In this week’s episode, Divia Thani, Global Editorial Director of Condé Nast Traveller, speaks with Melissa about how she found herself in what many would call their dream job. From growing up in former Bombay with a single, working mother during a time when such a thing was very uncommon, to attending university in the States, spending time in New York and returning to India only to fall deeply in love with her home-country again, Divia’s journey has been a winding one. Listen in not only to hear her story, but also to understand her vision for CNT and how - through the highly regarded publication - she strives to elevate local voices, perspectives and stories. Plus, don’t miss her recommendations for Mumbai and Goa, the latter of which she thinks is one of the most exciting cities for food right now. At the end of the episode, Melissa highlights summer in the Mediterranean, including some of Indagare’s top restaurant and shopping recommendations as well as favorite new hotel openings across the region.

Follow Divia Thani:

Instagram: instagram.com/diviathani

Follow Condé Nast Traveller:

Website: cntraveller.com

Condé Nast Traveller India: cntraveller.in

Follow Indagare:

Website: Indagare.com

Instagram: instagram.com/indagaretravel

Youtube: youtube.com/@indagaretravel

Follow Melissa on Instagram: instagram.com/indagarefounder

When he was just 26, Pico Iyer, the prolific British-born travel writer, essayist, and novelist decided to move to Japan after a fortuitous layover changed the trajectory of his life. He has written 15 books that have been translated into 23 languages, and his Ted talk on the Art of Stillness has received more than three and half million views. On this week’s episode, he sits down with Melissa to discuss everything from globalization and his time traveling to Iran, Myanmar and other countries undergoing change or else plagued by political unrest as well as his time with the Dalai Lama, his recent book The Half Known Life: Finding Paradise in a Divided World and of course, everybody’s favorite destination these days, Japan. And on this week’s Indagare Insight, Melissa provides tips for planning your own trip to Japan.

Follow Pico Iyer:

Website: picoiyerjourneys.com

Twitter: twitter.com/picoiyer

To purchase Pico’s book, The Half Known Life: Finding Paradise in a Divided World, visit penguinrandomhouse.com/books/678582/the-half-known-life-by-pico-iyer

Follow Indagare:

Website: Indagare.com

Instagram: instagram.com/indagaretravel

Youtube: youtube.com/@indagaretravel

Follow Melissa on Instagram: instagram.com/indagarefounder

Garrett and Jessica Gee of The Bucket List Family have traveled to over 90 countries with their kids, all three of whom are under 10 years old. Through exciting video storytelling, they’ve amassed quite a following and even have their own production company, The Bucket List Studios. But before their family of travel journalists became such a hit, Garrett and Jessica were just two young parents exploring the world on a budget with their easy-going children in tow. Tune in to learn about how what they originally intended as a family video-log transformed into The Bucket List brand, get details on Jessica’s newly-released book, National Geographic Bucket List Family Travel: Share the World With Your Kids on 50 Adventures of a Lifetime, and hear what’s next for The Bucket List Studios. Plus, the Gees and Melissa discuss some of their favorite destinations and tips for traveling with children.

Follow The Bucket List Family:

Website: thebucketlistfamily.com

Instagram: instagram.com/thebucketlistfamily

YouTube: youtube.com/@thebucketlistfamily

The Bucket List Studios: thebucketliststudios.com

Follow Garrett on Instagram: instagram.com/garrettgee

Follow Jessica on Instagram: instagram.com/jessgee

Follow Indagare:

Website: Indagare.com

Instagram: instagram.com/indagaretravel

Youtube: youtube.com/@indagaretravel

Follow Melissa on Instagram: instagram.com/indagarefounder

Designer, bestselling author and Roger Vivier Ambassador Inès de la Fressange is one of the most famous French supermodels of all time. She’s worked with Jean Paul Gaultier, Karl Lagerfeld, Yves Saint Laurent and even signed an exclusive contract with Chanel in the 1980s. She’s co-authored multiple books on French home design, the art of happiness and Parisian style (including the New York Times Bestseller Parisian Chic). She’s also created her own fashion brand, and her final collection with UNIQLO celebrating effortless Parisian style was just released. In this episode, Inès sits down with Melissa to share stories from the runway, what she learned from Karl Lagerfield, her thoughts on aging gracefully, her Paris recommendations and the essentials of French style. And on this week’s Indagare Insight, Melissa reveals her latest restaurant discoveries from her recent scouting trip to Paris.

Learn more about Inès on her website: en.inesdelafressange.fr

Visit Inès’ boutique in Paris located on the Left Bank at 24 rue de Grenelle

Follow Inès on Instagram: instagram.com/inesdelafressangeofficial

To join our special Insider Journey to Paris with Art Historian Page Knox this May, visit indagare.com/journeys/french-impressionism-with-page-knox. This art-focused trip will take you to see many of the special places Ines talked about today from neighborhoods like Montmartre and Saint-Germain-des-Prés to a private tour of the Musée d’Orsay’s new exhibition, Paris 1874: Inventing Impressionism.

To join our special Insider Journey with Melissa to Paris this November, visit indagare.com/journeys/paris-fashion-november-2024. Melissa will lead you through the world’s fashion capital as you connect with fashion designers and influencers at private receptions and legendary French fashion houses.

Follow Indagare:

Website: Indagare.com

Instagram: instagram.com/indagaretravel

Youtube: youtube.com/indagaretravel

Follow Melissa on Instagram: instagram.com/indagarefounder

Located in the heart of Vienna steps away from the State Opera House and the Albertina, Hotel Sacher is one of the most legendary hotels in all of Europe. Melissa is joined by Hotel Sacher’s co-owner Alexandra Winkler and her husband and business partner Matthias to explore not only the history of this elegant hotel, but also the captivating charm of Vienna. The two share their take on the enchanting cultural capital and how it continues to meld history, art and architecture. Plus- Melissa shares her personal recommendations for Vienna from her top museums and favorite exhibits to the famous sites not to miss.

Learn more on Hotel Sacher’s website: sacher.com

Follow Hotel Sacher on Instagram: instagram.com/sacherhotels

To join our special Insider Journey with Melissa to Vienna this September, visit indagare.com/journeys/vienna-september-2024. The trip will take you to see the city’s most beautiful palaces and museums plus you’ll be spending time with insiders including Alexandra and Matthias.

Follow Indagare:

Website: Indagare.com

Instagram: instagram.com/indagaretravel

Youtube: youtube.com/indagaretravel

Follow Melissa on Instagram: instagram.com/indagarefounder

New York Times Bestselling Author Anna Kloots joins Melissa to talk about her memoir, My Own Magic: A Reappearing Act, which details her travels around the world entwined in a coming of age story. After her marriage ended at the age of 30, Anna decided to fulfill her lifelong dream and move to Paris. In this heartfelt episode, she shares her journey with Melissa and explores why travel serves as a vehicle for finding confidence and rediscovering the magic within. Anna also shares what living in the “real Paris” is like, including a very romantic love story with her neighbor…yes, it is even better than Emily in Paris, as well as the challenges she faced moving during the height of the pandemic while losing her brother-in-law to Covid-19. She reminds us all through her daring, adventurous story that failure creates growth and that our dreams are always within reach.

Anna has traveled to over 83 countries across six continents and has been featured in Travel & Leisure, The Los Angeles Times, Coastal Living and more. From Joshua Tree, Bali and, of course, Paris - in this episode, Anna also gives a glimpse at what makes these places so transformative and special. Plus- don’t miss Anna’s personal, insider recommendations for some of her favorite restaurants, small museums, bakeries and shops in Paris.

For more information about Anna Kloots, to stay up-to-date with her book events, read about her travels, and purchase her city guides including “Paris Comme Moi,” head to annakloots.com. To check out Anna’s travel & lifestyle content, follow her on Instagram instagram.com/annakloots.

Anna’s book, My Own Magic: A Reappearing Act, is available for purchase at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Books-A-Million, and BookShop.

For more details about Paris along with other destination spotlights, visit Indagare.com to sign up for our newsletter and learn more about our membership. If you’re an Indagare member, reach out to your trip designer to begin planning your Parisian adventure.

Follow Indagare:

Instagram: instagram.com/indagaretravel

Youtube: youtube.com/indagaretravel

Follow Melissa on Instagram: instagram.com/indagarefounder

On this episode of Passport to Everywhere, Melissa sits down with renowned shoe designer Christian Louboutin to discuss his latest venture: a boutique hotel in the scenic hills of Portugal. Christian is widely recognized in the fashion industry for his glamorous footwear line featuring coveted red-bottom shoes. He has now, however, ventured into the world of hospitality with his latest project, the Vermelho Hotel.

Vermelho opened in April of 2023 and is located in Melides, a quaint fishing village in Portugal. In this episode, Christian shares his journey of opening Vermelho (it was originally going to be only a restaurant) and why he fashioned the property to feel more like a home than a hotel. He also dives into the beauty of Portugal and what motivates his nomadic lifestyle creating homes in different parts of the world. Melissa also reveals her favorite ways for mastering jet lag while traveling in this week’s Indagare Insight.

To learn more about Christian Louboutin, visit his website: christianlouboutin.com

Follow Christian on Instagram: instagram.com/louboutinworld

Follow Vermelho Hotel on Instagram: instagram.com/hotelvermelho

Follow Indagare:

Website: indagare.com

Instagram: instagram.com/indagaretravel

Youtube: youtube.com/indagaretravel

Follow Melissa on Instagram: instagram.com/indagarefounder

Frances Mayes is the New York Times Bestselling Author of Under the Tuscan Sun, which was turned into the beloved romantic movie starring Diane Lane in 2003. Frances joins Melissa to talk about how her love for Italy transformed her own life while also capturing the attention of women ready to make a change around the world. Plus, with her book, A Place in the World: Finding the Meaning of Home, she explores the mysterious concept of home and what it encompasses, from the homes we build to the countries we visit. She explains how “the house protects the dreamer” and the value of a home in magnifying creativity. She discloses some of her favorite destinations and regions (including where to eat bread comparable to cake), and details how Italy differs from anywhere else in the world. They talk about the art of travel, beauty, the unexpected gifts of writing, and how to get under the skin of a place to really experience it. Plus- don’t miss Frances’ favorite secret spots and cities to add to your travel list.

For more information about Frances Mayes and to view her book collection, guides, and events visit francesmayesbooks.com

Follow Frances Instagram: instagram.com/francesemayes

Follow Bramasole Olive Oil on Instagram: instagram.com/bramasoleevoo

Frances’ book, A Place in the World: Finding the Meaning of Home, is available to purchase on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Penguin Random House.

Under the Tuscan Sun, the movie starring Diane Lane adapted from Frances’ memoir, is available to stream on Amazon Prime, Disney +, and Apple TV.

For more on Italy and to explore Indagare’s favorite cities, hotels, and restaurants in the country, visit www.indagare.com. If you’re an Indagare member, reach out to your trip designer to start planning your Italian getaway.

Follow Indagare:

Instagram: instagram.com/indagaretravel

Youtube: youtube.com/indagaretravel

Follow Melissa on Instagram: instagram.com/indagarefounder