Travel Advisor
Melissa Franco
She/Her
Expertise
- Solo Travel,
- Group Travel,
- Arts & Culture,
- Food & Wine Experiences in Europe and Mexico
Based in
London, Ontario, Canada
Languages spoken
English, Spanish & Italian
Minimum booking Budget
$300/night
Profile details
About
Arts, culture and adventure are in my DNA, so when I travel, I like spending more time than the average tourist would in a new place. I don't go with a schedule or a checklist. Instead I like to wander and let the day unfold. One is far more likely to appreciate a destination – its unique pace, food, people, culture and quirks – when you're not racing from one “must-see” thing to another, don’t you think?
Travel style
I'm a fan of boutique hotels that boast exceptional design and are situated in prime, central locations. When I explore new destinations, I enjoy meandering through the streets, uncovering hidden gems, and immersing myself in the local culture. I tend to linger longer in a new place, embracing the opportunity to discover unexpected wonders beyond the typical tourist experience.
Melissa's travel guides & trip reports
An Art & Food Lover's Guide to Lisbon
An All-Encompassing Tour of Croatia
Welcome to Paradise: Your Ultimate Guide to Puerto Vallarta
The Best of Scotland on a 7-Day Tour
The Heart of Mexico: 5-Day Itinerary to Mexico City & Oaxaca
Favorite hotels
Melissa's reviews
My husband and I have never used a travel agent but felt we could use some professional assistance for our most recent holiday to Vietnam. Melissa came highly recommended by a friend and I am incredibly thankful we found her. We did a 16 day holiday with two of our friends and all agreed Melissa helped make our trip stress free and seamless. When traveling, there are always moments of stress and confusion, however, with Melissa’s help this was the easiest vacation we have taken. We all had peace of mind when traveling to a destination so far outside of our comfort zone. We traveled to 4 cities in 16 days and every moment was perfectly planned. Our transportation service was prompt, efficient, and our destination Asia guides were knowledgeable and friendly. Melissa is both hands on when helping you plan but also respectful of your traveling style. We did not want to be overwhelmed or on any schedule while traveling but also wanted efficiency and ease when traveling within the country. Melissa also helped us arrange some special moments for a birthday celebration and arranged the most incredible upgrade during our stay at Zannier. This was the highlight of our trip. I highly recommend using Melissa’s services if you like great recommendations, excellent communication, and peace of mind when traveling. She is knowledgeable, friendly, incredibly responsive (even when I messaged from across the world), highly organized and an absolute pleasure to work with. We will be using her services again for our upcoming trip to Portugal in the fall.
- Sydney C.
Booked travel to Vietnam
- May 2024
Melissa is amazing! She took the time to provide many options for our stay and went above and beyond with wonderful recommendations on restaurants close to our hotel. We visited two of them and absolutely loved them. The Fora perks were great too! Thank you, Melissa, for the wonderful experience. 💜
- Ana C.
Booked travel to Toronto
- May 2024
It was a great choice for us, given that our second night there was our wedding anniversary and we like to celebrate that occasion at lovely boutique inns.
- Keri F.
Booked travel to Dublin
- May 2024
Melissa was prompt with her responses, organized in her planning and extremely helpful with her recommendations. She made planning this trip much less stressful and we can’t wait to use her again for our future travels!
- Andrea P.
Booked travel to Playa del Carmen
- March 2024
Get in touch with Melissa
Reach out to customize and book your own experience. Or, just to chat about travel in general.
You can normally expect a response from Melissa within a business day or so. You’ll also be subscribed to our travel newsletter (you can unsubscribe at any time).
Sign up for Melissa's email list
Stay in-the-know with the latest from Melissa, including travel recs, hotel features & exclusive perks.