About us
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Born in Switzerland and raised in New Zealand, Sandy is outdoors as much as possible - whether that’s snowboarding, hiking, or being by the ocean. A lover of art, architecture and interior design, she moved to London to pursue a career in the world’s hottest property market. Her expertise and experience allowed her to see some of London’s most exclusive real estate before partnering with Jess to co-found Elsewhere Collective.
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Travel has always been a huge part of my life. I grew up in a family where exploring new places, cultures, and experiences was genuinely valued, and some of my earliest memories are tied to travel.
That curiosity has stayed with me ever since. Over the years, I’ve travelled extensively through solo trips, trips with friends, fast-paced city breaks, and longer stays that allow for a deeper connection to a destination. I love curating experiences that combine iconic highlights with the local moments that truly define a place.
That passion for thoughtful, experience-led travel (and the connection that often comes with it) became a huge part of the inspiration behind Elsewhere Collective.
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One of my favourite trips was a solo trip to Iceland a few years ago. I based myself in Reykjavík and spent the days heading out on different excursions: exploring waterfalls, black sand beaches, volcanic landscapes, and some of the most incredible scenery I’ve ever seen.
The highlight of the trip was staying at Silica Hotel at Blue Lagoon Iceland on my final night. I remember sitting outside my room watching the midnight sun slowly dip over the lagoon, turning the entire landscape the most surreal shade of soft orange. Everything felt completely calm and still, it was one of those travel moments that will stay with me for the rest of my life.
It was the kind of trip that reminded me how powerful solo travel can be: equal parts inspiring, grounding, and unforgettable.
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A Chicagoan who moved to New Zealand in her 20s and now lives in London, Jess is always on the hunt for the best experiences the city has to offer. She’s a voracious reader who loves to cook and gained a certification as a qualified sommelier. Though she started her career in marketing, she moved into the leadership development field and traveled around the world hosting training workshops for a large global tech company before co-founding Elsewhere Collective with Sandy.
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My mom used to be a travel agent, so the travel industry may be in my DNA!
When I was about 8 years old, a family friend sent my mom a letter and photo of herself riding an elephant on a trip she’d taken to Thailand. As an adult, I know you should never ride elephants (they’re often abused), but I remember looking at that photo and thinking I wanted to be like that woman with her adventurous, fascinating life.
In the decades since, I’ve tried to live out that childhood dream. I’ve been lucky enough to travel extensively - family vacations, solo adventures, university trips, and work assignments overseas. I’ve traveled on six continents, five of them solo.
There’s nothing more rewarding to me than a trip that combines great food, long walks, a cultural experience, and a bit of spontaneity! These are all elements we incorporate into Elsewhere Collective tours.
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It’s impossible for me to pick a single favourite trip, so I’m going to cheat and choose two. But they both have similar elements: adventure, some art and history, and excellent food.
The first was a solo trip to southern India. India is not an “easy” place to travel, especially for a woman on her own, but this was a trip I’d dreamed of since childhood. I ate my weight in delicious curries, took sunset yoga classes, visited beautifully ornate temples, and even learned to surf (badly). Yes, the woman who hates sand, doesn’t like to get her hair wet, and can practically get sunburned in the moonlight learned to love surfing - who knew?
My other favorite trip was to Vietnam with my husband. We ate banh xeo and bún chả perched on tiny plastic stools and struggled to cross the streets with absolutely wild traffic (and no regard for red lights). We rode bikes through rice paddies and hopped on motorcycles to see Hanoi like locals. I learned a lot about ancestor worship and folk religions and explored the centuries-old ceramic tradition (and made the slightly ill-advised decision to buy an enormous bowl and pray it got home in one piece). What a trip!
Why we created Elsewhere Collective
We created Elsewhere Collective to design the kinds of trips we were always searching for ourselves: thoughtfully planned European travel that balance beautiful accommodation, meaningful connection, and iconic experiences without the overwhelm of large group tours.
Check out our tours here!