About Us
Our founder, Chris, seized an opportunity to turn his passion for travel into a meaningful business helping others discover the breathtaking beauty of our world in 2023. Leveraging years of experience as a problem solver and team leader in technology consulting, he set out to create something extraordinary in the travel industry. What you should know about us is that at the heart of our mission is helping others turn their travel dreams into reality. With a wealth of personal travel experience, Chris is passionate about sharing his expertise to guide others on their adventures. Chris named Sand & Sea Travel to reflect himself and his passion for sunny beaches. But, we are eager to help you craft the perfect getaway — no matter where in the world you want to go.
To learn even more about Sand & Sea Travel and how we can help you, you can connect with the team at Sand & Sea Travel using the Contact Us form for general inquiries, or the Trip Request form if you’re ready to start talking about where you’re headed next!
Our Industry Leading Partners
Sand & Sea Travel has teamed up with Travel & Cruise Desk, a long-standing travel agency in Oregon with extensive experience in the luxury space. In so choosing our host agency, Sand & Sea Travel is also proud to be a member of several prestigious organizations, including the Signature Travel Network. They say who you hang out with says a lot about who you are – and we’re proud to to have the reputations of these key partners and what they say about us.
These relationships connect Sand & Sea Travel to a network of thousands of experienced advisors around the world. They also provide us with access to Signature’s influence with preferred suppliers as well as the industry influence of a respected brand.
Our Team
A little bit about us...
Founder & Chief Experience Architect
Chris Gottshall
For decades, people had regularly asked Chris, “Why aren’t you a travel advisor? You travel so often and know so much about traveling.” This had always been a “someday / maybe” idea for him. With a pivotal career path inflection point in 2023, “someday” became “right now.”
His career in technology consulting led him to a road warrior, business travel lifestyle fairly early on in his professional career. But he had been a points & miles tracker and a status-chaser long before that. Chris kept spreadsheets to forecast when he would qualify for each tier of airline and hotel elite status each year. He knows very well how these games are played and the changes to the rules that the companies make each year to keep their loyal fans on their toes. He has stories that would make your eyes pop about shenanigans in pursuit of status.
On working with advisors
His opinion on the value of airline & hotel status has changed over time, though. A recent take from Chris on the value of an advisor and supplier status:
“All my years traveling, I never really thought of working with an advisor myself. I thought I already knew how to get what I wanted in terms of seat upgrades on airlines and room upgrades at hotels. And I liked being in control. Little did I know how much more a good advisor could have been doing for me during all those years of travel. It is totally possible to get treated like a top-tier elite member without being one. The influence of our relationships with hoteliers often means our clients are treated as well as, or better than, top-tier elites booking on their own. I want to help people take back their time and simultaneously get even more out of their travel experiences.“
As an avid traveler himself, Chris still manages to keep some elite level status with Delta, United, and Alaska airlines as well as Marriott, IHG, and Hyatt hotels. Chris’s many years of travel while based in Minneapolis, MN have earned him Delta’s prestigious 2 Million Miler milestone as well as Marriott’s Lifetime Titanium status. As a result of following these programs as they’ve evolved over the years, he’s acutely aware of how your advisor can impact your earnings & qualifications with such programs.
Your Goals Are Our Priority
Chris will be happy to help you achieve or maintain your status, if that’s a priority to you. He says:
“If status accrual is important to you, tell me up front. I won’t waste your time with options that would forfeit the points you want to earn.”
But he also cautions that earning nights at hotel chains is often at odds with getting the lowest price, so Sand & Sea will give you options and help you make an informed decision about how you want to spend your travel dollars. The client’s goals are always the driver of all recommendations, and he understands that those goals can vary from trip to trip. This is one important way that Sand & Sea will stand out as a trusted partner in travel planning, booking, and client support.
Pictured here at Denver airport, Chris Gottshall has explored unique destinations like Moscow, Bangalore, Tokyo, and Dubai, but his heart belongs to Athens, Greece. After living there from September 2001 to July 2002, Chris developed a deep connection to Greece. The name “Sand & Sea” is an homage to this ongoing love affair.
Chris has visited 18 of the Greek islands (some of them more than twice) and has a goal to visit them all at some point in his life.
Currently based in Portland, Oregon, he aspires to a nomadic lifestyle wherein he divides his time primarily between the USA and Greece while continuing to explore the world.
You can learn more about us through the links below.
Learn more about Chris
- Signature: Chris Gottshall
- Travel & Cruise Desk: Chris Gottshall
More About Sand & Sea Travel
- Instagram: @sandandsea.travel
- Facebook: @sandandsea.traveladvisors
- YouTube: @SandAndSea.travel
The cure for anything is salt water:
sweat, tears, or the sea.
Are You Ready to Plan Your Next Experience?
Contact us to get started on designing your VIP travel experience.
