The Misfits Who Got Lost & Found a Travel Blog
Chances are, you’ve landed on our little corner of the internet after a desperate late-night Google session asking the truly important travel questions, like ‘what exactly is that street vendor selling?’ or ‘is it possible to communicate abroad solely through interpretive dance?’
Well pull up a chair and meet the motley crew behind this operation: a bunch of travel enthusiasts who, instead of getting proper jobs, decided to channel our energy into helping you navigate the modern complexity of global exploration.
Think of us as your travel companions, just with a healthy dose of cynicism and a few more passport stamps. We’ve already face-planted in all the puddles so you can gracefully sidestep them. You’re welcome.
Back in the dark ages (a.k.a. 15 years ago, which in internet years is practically the Stone Age), we thought, “Hey, we love wandering, we’re okay at not getting arrested (mostly), and we’ve got enough odd-ball travel stories to fill a small library. Why not inflict this wisdom on the masses?”
And thus, SandSpice was unleashed.
Fast forward to the present, and we’re still here, slightly older, perhaps a tad wiser 🤨, and definitely still convinced that sustainable travel and authentic experiences are the only ways to truly see the world.
Your Guides to Controlled Chaos
Meet the cartoon caricatures responsible for all the magic (and occasional website glitches – looking at you, Zhenya):
Lena is our Head of Planning and Logistics, which basically means she’s the one who tries to herd our collective cats and make sure actual, usable travel plans emerge.
While we’re all debating whether “authenticity” means eating questionable roadside durian or sticky Cambodian spiders, Lena’s already mapped out our entire short break itinerary, cross-referenced every flight delay statistic, and found the most charming (and often surprisingly sustainable) boutique hotel.
When she’s not painstakingly organizing our next trip, she’s painting (actual oil paintings mind, not just whitewashing the hallway…).
Lena’s the reason our trips go smoothly, even when the rest of us are busy losing our minds over a misplaced adapter.
Bless her patient soul.
contact: [email protected]
Julia – The Visual Alchemist
Julia is our Photography and Film Editing lead. She’s the one lugging around enough camera equipment to start her own production studio, all to capture those stunning shots that make you go, “Wait, is that my next adventure vacation?”
Her work transforms our wanderings into visual poetry, making even our most disastrous attempts at snapping the countryside look picturesque. If you see a particularly gorgeous shot on our site, you can bet Julia probably risked life and limb (or at least a very expensive lens) to get it.
She’s working on getting some decent video footage up on YouTube, but for now, she’s focused on photographs that make our adventures look far more glamorous than they actually are.
contact: [email protected]
Zhenya – Wizard Behind the Curtain
Our technical support and maintenance guru, Zhenya, is the digital nomad who’s always somewhere warmer than you, and the reason this whole website thing actually, you know, works.
While we’re out there collecting souvenir magnets, Zhenya is wrestling with code and trying to make the site load faster than your last-minute airport dash. He’s the unsung hero who makes sure you can actually find our insightful tips on airlines, airports, and transfers without the page spontaneously combusting.
He’s also the resident fitness guru, somehow managing to stay in shape despite indulging in every local delicacy he comes across.
His nickname is “Roadie” (cause he’s the one who’s packing the heavy tackle 🤭).
Seriously, give him a raise. Or at least a decent coffee.
contact: [email protected]
Janet – The Money Whisperer
In addition to being the chief shenanigans organizer, Janet handles our budgets and marketing, which means she’s the one who tells us we can’t just spontaneously book a private jet to Fiji 😕.
She’s got a strategic mind that helps us cut through the noise and figure out how to actually get our awesome responsible tourism content in front of your eyeballs. Janet’s also brilliant at sniffing out the best deals, ensuring we can provide value without, you know, going bankrupt.
Janet is the family travel expert, always on the lookout for budget-friendly adventures that don’t involve sleeping in a tent (unless absolutely necessary).
She’s essentially the responsible adult in the room. We try not to annoy her too much.
contact: [email protected]
Jerry – Word Wrangler & Graphics
That captivating prose you’re reading right now? those cleverly droll blog posts? All Jerry.
As the Copywriting and Graphics lead, he’s the one who translates our collective travel static into something remotely coherent and engaging. He’s responsible for making sure the site isn’t an immediate assault on your eyeballs. So, if you’re suddenly needing a napkin for your coffee, you know who to ‘thank’.
He also creates the graphics, which mostly involves trying to make our faces look less dishevelled after a long flight.
It’s a miracle, really..
contact: [email protected]
Our Grand Delusion: Why We Do This
Our mission is to make your travel dreams less like a spreadsheet and more like that perfect, slightly messy, utterly unforgettable adventure you’ll brag about for years.
We’re committed to helping you discover the joy of experiential travel, whether it’s finding the best street food in Karimunjawa, embarking on an eco-tourism guide in Sri Lanka, or just figuring out how to survive a long-haul flight with a toddler (send wine).
We believe in travel that enriches, not just exhausts. And yes, we’re totally self-aware enough to admit we mostly do it because we just can’t sit still.
Ready to Embrace the Glorious Unpredictability of Travel?
So, that’s us. A handful of adventurous if unconventional folks who just happen to love the world and want to share it with you.
We’ve made the mistakes, learned the lessons, and now we’re ready to guide you to your own unique, slightly scary, and utterly unforgettable adventure.
Ready to stop dreaming and start doing (with a few chuckles along the way)?
Wander Through Our Latest Tropical Travel Guides (Seriously, they’re good!)
Plan Your Next Adventurous Short Break (We promise not to judge your weird preferences)
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Your Go-To Travel Skeptics
At SandSpice, we don’t just travel—we live travel. Our team of Free Independent Travel (FIT) explorers, storytellers, and logistics masterminds bring you firsthand insights into budget-friendly, off-the-beaten-path adventures.
🚀 Why Follow Us?
✔️ Expert Travel Tips – From hidden gems to budget hacks, we’ve got you covered.
✔️ Authentic Experiences – No tourist traps—just real, immersive travel.
✔️ Witty & Engaging Content – Because travel should be fun, not just informative.
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