Getting to the heart of why we travel
What if I told you to forget where you want to go on your next trip…and instead asked you, how do you want to feel?
I have been planning travel for 9 years now, and time and time again travelers come to me with checklists of dozens of sights to see, souvenirs to buy, restaurants to visit…only to get back home exhausted and, quite frankly, a little disappointed.
The reviews come in, and I hear things like, “But photos made it look worth visiting” or “The food just wasn’t as good as I expected.”
I began to realize that the way we plan travel just isn’t working.
I began to realize that the way we plan travel just isn’t working. We focus on the destination and the sights and completely disregard the deeper, more meaningful parts of travel. So now, instead of starting off by asking you, “Where do you want to go?” I ask you…
“What do you want to get out of your trip?”
Are you…
✨ Hoping to create new memories & spend quality time with a travel companion
✨ Celebrating something special
✨ Desiring to explore a new culture in a way that will impact how you see the world
✨ Just needing a real break from decision fatigue and want everything done for you
✨ Hoping to try something new…maybe even venture outside your comfort zone
And just like that, by shifting the focus of the trip from the destination to the motivation, I can understand what it is you are really desiring to get out of your journey.
At Undiscovered Sunsets, our mission is to curate purpose-driven luxury experiences for curious travelers who crave more than just a checklist.
Working with me and my team is an invitation into a new way of planning unforgettable travel.
Because the purpose of a trip isn’t just to take a trip. It can be to celebrate, to relax and disconnect, to learn something new and try new flavors.
The passions that you can infuse into a trip? They’re endless. From local culinary delights 🦐 to photography 📸 to sporting events and the 🥾 best hikes only the locals know about (and so much more), turn your trip into an experience that gets you off the cookie-cutter tourist trail and exposes you to the unique richness a destination has to offer.
Here’s where you come in. As you think about your next voyage, ask yourself two questions: “How do I want to feel on my next trip?” and “What personal passions do I want to infuse into this travel experience?” (If you want some inspo, take our new quiz to help get you thinking about these things.)
And then, stop there. Don’t think about a destination (or if you’ve had one in mind, put it on the backburner for the moment.)
Want some inspiration for this dreaming phase? Take my new quiz, which pairs you with 3 destinations based on your passion & purpose for travel.
Or jump straight in and fill out my “Design My Trip” form and let me know the purpose and passions that you have on your mind…and that’s when I bring in my travel planning expertise. Together, let’s ideate the most exciting destinations to consider for your 2025 trip.
Whitney Shindelar
Undiscovered Sunsets was a long time in the making, even if I myself didn’t realize it. During my time at the University of Northern Iowa, I studied abroad in New Zealand. Upon graduating, I bought a one-way ticket to France, lived with a French family and studied with classmates from Turkey, China, Russia, Germany, Italy, and everywhere in between. In 2010 I began teaching English as a foreign language. This job quickly took me to China, where English teachers were in high demand and within three years, I began working in a 5-star hotel, speaking Mandarin throughout most of my day. In total, I lived abroad for 7 years.
I consider Undiscovered Sunsets to be the perfect mélange of my personal experience traveling the world and my professional experience working in the hospitality industry.
I look forward to designing your next adventure!
