Insider intros – Meet @lian_ireri

If you haven’t heard about our First Choice Insiders programme yet, it’s about time you did. @lian_ireri is one of the amazing travel creators we’ve partnered with to get you that on-the-ground info and inspo you’re after.

 Our Insiders pick the trips they really want to go on and bring all the details back to you – videos, pics and loads of local recs – on social, our website, and you can find their full itineraries right here on Inspire. Go along on these journeys with them, and see what hits the spot for you. They’re all set to be your eyes and ears on the ground and, who knows, maybe they’ll show you a place you never thought you’d pick before.

 So, get started and meet our fashion and photography fave, @lian_ireri…

First of all, tell us a bit about yourself!

My name is Lian, I’m 26 years old and was born in Kenya but I’ve been living and working in London for the past few years.

In my 9-5, I work in marketing and social media but outside of work, I love all things fashion, travel and photography.

How many countries have you travelled to so far?

I have travelled to 29 countries, soon to be 30 this year.

What’s your earliest holiday memory?

My earliest holiday memory is travelling to Diani, which is on the Kenyan coast, with my family. We’d stay in the same hotel every December and spend our entire time getting sunburned, eating way too much ice-cream and making friends with other kids at the resort.  

Where’s the last place you visited?

My most recent trip was to Corfu Island in Greece. It was the first time my sister and I have gone on holiday together! We spent the entire trip relaxing by the pool and completely disconnecting from our usual fast-paced lives.

What’s your ultimate bucket-list destination, and why?

I would love to go to Brazil. It looks amazing, from the beautiful landscapes to the people and the food. I’d love to experience the culture, learn more about the history and ultimately, get to party with the locals at Rio Carnival!

Is there a destination you love to revisit? Or are you the type of traveller that can’t stand going back to a place you’ve already ticked off your list?

I definitely love to visit the same country more than once. Portugal would be top of my list to revisit – I’ve already been there three times and don’t hesitate to go back again and again.

How do you approach planning your travels? Are you more spontaneous or do you like to plan things down to the last detail?

I’m a very detail-orientated person and love planning and researching the places I’m about to visit. I think the best part of a trip is all the excitement you build putting your itinerary together, and then getting to the destination and having options to choose from.

What’s the number one thing you look for in a destination? Food, sights, culture, or something else?

Definitely the culture and the sites. I love visiting places that have a distinctive character – it’s what inspires me as a photographer.

Tell us your biggest travel ick – we’re talking bare feet on the plane, clapping when the plane lands… 

People rushing to the aisle as soon as the plane lands might have to top my list of icks…

Is there a travel hack you discovered that changed the game for you?

Packing cubes! Honestly, they have made my packing and unpacking experience 100 times easier.

Tell us about…

…the most beautiful place you’ve visited

Madeira Island. I honestly didn’t get to see enough of the island when I was there and would love to go back. The landscapes were breathtaking, the people were so kind, and the main town, Funchal, was super lively and vibrant.

…the most memorable place you’ve visited

It has to be Marrakech in Morocco. I visited Marrakech for the first time with some friends – we had a very detailed itinerary and got to visit all the touristy sites, but also explore a lot of the city on our own. As part of the trip, we also spent a day in Essaouira on the coast, which was a completely different vibe and nice contrast to the city. All in all, it was a great trip with loads of wholesome memories.

… the most surprising place you’ve visited

Dublin, Ireland. Ireland hasn’t been a place I was dying to visit but when I did go, I was pleasantly surprised – especially by Howth, where we walked along the famous cliffs. We got rained on halfway through the hike and nearly missed our train back into the city, but the views were worth it.