Rochester, NY & Boston, MA: The entire group had a fantastic trip. Sandie Vanderschot is a fantastic tour planner! Sandie is always quick to prepare a well-organized trip. She returns emails promptly with thorough details and explanations
New York: I always feel well organized and well informed with Ellison making our tour plans. It was a well-organized trip to keep us in one section of the city at a time. Thanks for a great trip.
MusicFest Ottawa: I think we made our tour as complicated as it gets, and every request was handled with patience and a willingness to be as accommodating as possible. Thank you!!
Montreal: Sandie is very organized, and exceptionally patient with me. She is a great communicator, and even though we didn’t have a representative from Ellison on our tour, she was available through text message and email at any time to respond to issues or questions as they cropped up. I felt that given the level of preparation by Sandie, the quality of the musical experience for the students, and the quality of the tour in general really justifies the minimal cost of booking through an agent.
Europe: This was our first tour with Ellison Tours, but it certainly won’t be our last! Our Tour Manager/Tour Planner, Sandie Vanderschot, was extremely knowledgeable and personable, and it was a pleasure working with. She was very helpful throughout the planning of the trip and arranged for a performance and tour of the Vienna State Opera, which was a highlight performance on our tour.
Nashville: That kind of understanding (exchange rate fluctuation) and service is why I always choose Ellison. Every detail is well thought out, planned, scrutinized and when we embark, I know we will have the best time ever. I will continue to choose Ellison!
New York City: I would never run a tour with another company. Ellison is able to provide you with a completely customized tour for a reasonable price. They know what teachers are looking for in an educational tour and suggest excellent student friendly activities that meet these guidelines. Sandie is ALWAYS amazing. She does everything she can to customize our trip to exactly what we want to do for the lowest possible price. She really has our interests in mind when she plans the tour.
Europe: Lots of great suggestions, able to be flexible to meet our needs, even during the tour. Sandie was excellent. Very accommodating and knowledgeable. A real asset. It was incredibly well organized with a great mix of planned and free time. AMAZING! Lots of help with parent meetings and always available for questions with prompt answers. Sandie took alot of the stress out of planning and executing a tour with 27 teens!
Sandie Vanderschot
Manager, Group Planning
Year Started in travel: 1990
I have been with Ellison Travel & Tours since 1990 planning educational and music tours within Canada, the United States, Britain and Europe as well as in-bound tours to Canada. My knowledge and access to information and contacts allows me to prepare a tour designed to your group’s needs. Whether attending a festival, arranging performances, ensuring there is educational content or if you have an art or theatre special interest, I can design a tour incorporating those elements and look after all of the details for you.
I have had the opportunity to travel through most of Canada and the USA over the years. Internationally I have travelled through Britain, Belgium, France, Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria, Germany, Spain, Italy, Greece, Aruba, Ireland and enjoyed time in the Caribbean.
In 2006 I began escorting tours through Europe which has given me the opportunity to check out new destinations as well as gaining first hand experience, which has provided invaluable insight when tour planning!
I enjoy travelling and assisting others to do the same. One toll free call and I will do all the research, and make all the arrangements to pull everything together to make your trip the most exciting and memorable tour ever. Travel is a wonderful and educational experience to be shared by all.
I look forward to assisting you with your future travel plans where ever they may lead you!
