ride to the airport. We also discovered highway tolls were free during the national holiday.
Did you manage to upgrade your flights?
We considered upgrading to business class for the long flight to London and discovered we had lounge access. We asked about upgrades on the plane, but it was too expensive.
What was the food like on China Eastern?
The airline felt a bit outdated, but the service was great. We also noticed unique items at Chinese McDonald's, like black buns and shrimp bites, which looked much better and were cheaper than in the UK.
How was it returning to the UK?
Contrary to what we'd seen in the news, Britain wasn't falling apart. Things were better than expected, and we really enjoyed reconnecting with family and friends.
What are your future travel plans?
We're planning a return to Beijing with Reanne's dad, then heading to Thailand for Christmas, followed by a trip to Harbin in extreme cold. We're also looking into starting a podcast and visiting Australia and other Asian countries.
What advice do you have for visiting Harbin?
We've heard Harbin can be extremely cold, possibly -50 degrees Celsius, so we're looking for suggestions on warm clothing and layering techniques.
