ABOUT

ELI & SERGE

Hello, we’re Eli and Serge, the couple behind Discovering Destinations.

We met in Montreal, Canada, in June 2009, and just three weeks later we took our first trip together. Eli had already planned a trip to Europe to visit a friend and invited Serge to come along. After a little thought, he fast-tracked his passport application and joined the adventure. We had no idea at the time that this spontaneous decision would become the beginning of a life filled with travel, discovery and shared experiences.

In 2016, we created Discovering Destinations as a place to document our journeys and help others discover new places along the way. The name reflects exactly what we love to do: explore new destinations, experience different cultures and keep discovering, whether we’re travelling far from home or exploring somewhere closer to Montreal.

Today, we continue to create travel content based on our own experiences, sharing stories, practical tips, videos and inspiration from more than 30 countries — and counting.

We hope our journeys inspire you to discover a few new destinations of your own.

Interested in working with us?
We love collaborating with travel brands, tourism partners and businesses that align with our audience and the way we travel.

LUXlife Magazine

Hospitality Awards 2026

We’re proud to share that Discovering Destinations has been named Best Travel Centric Destination Blog 2026 – Canada in the LUXlife Hospitality Awards 2026.

This recognition means a lot to us. Since creating Discovering Destinations, our goal has always been to share real travel experiences, practical tips, inspiring destinations and helpful content that makes trip planning a little easier.

We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who reads our blog, watches our videos and follows our journey. Your support continues to inspire us to explore, create and share more of the world with you.

Thank you for being part of our journey.

How it all began

Our story started in Montreal in 2009, when a Canadian met a Brazilian.

Just three weeks after we met, Eli invited Serge to join her on a trip to Croatia, where she had already planned to visit a friend in Zagreb. Serge had never travelled internationally before and waited almost until the last minute to decide. Once he said yes, he had to fast-track his passport — and suddenly what began as a simple trip to Croatia turned into an unforgettable European adventure.

Our route took us through London, Zagreb, Ljubljana, Venice, Bergamo, Arenzano, Lyon and Annecy before returning to Zagreb and London.

Some people say that travelling together early in a relationship can be a real “make or break” experience. For us, it became the beginning of something much bigger.

Since then, we’ve continued exploring the world together, discovering new places, cultures and experiences along the way. That shared passion eventually inspired us to create Discovering Destinations, where we share our travel stories, photos, videos and practical tips with fellow travellers.

You can follow our adventures on Instagram, watch our travel videos on YouTube, and explore more right here on Discovering Destinations.

Meet Eli

I’m Elisandra, or Eli, a Brazilian who had the opportunity to live abroad while working as an SAP Consultant in 2007. Over nearly 20 years working in SAP consulting, I also had the opportunity to travel frequently for different projects, which gave me even more exposure to new places, cultures and ways of life. A few years later, I settled in Montreal, Quebec, where I continued building my life and eventually became a Canadian citizen.

I’ve always loved change, creativity and discovering new things, which is a big part of why travel means so much to me. I enjoy experiencing different cultures, trying new flavours, discovering new design styles and seeing how people live around the world.

Today, I’m the content creator behind the Discovering Destinations blog, where I work on our travel stories, blog content, social media and visual design. Over the years, I’ve also specialized in Pinterest marketing and SEO, helping shape how we share and organize our travel content online.

Design is another big part of what I love to do. I create most of the visuals for Discovering Destinations using Canva, and I’m proud to be part of the Canvassador community.

Serge and I combine our different strengths to build Discovering Destinations together — from photography, video and travel experiences to content creation, design and digital marketing. Our goal is to keep growing the platform while sharing the places, stories and experiences that continue to inspire us.

and Serge

I’m Serge, and I’ve always been passionate about learning, growing and discovering new experiences. For Eli and me, travel is much more than simply visiting new places — it’s a way to step away from routine, recharge and see the world from a different perspective.

I believe you don’t have to travel thousands of kilometres to discover something meaningful. Sometimes the most interesting places are right in our own cities, hidden in neighbourhoods or corners that even locals haven’t explored yet. That curiosity is a big part of what inspires us at Discovering Destinations — finding places worth experiencing and sharing them with others.

My professional background is in the automotive industry. I previously worked as a Volkswagen Sales Representative, and I continue to work in the automotive field today. Over the years, my work has involved frequent travel throughout Canada and the United States, which has given me plenty of experience with road trips, transportation, hotels, navigation and the practical travel tools we often use and recommend through Discovering Destinations.

I also spent three years volunteering with Rogers TV, where I gained hands-on experience in television production, camera work and audio. Since then, I’ve continued developing my skills as a self-taught photographer and video editor, helping bring our travels to life through photography and video.

Together, Eli and I combine our different backgrounds and strengths to create travel content that we hope inspires people to explore more — whether that means travelling across the world or simply discovering something new closer to home.

Our travel philosophy

Stay curious and continue discovering new destinations, from local gems to international adventures.
Connect with locals and learn more about the culture and way of life in each place we visit.
Share our travel experiences and content to help inspire others, make trip planning easier, and bring their dream destinations a little closer to reality.

You’ll find great images for sale at our on our Payhip store. Perfect for any home decor. 

When we met in 2009, we didn’t know where life would take us. We simply embraced the journey, and 17 years later, we’re still exploring together, enjoying every moment, travelling whenever we can, and discovering the world one destination at a time.

Giving back

By 2015, we realized that discovering new places had become much more than an occasional hobby — it was simply part of who we were. That inspired us to start shaping the idea that would later become Discovering Destinations.

What began with a name, a logo and a desire to document our travels gradually grew into a place where we could share our experiences, recommendations and discoveries with others.

One of the ways we continue giving back is by sharing honest reviews and recommendations on Google Maps. We love supporting the local businesses, restaurants and attractions that make each destination memorable, while also helping fellow travellers discover places worth visiting.

You can follow our latest discoveries on Google Maps — who knows, one of our recommendations might become part of your next trip.

I think this version feels more current and also makes the “giving back” idea clearer: you’re supporting both travellers and local businesses.

About

Welcome to Discovering Destinations! Meet Eli and Serge, the dynamic duo behind this travel-centric blog. As avid explorers, we’re fueled by a passion for discovering new places and are thrilled to share our insights with fellow travel enthusiasts. Join us on a journey where we provide invaluable tips for achieving the perfect travel experience while staying within your budget. Let’s embark on this adventure together and uncover the world’s hidden gems!

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