Hi, I’m Aila!

I started as a Cambridge historian, detoured into corporate tech, and somehow ended up here – an entrepreneur, digital content creator, serial traveller, and unapologetic experimenter sharing the useful lessons (and inevitable chaos) along the way.

Portrait of Aila Collins smiling at home with plants and colourful artwork in the background

A Little About Me

Growing up on a council estate in London as a young carer for my mother, who had a stroke when I was four, meant I had to be organised and adaptable before I’d even figured out how to use a kettle.

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How can I help you?

Aila Collins General Resources - productivity tools and planning templates for digital nomads


Download some free handy resources I put together to improve your productivity and stay organised.

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Aila Collins Lifestyle Faves - recommended products and essentials tried and tested


Have a browse of my favourite bits and bobs, tried and tested so you don’t have to.

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Aila Collins Monthly Blog - travel, health and lifestyle articles and musings


Read my candid thoughts and findings on topics ranging from travel to health.

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Watch My Popular Videos

Everything you need to plan the best trip to Bangkok - check out the full video on my channel 📺🥰 #bangkokthailand #bangkokfood #bangkokbars #bangkokstreetfood #thailandtravel
Planning a trip to #Bangkok soon? This video will help #travelplanning #bangkoktravel #slowtravel 🥸
Most travel guides to Bangkok follow the exact same itinerary: Khao San Road, the Grand Palace, and the Chao Praya River. While those iconic spots have their place, they completely miss the unique, vibrant pulse of the city's coolest districts. This video is a curated look at a different side of Thailand's capital, taking you past the usual route and deep into the fun neighborhoods, incredible local food stalls, and world-class cocktail bars that define Bangkok today. Whether you are planning a short stopover, a long-term slow travel stay, or you just want to experience the city like a seasoned traveler rather than a first-time tourist, this guide balances rich local culture with the best nighttime hospitality the city has to offer. We are breaking down the specific pockets of the city you need to explore, where to find unforgettable meals, and the hidden bar scenes that prove why Bangkok is one of the most dynamic cities in the world. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 bangkok off the beaten path 0:32 alternative sights & activities in bangkok 3:25 the best neighbourhoods to explore 6:16 food: what to order 7:16 food: the best restaurants in bangkok 9:00 unreal craft cocktail bars in bangkok 11:27 shopping in bangkok 12:52 the must do day-trip 13:33 how to make the most of bangkok 🔗 LINKS Bangkok Blog Post ▸ https://ailacollins.com/bangkok-travel-guide Ayutthaya Day Trip ▸ https://gyg.me/yElhdYQn Slow Travel Planner Spreadsheet ▸ https://ailacollins.com/resources/ Nomad e-SIM ▸ http://lotusflareinc.pxf.io/QjamB6 NordVPN ▸ https://go.nordvpn.net/aff_c?offer_id=15&aff_id=138575&url_id=902 ☕ BUY ME A COFFEE If you've found any of this useful (or at least mildly entertaining), you can support the channel here — no pressure, but very appreciated: https://ailacollins.com/support/ ✨ SOCIALS https://ailacollins.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@ailacollins (unfiltered channel) https://www.linkedin.com/in/ailacollins https://www.tiktok.com/@ailacollins https://www.instagram.com/ailaerincollins 🎥 WATCH NEXT https://youtu.be/4n8oaXIFoxQ https://youtu.be/XagWJ_-auMc 👩🏻‍💻 ABOUT ME Hi, I'm Aila! I'm a Cambridge history grad turned corporate dropout ✨ After almost a decade in tech sales, I traded in the "grind" to redesign my life around the things that actually matter to me. Currently, I split my time between my home in London and hopping between apartments from Tokyo to Bangkok as a part-time digital nomad. I'm building a business with zero experience, getting back into creative pursuits, and trying to live more intentionally (less scrolling memes, more actually doing stuff) 👀 Expect candid thoughts on self-development, business, and travel... and come along if you're also trying to build a life that feels like you, or if you just like unfiltered internet humans 🥸 📸 FILMING GEAR Video: iPhone 16 Pro Max + DJI Osmo Mobile 7P Sound: Rode Wireless Micro Editing Software: Descript #bangkoktravel #bangkokfood #thailandtravel #digitalnomad #slowtravel
The Bangkok Edit: Neighbourhoods, Dishes & Bars That Define the City
In early 2025, my husband and I quit our jobs, pooled together our savings, and spent 10 months traveling across Asia while trying to build an online business from scratch 🙂 In this video, I'm sharing the full financial breakdown — what we spent on travel, what it cost to start and grow our ecommerce business, how much we made back, and whether I think this kind of lifestyle is actually worth it. We visited 13 cities across 6 countries, tracked every expense in a spreadsheet, made a lot of mistakes, and learned a huge amount along the way. So if you've ever thought about quitting your job, taking a career break, becoming a digital nomad, or starting an online business while travelling, hopefully this gives you a more realistic picture of what that actually looks like behind the scenes 👀 ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Why We Quit Our Jobs 0:35 How Much Money We Started With 2:04 What 10 Months of Asia Travel Actually Cost 3:38 The Real Cost of Starting an Online Business 5:44 How Much Money You REALLY Need To Do This 8:59 Final Numbers: Was it Worth It? 🔗 LINKS Slow Travel Planner Spreadsheet ▸ https://ailacollins.com/resources/ Nomad e-SIM ▸ http://lotusflareinc.pxf.io/QjamB6 NordVPN ▸ https://go.nordvpn.net/aff_c?offer_id=15&aff_id=138575&url_id=902 ☕ BUY ME A COFFEE If you've found any of this useful (or at least mildly entertaining), you can support the channel here — no pressure, but very appreciated: https://ailacollins.com/support/ ✨ SOCIALS https://ailacollins.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@ailacollins (unfiltered channel) https://www.linkedin.com/in/ailacollins https://www.tiktok.com/@ailacollins https://www.instagram.com/ailaerincollins 🎥 WATCH NEXT https://youtu.be/8lrhhfxtAyg https://youtu.be/3f8f3LFrYcE 👩🏻‍💻 ABOUT ME Hi, I'm Aila! I'm a Cambridge history grad turned corporate dropout ✨ After almost a decade in tech sales, I traded in the "grind" to redesign my life around the things that actually matter to me. Currently, I split my time between my home in London and hopping between apartments from Tokyo to Bangkok as a part-time digital nomad. I'm building a business with zero experience, getting back into creative pursuits, and trying to live more intentionally (less scrolling memes, more actually doing stuff) 👀 Expect candid thoughts on self-development, business, and travel... and come along if you're also trying to build a life that feels like you, or if you just like unfiltered internet humans 🥸 📸 FILMING GEAR Video: iPhone 16 Pro Max + DJI Osmo Mobile 7P Sound: Rode Wireless Micro Editing Software: Descript #digitalnomad #slowtravel #onlinebusiness #travelfinance #asiatravel
The REAL Cost of Quitting My Job to Travel & Build a Business (WITH NO EXPERIENCE)
One year ago, I walked away from my tech career to build an online business. Today, I'm sharing an honest 12-month review of what it actually takes to scale a digital brand in 2026. Sadly, this isn't a "get rich quick" success story; it's a deep dive into what worked well, the experiments that failed, and all the mistakes I made along the way so you can avoid them in your own entrepreneurial journey. We're covering the three pillars of my first year: the wins that kept me going, what wasn't working (the "hustle" myths), and my biggest business regrets. I've brought all the receipts to share... so you can see the reality of it all. Whether you're looking to start a side hustle, quit your job for full-time entrepreneurship, or you're currently in the "messy middle" of your first year, this breakdown provides the utility and raw data you need to navigate starting an online business in the current digital economy. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Overview 01:04 The Business 02:04 What IS Working 05:27 What ISN'T Working 09:15 Regrets 11:31 Was it worth it? 🔗 LINKS My Company's Website ▸ https://plantish.uk/ Slow Travel Planner Spreadsheet ▸ https://ailacollins.com/resources/ Nomad e-SIM ▸ http://lotusflareinc.pxf.io/QjamB6 NordVPN ▸ https://go.nordvpn.net/aff_c?offer_id=15&aff_id=138575&url_id=902 ☕ BUY ME A COFFEE If you've found any of this useful (or at least mildly entertaining), you can support the channel here — no pressure, but very appreciated: https://ailacollins.com/support/ ✨ SOCIALS https://ailacollins.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@ailacollins (unfiltered channel) https://www.linkedin.com/in/ailacollins https://www.tiktok.com/@ailacollins https://www.instagram.com/ailaerincollins 🎥 WATCH NEXT https://youtu.be/8lrhhfxtAyg https://youtu.be/4n8oaXIFoxQ 👩🏻‍💻 ABOUT ME Hi, I'm Aila! I'm a Cambridge history grad turned corporate dropout ✨ After almost a decade in tech sales, I traded in the "grind" to redesign my life around the things that actually matter to me. Currently, I split my time between my home in London and hopping between apartments from Tokyo to Bangkok as a part-time digital nomad. I'm building a business with zero experience, getting back into creative pursuits, and trying to live more intentionally (less scrolling memes, more actually doing stuff) 👀 Expect candid thoughts on self-development, business, and travel... and come along if you're also trying to build a life that feels like you, or if you just like unfiltered internet humans 🥸 📸 FILMING GEAR Video: iPhone 16 Pro Max + DJI Osmo Mobile 7P Sound: Rode Wireless Micro Editing Software: Descript #onlinebusiness #entrepreneurship #sidehustle2026 #smallbusiness #businessmistakes #ecommerce #quitmy9to5 #ukcreator
My Online Business 12 Months In — What's Working, What Isn't & What I Regret

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