MEET CLAIRE & SALLIE GAYLE SAUNDERS

CLAIRE

As the founder, owner and travel advisor extraordinaire of Where Next Adventures, my mission is to spread my passion for travel. I believe that travel transforms people. It not only provides lasting memories, but it also inspires us to be better citizens of our communities and the world.

My travel experience began as a child, on family trips that took me to many interesting places. But my love of travel really took root when I went to Europe on a fast and furious trip with my high school classmates during the summer of 1980. My most vivid memories are tossing coins into the Trevi fountain in Rome, the Eiffel tower at night, and a Mediterranean cruise where we all were afraid to get off of the ship in Turkey because of a movie called Midnight Express. Most of all, I remember a great time with good friends!

What I gained from travel as I matured a bit was perspective: an understanding that the way I looked at the world was not necessarily the way everybody else looked at the world. That different cultures were diverse in ways I could not even imagine. I’m not sure I would have developed that appreciation were it not for travel, and that mind-set has become even more deeply ingrained with my more recent trips to India, Tanzania, Bhutan, Thailand, Cuba and other amazing and thought-provoking destinations.

After being a client of various Virtuoso agencies for the past twenty-five years, I decided to start Where Next Adventures in 2018. That was following varied and successful careers in law, retail, and non-profit fundraising. I am well-traveled (obviously!), hard-working, detail-oriented and fun! I have always begun planning my next trip on the flight home from my last. I’m guessing you might do the same. Thus our name and logo.

Thank you for visiting our site. We hope to hear from you when you are ready to plan your next travel adventure!
Where do YOU want to go next?

SALLIE GAYLE

Growing up with a mom like Claire, travel was a part of my upbringing. Whether we were hiking Machu Picchu, exploring the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, ziplining in Costa Rica, or dancing alongside Maasai tribespeople in Tanzania, my family always sought adventure and grew closer by exploring new destinations together. 

As an adult, I began to recognize how much our travel experiences had shaped my core values of connection, learning, and open-mindedness. I realized that I felt most at peace while traveling, experiencing cultures drastically different from my own and being reminded of the vastness of our world. Since then, I have tried to travel as much as I can – and now, it is my distinct honor to help you do the same!

As my mom’s favorite travel companion, I have been fortunate to witness the growth of Where Next Adventures since the beginning. Since 2018, I’ve joined her on educational trips across the globe, touring luxury hotels and cruise lines, witnessing the importance of strong relationships, and learning about all the unique experiences made possible by her on-the-ground partners. Such experiences inspired me to enter the travel business myself, and I am so excited to share my learnings with you!