Travel Inspiration


Kelly Melillo Kelly Melillo

An Insider's Guide on Where to Eat, Stay & Play in Sardinia and Corsica

Both locations are known for fresh, satisfyingly simple cuisine, outstanding wines, idyllic beaches and beautiful natural landscapes. Craggy mountains brimming with fragrant shrubs and trees beg to be hiked. Local towns, perfect for leisurely meandering, beckon. The vibe is relaxed. The tradition is strong. An itinerary is not needed here.

Read More
Kelly Melillo Kelly Melillo

An Insider's Guide to Where to Eat, Stay & Play in Morocco

If you’re looking to be enchanted, consider Morocco. The country offers a bit of everything: dynamic multiculturalism, stunning architecture, vibrant cities, beaches, nature escapes…Whatever your travel style, Morocco more than delivers.

Read More
Kelly Melillo Kelly Melillo

An Insider's Guide to Where to Eat, Play & Stay in Tokyo

From sleek resorts with on-site hot springs to architectural icons, Japanese hotels are known for their omotenashi – a colloquial term for warm, authentic hospitality. And the best hotels in Japan celebrate their region’s culture, food and heritage in their own special way.

To aid in your search for where to stay in Japan, I've rounded up the best Japan hotels, including relative newcomers and all-time favorites. Whether you're exploring the frenetic Shinjuku district of Tokyo or the serene mountainscapes of Niseko, these are the best places to stay in Japan.

Read More
Hotel, Michelin Key Kelly Melillo Hotel, Michelin Key Kelly Melillo

My Favorite Properties with the New Michelin Key, the Michelin Star of Hotels

As with Michelin Stars, Michelin Keys are awarded based on visits by anonymous evaluators, who consider the hotel’s design, architecture, service quality, personality, value and contribution to its surroundings.

Currently, France is the only country in which Michelin has announced its Key honorees. There are 189 Michelin Key hotels in France: an elite 24 with three Keys, 38 with two Keys and 127 with one Key.

Read More
Kelly Melillo Kelly Melillo

11 Best Adventure Resorts Around the World, from Norway to Nepal

Five hours from Marrakech, Dar Ahlam is one of those special places you have to see to believe (and an epic element of travel to Morocco). The 14-room Kasbah is a true oasis on the edge of the desert, complete with serene palm groves, manicured topiaries and blooming gardens by Louis Benech, the designer of Paris’ Jardin des Tuileries. The Moroccan fantasy continues with the outdoor activities at Dar Ahlam: days are spent with a personal guide exploring the region’s rich heritage, whether trekking to the Valley of Roses, visiting a hilltop Berber village or partaking in a traditional tea ceremony.

Read More
Kelly Melillo Kelly Melillo

Favorite Hotels From TV Worth A Real Life Visit

If you’re anything like me, you’ve had the “White Lotus” theme song stuck in your head all week. And while I await the the tragic hero Tanya’s fate, I'm providing your daily dose of wanderlust — this time, courtesy of the small screen.

TV shows can provide a much-needed escape from the stresses of everyday life; those set at stunning hotels offer an even more welcome hiatus: travel without leaving the couch. But what if we could actually visit the TV destinations we dream about? Well, it turns out we can. Many hotels featured in some of the latest popular shows — including Season 2 of “White Lotus” — are indeed open for business, ready to treat and pamper real-life guests, just as they do on the screen.

Here, I’ve amassed a list of some of my favorites, all worth a trip off the couch and across the globe. It’s worth noting, though, that TV shows take certain liberties with names, locations and the like. (Example: "The Resort,” a new comedy-drama on Peacock takes place in Mexico, but was filmed in Puerto Rico, at different locations.)

Read More
Kelly Melillo Kelly Melillo

An Insiders Guide To Where To Eat, Stay and Play in Ireland

Ireland is small and mighty (it’s about the size of South Carolina). You can really experience a lot — luxe countryside castles, charming towns, bustling cities, stunning seaside cliffs, rolling green hills — without traveling too far.

The people are witty and welcoming, inhabiting a delightful blend of friendliness and crackly humor that result from overcoming historic struggles (famines, political strife). The Irish people are tough — they’ve endured a lot — and they’ve come out on the other side as warm as ever.

The country, too, is as vibrant as ever. Dublin is a dynamic city brimming with local pubs, gourmet restaurants, beautiful hotels, museums, parks — not to mention a rich literary and intellectual history (many an author and playwright has called Dublin home). There are several other towns worth exploring, each with their own unique vibe and energy. Ireland’s natural splendor, from enchanting woodlands and lakes to rugged mountains, captivates. And then there are the castles, of course.

Despite its small size, Ireland has something for everyone, and does not disappoint. When you connect with me, I’ll work with you to understand what you’re looking for, and craft your dream itinerary from there. In the meantime, below is a sampling of things to do, places to eat and where to stay in a few lovely Irish cities, a little Ireland travel inspiration, if you will.

Read More
Kelly Melillo Kelly Melillo

An Insider's Guide to Where to Eat, Stay & Play in Hawaiʻi

Hawaiʻi doesn’t seem like it should be in the United States. The tropical archipelago in the South Pacific is a veritable paradise, a geological marvel brimming with greenery and wildlife.

Hawaiʻi consists of six major islands — Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Molokai, Lānaʻi, Maui and the The Island of Hawaiʻi (also called The Big Island) — plus several smaller islands and atolls. The islands themselves are the result of volcanic activity in the middle of one of Earth’s tectonic plates. In fact, the Big Island is still technically being formed, in a way, by its active volcanoes, Mauna Loa and Kīlauea. A little over 20 miles southeast of the archipelago is the Kamaʻehuakanaloa Seamount, an active underwater volcano that may one day become Hawaiʻi’s newest island.

Here is where to go for a mix of everything: lounge the day away on the beach, embark on satisfyingly grueling hikes, explore laid-back towns, golf, snorkel, eat outstanding food, connect with the local culture…Hawaiʻi offers something for everyone.

Below is a collection of recommendations for where to stay, what to do and where to eat on Hawaiʻi’s five habitable islands — the Big Island, Oʻahu, Lānaʻi, Kauaʻi and Maui. This is just a sampling, of course — a little travel inspiration — as Hawaiʻi’s options abound. You won’t be at a loss for things to enjoy.

Read More