Episode 72 Stamped: Melissa Delaware – From Australian Beginnings to Global Adventures
In episode 72 of the Global Travel Planning Podcast, Tracy chats with Melissa, travel blogger and co-host of Ladies Who Travel.
Melissa shares the experiences and moments that shaped her love of travel, starting from her first solo adventures to hosting women-focused tours.
Listeners will find out about Melissa’s first international trip, her most memorable travel moments, destinations she loves to revisit, and lesser-known places she recommends. The episode also covers Melissa’s top travel tip on planning and making the most of each trip.
Click the blue button below to listen:
Episode 72 – What you’ll learn in this episode
- 📍 How personal experiences can ignite a lifelong passion for travel – and how to identify your own travel spark
- 📅 Why “less is more” when planning itineraries and how to build in space for authentic, meaningful experiences
- 🚄 Stories and tips for navigating solo travel, building confidence, and managing travel logistics pre-smartphone
- 🛏️ Finding a sense of home and living like a local, even during a short stay abroad
- 🥢 Cultural insights into destinations from Thailand to Prague, including food, snowy surprises, and the role of people in travel memories
- 😲 The value of unexpected moments, adaptability while travelling, and what it really means to chase those “wow” experiences
Places, foods and words/concepts mentioned
Places
- Sydney, Australia: Where Melissa took her first-ever trip, discovering the thrill of being alone in a new city.
- Bangkok, Thailand: Inspiration from the movie “The Beach” and Melissa’s second overseas adventure.
- USA (Disneyland, Hollywood, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Grand Canyon): Melissa’s first overseas destination, full of iconic sights and memorable moments.
- Mykonos, Greece: A solo travel highlight, representing new found freedom and adventure.
- Singapore, New York, Niagara (USA): Key stops on her global solo journey.
- Prague, Czech Republic: Magical “wow” moment seeing snow with her daughter for the first time.
- Waikiki & Maui, Hawaii: Discussed as destinations Melissa enjoyed but feels no urgent need to revisit.
- Queensland Outback, Australia: Praised as an underrated adventure destination with vast landscapes and distinctive character.
- Costa Brava, Spain (village: Cacadas): Melissa’s experience of briefly living like a local during a restorative work trip.
- Taj Mahal, India: Visited on a group tour, provoking reflections on how moments and people matter more than bucket-list sights.
Foods
- Thai Cuisine: Melissa raves about the food in Thailand, from street eats to diverse local flavours – an essential part of every return visit.
- Café & Breakfast in Costa Brava: Daily rituals at a village café, illustrating the comfort and connection of “living local.”
- Snowball in Prague: Not a food, but the story of her daughter cherishing and carrying a homemade snowball in Prague is a sweet, relatable travel memory.
Words/Concepts
- Solo Travel: Melissa shares how travelling alone boosted her confidence, fostered independence, and shaped her travel philosophy.
- Ladies Who Travel: Tours designed for women over 50, created and hosted by Melissa and Tracy; a space for community and shared adventure.
- “Less is More”: Melissa’s primary travel tip—encouraging slow, immersive travel to truly connect with a place and its people.
- Stamped Series: Ongoing podcast segment where Tracy interviews travel lovers about transformative journeys and personal travel histories.
- Outback Australia: The importance of venturing beyond the usual highlights to discover the tranquillity, vastness, and spirit of the Queensland Outback.
Links
Podcasts
- Episode #18 – Queensland Travel Tips: Beaches, Outback Adventures, and Hidden Gems
- Episode #32 – Brisbane Day Trips: Islands, Wildlife, and Hidden Gems
- Episode #47 – Pack Like a Pro: Essential Tips, Tricks + Travel Hacks
Articles
- Complete Australia travel guide (Everything you need to know)
- 25 of the best beaches in Australia to visit
Meet Melissa Delaware
Based in Brisbane, Australia, Melissa Delaware is the editor of Thrifty Family Travels, Brisbane Travel Guide, and Queensland Travel Guide, as well as a full-time travel blogger and travel planner.
Her latest venture, the Ladies Who Travel podcast, co-hosted with Tracy, brings together practical tips, inspiring destinations, and firsthand advice from over 30 years of travel experience.
Tracy and Melissa have also just launched Ladies Who Travel Tours for mature women who want to travel confidently with other like-minded women.
Through her websites and Facebook communities, Melissa helps travellers plan unforgettable adventures while making the most of their time and budget.
