Located in Indonesia an hour east of Bali, NIHI Sumba is an extraordinary place that fuses nature, beauty and wellness in a thoughtful, soulful way. The hotel has been named the ‘Best Hotel in the World’ for two years in a row by Travel & Leisure and has mastered the art of transformative, luxurious simplicity. CEO and co-founding partner James McBride joins Melissa to explore what makes this hotel so special and how its magic came to be. After growing up in South Africa, he spent over two decades leading some of the world's most incredible hotels and has been recognized as ‘One to Watch’ by Bloomberg Businessweek, Bloomberg 50, as well as awarded the Independent Hotelier of the World  by Hotels Magazine. He shares insight into NIHI’s unique wild wellness program - from equine therapy with sacred horses to surfing in one of the world’s most iconic destinations, butterfly meditation lounges and more. Plus, Melissa shares some of her favorite wellness retreats on this week’s Indagare Insight.

Follow James McBride

Instagram: instagram.com/bapakjames

Follow NIHI Sumba

Website: nihi.com

Instagram: instagram.com/nihi

Follow Indagare

Website: indagare.com

Instagram: instagram.com/indagaretravel

Youtube: youtube.com/@indagaretravel

Follow Melissa on Instagram: instagram.com/indagarefounder

The visionary John Hardy has led a legendary career in jewelry, hospitality, design and education. In today’s episode, he takes Melissa through the thrilling journey of his life – from the beginning of his iconic jewelry line to the Green School (which gained global recognition from his TED talk) to the innovative boutique hotel, Bambu Indah. He shares his thoughts on why Bali is unlike anywhere else in the world, and why he believes bamboo is the hope for the future. Plus- on this week’s Indagare Insight Melissa shares her insider tips for jewelry shopping abroad.

Follow John Hardy

John Hardy Jewelry: johnhardy.com

Carina Hardy Jewelry: carinahardy.com

Green School: greenschool.org

Bambu Indah: bambuindah.com

Bamboo U: bamboou.com

Bamboo Pure: bamboopurebali.com

Ibuku: ibuku.com

Follow Indagare

Website: indagare.com

Instagram: instagram.com/indagaretravel

Youtube: youtube.com/@indagaretravel

Follow Melissa on Instagram: instagram.com/indagarefounder

Before Princess Mabel van Oranje was a royal, a prominent human rights activist and serial entrepreneur for social change, she grew up in a typical Dutch Family. In fact, it was her father, whom she lost far too young, who inspired the activist in her with his stories of far flung destinations and the challenges certain communities face. On this week’s episode, Mabel talks about the path that led her to founding VOW for Girls; the organization, borne from a friend’s wedding, strives to build a world with no child marriage. She and Melissa also discuss some of the most transformative travel experiences she’s had through her work with VOW. In keeping with the theme of the episode, Melissa discusses Indagare’s impact strategy, and how luxury travel affords so many opportunities to give back during this week’s Indagare Insight.

Follow VOW for Girls:

Website: vowforgirls.org

Instagram: instagram.com/vowforgirls

Follow Mabel van Oranje:

Instagram: instagram.com/mabel.vanoranje

Follow Indagare:

Website: indagare.com

Indagare Impact: indagare.com/mission

Instagram: instagram.com/indagaretravel

Youtube: youtube.com/@indagaretravel

Follow Melissa on Instagram: instagram.com/indagarefounder

Award-winning travel writer Francisca Matteoli has authored over a dozen books and collaborated with the likes of National Geographic, Conde Nast Traveller, and Louis Vuitton, but what is now a fulfilling and celebrated career was once just a passion. Francisca was raised in a family of travelers –– in fact, her grandfather once had the bill for an entire year at the Hôtel du Louvre waived because he was such a cherished guest –– and, she’s been collecting and telling stories for her entire life. Tune in to this week’s episode to hear about her unique childhood, as well as her time traveling with her husband to areas beset with conflict and instability, like Rwanda immediately after its 1994 genocide. Listen to her speak about how she infuses the spirit of a place into her work, like her latest book, Copacabana Palace: Where Rio Starts, as well as tease what she has on the docket for her next project. And in this week’s Indagare Insight, Melissa shares some of her favorite house museums and gardens, as well as an exciting new change coming to air travel.

Follow Francisca Matteoli:

Website: franciscamatteoli.com

Instagram: instagram.com/francisca_matteoli

Follow Indagare:

Website: indagare.com

Instagram: instagram.com/indagaretravel

Youtube: youtube.com/@indagaretravel

Follow Melissa on Instagram: instagram.com/indagarefounder

Father-daughter duo Roberto and Marie-Louise Scio of the Pellicano Group sit down with Melissa to discuss the legacy and the future of their triumvirate of three iconic Italian hotels: Il Pellicano, Mezzatorre and La Posta Vecchia. The episode is full of Italian storytelling at its finest as Roberto recounts memories from his first overnight and his early days as a guest of Hotel Il Pellicano, through to his decision to purchase the hotel and to expand the collection. Marie-Louise explains how she fell very naturally into the role of Creative Director –and now CEO–merely by “making the walls talk” at Pellicano. In recognizing and preserving the property’s rich history throughout the process of bringing it up to date,  she also expanded the brand into the lifestyle site ISSIMO, a digital extension of the hotel group. And for this week’s Indagare Insight, Melissa highlights some of her favorite collaborations featured on ISSIMO’s site now.

Follow Pellicano Hotels:

Website: pellicanohotels.com

Il Pellicano: hotelilpellicano.com & instagram.com/hotelilpellicano

La Posta Vecchia: postavecchiahotel.com & instagram.com/lapostavecchiahotel

Mezzatorre: mezzatorre.com & instagram.com/mezzatorrehotel

ISSIMO: issimoissimo.com & instagram.com/issimo

Follow Indagare:

Website: Indagare.com

Instagram: instagram.com/indagaretravel

Youtube: youtube.com/@indagaretravel

Follow Melissa on Instagram: instagram.com/indagarefounder

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