FAQ

We’ve made it easy. Fill out a request form and you’ll be matched with a local expert. They will get in touch with you within 24 hours to start crafting your trip. Use the messages tab in your Customer Area to chat with your expert in real time; check their time zone, exact location, and online status. Get familiar with your destination via your Trip Info tab. This tab will evolve as you and your expert craft your trip. Expect to see itinerary proposals and other specifics of your trip appear here. 

It typically takes a couple of back-and-forths with your local expert before they are able to craft that perfect itinerary.

Tip: Be upfront about what you’re looking for. The more information you give your expert about you and your travel style, the faster the process will be. Our recommendation — jump on a video call. Not only will it be your first live glimpse of the destination, it’s also a great way to get to know your expert (and them, you). Because the more your expert knows about you and what you’re looking for, the better they’re able to craft something extra special just for you.

We can do the long weekend stopover, but our specialty is helping travelers get to the core of their destination through cultural immersion and connection. We believe that it’s the extra bus ride to the more remote town, or the additional boat trip to the island a bit farther out, that makes a trip totally unforgettable. We aim to show our travelers the heart and soul of their destination beyond the highlights reel and so we encourage longer stays and opportunities that allow them to really connect with the local people and culture. 

We specialize in on-the-ground services, so we stick to what we do best. From the moment your plane lands in your destination, to the moment you return to the airport for your international flight home, we promise you’ll be in good hands. 

This is arguably one of the best aspects of traveling — the pre-trip countdown!

Once you’re happy with your final itinerary and you’ve booked your trip, the countdown begins. Learn more about your destination via the Trip Info tab. Keep an eye out for other trip details, like travel vouchers, which will show up here as well. Your expert will be in touch with you before take-off to answer any last-minute questions you may have. In the meantime, don’t hesitate to get in touch with them, they’re only a chat away.

Your itinerary, trip vouchers, information about your destination, your expert, and all other details related to your trip are located in the ‘Trip Info’ tab in your Customer Area. This tab will evolve as you and your expert craft your trip. 

If you still can’t find what you’re looking for, shoot your expert a message and they will help you find it.

Yes! Regret not booking that street food tour in Marrakech? Looking to add an extra night at your boutique riad before flying home? No sweat — our experts will take care of it. From post-booking to on-the-ground, it’s never too late to make tweaks and additions to your itinerary. Our experts offer an in-destination concierge service so you can travel fearlessly and spontaneously while traveling. Relax, they’ve got you covered.

After making a request, you’ll have access to your Customer Area. From here, you’ll be able to chat with your expert in real-time via the messages tab.

Your expert may be located across the world, but we’ve made connecting easy. Check your expert’s timezone and online status in the box on the right.  Unless your expert is out for the weekend exploring the backroads of their own country, you should expect a response within 24 hours. (Tbh, you can probably still expect a response within 24 hours. They never leave their clients hanging✌️ ).

Becoming part of the Elsewhere family isn’t easy. Our in-destination experts pass through a series of screenings, rigorous interviews, and audits that span from the inner workings of their business and supply chain to their portfolio of extraordinary experiences they provide to our travelers. Only 5% of agencies that apply to work with us make the cut. Our criteria is tough. 

Our first check is to verify their business license, operating license, and insurance policies. We only work with professionals, not just the cool cousin abroad.

Next, we dive into sustainability and test their commitment toward responsible travel practices. We review their minimum operating standards and require a list of their supplier network; hotels, transport services, and activity providers. We audit their governance procedures and supply chain to be sure they work with fair-wage, low-impact providers. 

Once we’ve confirmed they’re good people and we can confidently rely on them to be our wingman in making the world a better place, we test the fun stuff - their portfolio of out-of-this-world activities, accommodations, and surprises. 

Before making it official, we require them to sign the Elsewhere Charter, which details our terms and communal promises to each other, our travelers, and the destinations impacted.

Your local expert is the best person to contact in case of an emergency. They are on-the-ground and available 24/7 to assist.

You can purchase trip insurance through our preferred partner Wanderwell by following the link in the Trip Info tab (Travel Insurance Acknowledgement), or by clicking on the link in the footer of our website. You can also purchase via the link here.

Wanderwell offers both Travel Medical and Trip Protection coverage and is the only certified B-Corp travel insurance provider. The world-class service, support, and coverage they offer adventure-seekers are powered by a commitment to sustainability.

Purchasing a comprehensive travel and medical insurance plan is an easy and affordable way to protect yourself in case of travel mishaps. Because let’s face it — unexpected surprises can happen. And your once-in-a-lifetime trip is a significant investment, so why sweat the unknowns when you could travel securely and worry-free?

Wanderwell perks include:

• Comprehensive global coverage in over 180 countries.
• Personalized and expert advising on the best plan for your trip.
• Accident & illness coverage that goes far beyond emergencies.
• True advocacy through the claims process. (Real humans. They care.)
• Smooth online purchasing pathway.

To confirm your trip, and to secure those super-cool activities and boutique hotels, you’ll need to submit a trip deposit. The amount of your deposit will be clearly detailed in the Payment Details tab of your Customer Area. Once the deposit has been made and your trip is officially booked, you can make intermittent payments in the amount you’d like until full payment is due. The payment deadline will be noted clearly on your Payment Details tab.

Making a payment is easy. Pay by credit card via our secure payment platform on the Payment Details tab in your Customer Area. We accept all major credit cards: Visa, Mastercard, Discover, Amex, and Chase, among others.

Absolutely. Contact us via the link in our footer so we can put you in touch with the best expert to meet your needs.

We can’t secure your visa for you, but we can point you in the right direction. Contact us or your local expert if you need additional help.

Thoughts? Opinions? Revelations? We’re always striving to be better and every bit of feedback helps us improve. Leave us your feedback via Google reviews here — we’re all ears 🙂

Only if you plan on returning to the same destination. Our local experts are true locals, meaning they live in-country. We think this is what gives them that extra special something.

We get our kicks seeing you live your best life with Elsewhere. Show off those photography skills and share your unforgettable moments with us by tagging @elsewhere.io. Keep an eye on our Instagram where we regularly repost our favorite traveler shots 🙂

Passengers on all Elsewhere trips will be required to comply with Elsewhere’s Proof of Vaccine policy, which requires full Covid-19 vaccination with the final dose given at least 14 days prior to the trip start date. Only vaccines the following vaccines will be accepted by Elsewhere: Pfizer, Moderna, Astra Zeneca Vaxzevria, or Johnson & Johnson.

If the passenger is unable to be vaccinated due to medical reasons, you may speak to your Local Expert about an exemption. Exemptions will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. 

Children under 12 years old are exempt from providing proof of vaccination and a negative Covid-19 test, though the rules to enter the country may differ. It is at the sole discretion of the passenger to ensure they follow the national guidelines of their visiting country. Children between 12 and 18 are required to show either proof of vaccination with the final dose given at least 14 days prior to trip start date or a negative Covid-19 test.

Elsewhere accepts proof of vaccination in the form of the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) Vaccine Card, along with a government-issued form of identification.