The Beyond Borders Collective

04/03/2024

We are officially booking trips as Travel Advisors!!

After several years of sharing our personal travel experiences, we decided it was time to turn our passion into a business. 

We believe the world is best experienced outside of your comfort zone and encourage visiting destinations you may have not considered. To that end, our focus is on luxury and immersive travel - such as safaris, expeditions, milestone celebrations and other unique experiences. However, our experience isn’t limited to that!

We are also excited to pass on exclusive benefits to our clients as affiliates and members.

⬅️ Swipe for more information about our role as travel advisors and how to book with us!

✈️ Visit our PLAN YOUR TRIP page on our website as well. Link in bio!

Thank you so much for following us and for your support!!
- Shivani and Rachel

25/04/2023

📍Jaipur, Rajasthan, India

Marked by a rich history, vibrant culture and the distinct terracotta pink hue of the buildings, the Pink City of Jaipur should be on every travellers India bucket list.

While there is a lot to admire about the city, it was the architecture that took my breath away. The talent of the artisans who hand-carved the intricate designs is truly unmatched.

Locations featured in the photos:

🔸 City Palace
🔸 Amber Fort
🔸 Hawa Mahal
🔸 Panna Meena ka Kund

31/10/2022

Imagine overlooking an elephant watering hole from your own private plunge pool 🐘

This was a dream of mine until recently when I took my long awaited Serengeti safari which was postponed multiple times during the pandemic.

My only regret: NOT spending an entire day lounging around this beautiful resort. You can never predict when a family of elephants will visit the watering hole but apparently they came every day around 7-7:30 am during our stay when we were already gone for a morning game drive!

Regardless this was an unforgettable experience!!

Interested in learning more about our custom curated safari itinerary? DM us for more info! Also follow us on Instagram (The Beyond Borders Collective) and check out or website (thebeyondborderscollective.com) for more safari content, downloadable itineraries, tips and more!

26/04/2022

We agree! Thanks for the share! ☀️🕶🌅

We may be biased… but we think this is the best seat in the house to watch the sunset. 😍 Cheers to another day in paradise! 🥂 📷:

14/02/2022

🐶🍷 Looking for dog friendly wineries in Napa & Sonoma?

Here are 5 of my favorite family owned wineries that welcome pups!

During my most recent trip to wine country the hubs and I opted to bring our fur babes along for the ride 🐶 (Zooey and Bentley have certainly benefited from mom and dad traveling more domestically during the pandemic).

Since we’ve already been to a lot of the big name wineries, this time we chose to stick with small family owned ones. Aside from the fact that they are all dog friendly, the five listed in this guide also have exceptional wine, friendly service and good vibes ✨

Ps - if you are looking for a local guide I highly recommend Cali -he grew up in Sonoma so he’s the real deal and can help make your visit truly memorable! We loved having him as our driver and guide!

Keep exploring
-Rachel

09/02/2022

📍Palm Springs, California

Whether you go with girlfriends or your SO, Palm Springs makes the perfect year round destination. While we generally love a busy itinerary, PS is one place we prefer to relax poolside or indulge in the wonderful food options.

To see some of our favorite restaurants in the area and what not to miss at each place…

Check out the complete guide to Palm Springs for more recommendations!

📸 Link: https://thebeyondborderscollective.com/the-best-palm-springs-travel-guide-2022/

12/01/2022

Infinity hot tub surrounded by California Redwoods and lavender? Yes please!

Being immersed in nature - mountains and water especially - is my happy place. Normally my travel style is action packed with adventure but everyone needs a little R&R every now and then. I love Big Sur because it offers the best of both worlds.

Last year the hubs and I stayed at and it was the perfect rejuvenation destination! Our fur babes came along too and totally embraced the zen vibe 🐶🐶 Don’t believe me? ⬅️ to see for yourself ☺️

What’s your ideal retreat getaway?

Keep exploring! 💕 Rachel

13/12/2021

ITINERARY: 10 Days in Peru
No trip to Peru is complete without visting Machu Picchu. SAVE THIS POST for tips when visiting!
Tip #1: Prepare for Altitude Changes: Book an appointment with your doctor or with Passport Health prior to departure to obtain a prescription to Acetazolamide (Diamox) to help prevent altitude sickness.

Tip #2: Store Extra Luggage at Hotel in Cusco while Visiting Machu Picchu: Most trains have strict weight and size restrictions on luggage. This generally means only one piece of hand luggage (backpack, handbag, or briefcase) weighing no more than 5 kg/11 lbs.

Tip #3: Embrace the Scenery on the Train to Machu Picchu: Book a train with panoramic windows such as the PeruRail Vistadome and IncaRail 360o. For the ultimate luxury experience consider booking tickets on the Hiram Bingham train.

Tip #4: Leverage Hotel Concierge to Book Entry Tickets to Machu Picchu: We stayed at the Sanctuary Lodge and they were very helpful in arranging bookings and can have the tickets available upon check-in so you don’t need to physically pick them up in Aguas Calientes. Book tickets early!There are limited entry tickets each day and further restrictions are place with the circuits effective in 2021.

Tip #5: The Belmond Sanctuary Lodge is the only hotel situated at the gate of Machu Picchu. Take advantage of booking a late afternoon entry so you can stay until close (the crowds start to thin out about an hour before close time after the last bus to Aguas Calientes departs). Check out our website to read more about what it’s like to stay here!
Is Peru on your bucket list? Download our full 10 day itinerary which includes the Peruvian Amazon, Lima, Cusco, Machu Picchu and Sacred Valley.

📸 - Link: https://thebeyondborderscollective.com/10-day-peru-itinerary/

05/10/2021

To this day, the Greek Islands remain one of the top destinations that we’ve visited. The food, stunning scenery and culture all make for an unforgettable trip.

*SAVE THIS POST* for 5 travel tips when visiting the Greek Islands:

1. Arrange transportation to/from airport with your hotel - Ubers/Lyfts are not available in Santorini and Mykonos and taxis are limited

2. Plan for lighter carry-ons for domestic flights - Olympic Air has strict luggage requirements for carry-ons. Avoid additional fees by understanding the weight and size restrictions ahead of time

3. Request room with extra privacy in Santorini - Submit a request to secure a room closer to the bottom of the cliff to provide additional privacy during your stay at a cliffside resort.

4. Plan for late dinners - In Greece it is customary to eat dinner later in the evening (around 9-10pm). We made reservations around 8pm or later except when planning to watch the sunset during dinner in Santorini

5. Make dinner reservations in advance - Restaurants are small, so availability is limited. Leverage your hotel concierge to assist in making the reservations to ensure requests are accommodated, such a special occasions or securing a table with the optimal view

✈️ Planning a trip to Greece?

*VISIT OUR WEBSITE* and DOWNLOAD our 10 DAY ITINERARY that includes Athens, Santorini and Mykonos. We’ve also updated recommendations to reflect up-to-date information for 2021!

📸 Link: https://thebeyondborderscollective.com/category/itineraries/

07/04/2021

Has anyone else been itching to take a trip abroad?

I’ve recently gone through my photos from a past trip to Vietnam and I must say - it’s hard to beat witnessing a Natural World Wonder in person!

Although travel restrictions remain in effect for foreigners visiting Vietnam, it doesn’t hurt to dream! 🇻🇳

*SAVE THIS POST* as future inspiration for visiting Ha Long Bay:

• An overnight boat cruise is arguably the best way to experience the thousands of limestone rock formations 🚢
• There are plenty of boat cruises to choose from, each offering a 2 or 3 day option. I personally booked through Indochina Junk and loved the experience! Book the 3 day option if you can to venture deeper into the more remote and less polluted areas
• Hanoi is the closest city to access Ha Long Bay – it’s about a 3 hour trip one way. All the more reason to book an overnight boat cruise!
• Spend additional time in Hanoi to take in the culture. I didn’t know what to expect but was very pleasantly surprised with how much the city has to offer. Stay in old quarter and go on a street food tour!

What is your favorite experience in Vietnam?

31/03/2021

One of my favorite memories to this day was my experience my visiting the Elephant Sanctuary in Chang Mai. Having the opportunity to feed and bathe these gentle giants was nothing short of incredible.

If you have the opportunity to visit elephants in Thailand, we encourage you to visit an elephant sanctuary in lieu of other tourist attractions. What many tourists don’t know is that in order to be trained, a young elephant’s spirit is “broken” so that it will obey commands.

Elephant sanctuaries rescue elephants that were injured or whose spirits were “broken” so that they can live their lives in peace.

If interacting with elephants is part of your bucket list itinerary, consider this visiting a sanctuary as a friendly alternative! 🐘🐘

24/03/2021

Everyone needs a change of scenery every now and then 🐶
•
Meet Zooey - my miniature dachshund and favorite travel companion. She loves tagging along on my domestic trips 💕
What are some pet-friendly vacations you’ve taken? 🐕 ✈️

17/03/2021

Happy Wednesday, friends!

It is a rainy, dreary day in KC today and it has us dreaming of sunny skies and endless blue water 😍☀️🌊 🕶

This beautiful city south of the border was the perfect place to escape for a few days to get a little R&R. Can you guess where?!

📸 Blog post coming soon!

07/11/2020

In my happy place 💕🌲🏔

No matter where in the world you are, get out and enjoy some fresh air today. It’s going to be a beautiful day here in Kansas City!

Have a great weekend, friends!

05/11/2020

Looking for a safe way to explore during the pandemic? Checkout my roundup of some favorite US National Parks. Plus, I’m sure we could all use a little extra dose of Mother Nature for our mental health right now! 🌵🌋🐻

📸Link in bio!

04/11/2020

Normally, when I look forward to traveling it’s someplace exotic and overseas. But the pandemic pushed me to explore beautiful parts of the US that otherwise would remain a mystery. The best part: I was able to bring my fur babies along for the ride 🥰.

Feeling inspired to take a road trip but not sure where to start? I’ve mapped out the 2 week route I recently took below.

*SAVE THIS POST* for 8 dog friendly destinations to visit while exploring the Southwestern US: 🐶 🐕

1.) Moab, Utah - Corona Arch Trail
2.) Dixie National Forest - Pink Ledges Trail
3.) Bryce Canyon - Sunset Point
4.) Zion National Park - Pa’rus Trail
5.) Grand Canyon - South Rim Trail
6.) Sedona - Boynton Canyon
7.) Santa Fe - Old Town
8.) White Sands National Park - Dunes near picnic areas

Also, stay tuned for our latest blog post on tips for exploring US national parks!

31/10/2020

Happy Saturday! Hope this guy makes you smile! 😊🙃

Check out my safari photo journal to meet more of my friends 🦓🦒🐆🐘

Link in bio!

29/10/2020

🐆SPOTTED! 🐆

Ever seen leopards mating in the wild? We were lucky enough to witness this full mating ritual on an evening game drive at Lion Sands. We followed the dominant male as he picked up on the female’s scent and tracked her. When the pair actually met, the mating process was a mix of flirty play and honestly, violence. Let me tell you, those noises are hard to forget! 🙈😂

Fun Fact: Leopards can mate every 15 minutes for up to 5 days! A female leopard usually mates with multiple partners and it is in her best interest to be impregnated by the dominant male of the territory because leopard males are known to kill cubs who are from another male. A dominant male is less likely to be ousted from his territory, thereby granting a higher chance of survival to the cubs. In order to increase the chance of cubs from a dominant male, she can make herself less fertile for other male suitors. WILD. How cool is nature?!

27/10/2020

The only thing getting me through this 🥶 day is day dreaming about past trips (can I travel again yet? 😭) Going on safari was easily my all time favorite experience and I can’t wait to hopefully🤞do it again next year.

Checkout my blog post to learn more about my trip to Lion Sands in South Africa 🐘🦒🦓

Link in bio!

24/10/2020

One last stop in Albuquerque. We savored the last few moments of our vacation with brunch in Old Town and found a 🐶 friendly patio at to enjoy some sunshine before heading back to the cold weather that awaits us in Kansas City.

While I was bummed about having to cancel my original trip to Africa due to the pandemic, it opened up the opportunity to explore a beautiful area of the US that I had never visited. Plus we got to bring our fur babies along who has an absolute blast!

For more travel inspiration, follow us and check out the blog in our bio 📸

23/10/2020

How magical is this landscape?! Located on the border of Utah and Arizona, Monument Valley almost feels otherworldly and was certainly a highlight of my trip to Utah!

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21/10/2020

These white gypsum sand dunes flow for miles and are even more stunning in person. Planning a trip to New Mexico? A visit to the White Sands National Monument is worth the drive!

20/10/2020

Santa Fe makes for a charming weekend getaway. We loved our stay in old town at the Inn of Five Graces. In need of a change of scenery? What’s your favorite place to escape?

19/10/2020

S-P-A may be our favorite 3-letter word and Mii Amo at the Enchantment Resort in Sedona did not disappoint. We enjoyed a relaxing spa treatment followed by some pool time to take in the beautiful views! What’s your favorite way to unwind?

&R

17/10/2020

The Grand Canyon and All It’s Glory

16/10/2020

So much to explore in Zion National Park. Loved the 3 mile Pa’rus trail for its beautiful wildflowers plus the bonus that it’s 🐶 friendly

15/10/2020

Couldn’t pass up the opportunity to explore Bryce Canyon during my road trip through Utah. Not in the mood to hike? Sunset Point is a perfect place to take in the views in only a few steps.

13/10/2020

Morning hike to the Corona Arch. Only a 20 minute drive from Arches National Park and just as stunning. Love traveling with your fur baby? This trail is 🐶 friendly!

12/10/2020

Exploring the stunning surroundings of Arches National Park. Still taken back by the breathtaking views. In need of a change of scenery? October is a beautiful time to visit the western part of the US.

11/10/2020

Cobblestone streets, colorful homes and the Atlantic Ocean in the distance- can the Alfama neighborhood in Lisbon be any more charming??