Ep 113 Melissa Hoyer on travelling the celeb circuit; Intrepid Travel’s Not Hot List & making your data last when you travel

Melissa Hoyer is one of Australia’s most respected lifestyle commentators, journalists and editors, who has worked in the travel and lifestyle sector of the media industry for more than three decades, and has interviewed the likes of Drew Barrymore, Lady Gaga, Cate Blanchett and JK Rowling.

This week, we take a look at what life's like for a leading commentator travelling on the celeb circuit, and find out where the A-listers like to go.

Also, Intrepid's "Not Hot List" is out! This annual report highlights the lesser-known destinations and regions for those who care about treading lightly when they travel.

And our tip this week is from eSIM provider Saily about how to get the most out of your data when you travel. 

Visit us at https://theworldawaits.au or on Instagram here.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00: 0:02

Welcome to the World Awaits. Travel tales to inspire your Wonderless. Welcome back to the World Awaits. How are you all? How's your week been, Kirsty?

SPEAKER_02: 0:13

I had a lovely weekend down at Philippine last week with my tribe, so it fills your soul when you go away with some old friends and when they all get along, considering some of them didn't know each other. But uh well, they did, they know each other. But you know how when you bring old friends together and they don't, yeah, they don't necessarily hook up outside of you. So um it was really lovely. Um and it was such a beautiful spring weekend down there. The um we went on a hike and oh my gosh, there were wallabies everywhere. I just never tire of seeing them. It was incredible. Um, and you can take a look actually at the little wallabies and on my Insta, which is Kirsty Rights, W-R-I-T-E-S. And I've also been busy still writing about Cambodia, as well as all the latest luxury news for carry-on. So, how about you, Belle? How's your week been?

SPEAKER_00: 0:57

Uh, it was uh insanely busy. So I was the first Journo to walk through Melbourne's newest hotel. Well, actually, it's hotels because it's two hotels built side by side, um, right in the middle of Burke Street Mall. So this is the five-star, well, they don't like to say five-star, but this is the upmarket hotel Indigo Little Collins, and then the four-star-ish Holiday Inn right beside each other. So they're part of the same company, IHG. And together it's about 450 rooms overlooking the mall, or behind it, Little Collins Street, and Union Lane runs down the side, and it's got that blockbuster mecca right next door. Oh my goodness, so good, Kirsty. I went in there and I just about lost my mind and my wallet. Um, back in the hotel, though, I did test the menu by head chef Daryl Hand, who runs the kitchens for both hotels. Um, delicious, super cute liver, uh chicken liver parfait. And the salmon was he served up a salmon, yum, and the salmon was cured by gin from the local distiller Little Lon, which is actually in Melbourne CBD as well. So they're telling a really Melbourne story throughout. I did post a TikTok and also Instagram about it, and what polarized everyone was the bold blue um that they've used as the feature colour. It's a it's a Mondrian blue. So think of a really strong um primary blue, which is apparently inspired by Melbourne Street Science. That's the signature colour for indigo. So you can take a peek on my Instagram at global underscore salsa and tell me what you think about that blue.

SPEAKER_02: 2:27

Amazing. I'm actually staying at Hotel Indigo Little Collins for carry-on next month, and I'm gonna source out that salmon cured by gin. Oh, maybe we were at the same time, bell. Um be cool. But you've had some other stuff going on this week, haven't you?

SPEAKER_00: 2:42

Uh, yeah, right. So as we um the other thing that's been keeping me up at night is prep for a trip to Central Australia. And when we go to air, I'll actually be driving through the Red Center. So we're starting in Alice Springs, working our way around to King's Canyon and Uluru and trying to find some of those more off-beat experiences and places to camp and stay. So I can't wait to tell you all about it here on the podcast. So I'm not going to say any more. I'm saving my powder, but also you'll see it on the socials.

SPEAKER_02: 3:11

Yeah, we actually have some really cool trips coming up. So make sure you're following us. We'll put them on the World Awaits um Insta as well. But so make sure you follow us because uh you can, you know, see where we're going and then you'll know what we're we're about to talk about. So I'm also off to Tahiti next week to be to the first international yoga festival that the um this stunning island nation's ever had held. Um and I'm going to be the only Joomless here from Australia, so I'm told. So I'll be writing a little wellness story for Carry On as well as um a feature for the New Zealand Herald. So yeah, you can follow me if you can stand watching this stunning shots that I'm bound to get, these um tropical paradise images on Insta.

SPEAKER_01: 3:49

Not to mention you doing downward dog in fun of them.

SPEAKER_00: 3:57

Uh, not jealous at all. Oh my god, I'm so stiff. I just think of nothing more blissful than doing a week of yoga. Um, I have to look backwards to make myself um remind myself, because you know, I've been stuck in a bit of a rut, just writing and and not traveling. Um so I've got to look back at past travels on the weekend. You might have caught my cover story on the Sydney Morning Herald and the Age, which is about Tunisia. So if you need a desert hit to counteract all of those Tahitian seas, um, and you know, it's not exactly a destination that's top of mind. And that steers me into, I'm improving my segues now, Kirsty. That steers me into this week's conversation, which is about travel in lesser-known places. So this is an annual list that spotlights lesser-known places that are ready to welcome more travelers in 2026. So take a listen and see how many you've been to, or you can put them on your backup list. So the list kicks off with Tawai Island in Sierra Leone, where they recently launched a 10-year tourism strategy to attract international travelers and to recast the country as a leader in ecotourism. And at the heart of this is this island which was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site last uh this year. So it's renowned for diverse populations of animals, and it's also part of the Gola Forest National Park.

SPEAKER_02: 5:13

Yeah, love this list. And Intrepid really walks the talk when it comes to giving back and sustainable travel because they support so many projects, um, which you can find on their website. There's loads, you know, far too many little lists here, but this isn't spawns and contains or anything, but they just they truly do do an amazing job. And um, this list is just an example of the work that they do. So back to the list. And second was Tian Shan Mountain Range in Kyrgyzstan, and the stands are so well visited, but um but not this mountain range. So Intrepid says that this is long traversed by nomads, but little known by outsiders.

SPEAKER_00: 5:49

Yeah, absolutely. When you do visit, you tend to just skim through a couple of the cities. So the massive country waiting to be explored. Um the third is Sierra Norte in Mexico, which is deep in the mountains of the Oaxaca and is said to be one of the most compelling examples of indigenous-led tourism in the world. This is a cooperative of eight self-governing villages, which operates under this community-led model that shares profits equally, and it also limits visitor numbers.

SPEAKER_02: 6:17

That sounds so cool. I want to go there. Fourth is Ves Island in Croatia. I feel like Croatia's really having a moment. Um, I'm going to Croatia actually in November. I cannot wait. I've never been. And um, but yeah, it's also actually trying to steer visitors away from overcrowded destinations um within the country. So this means places like Ves Island are emerging as a bit of a serene sort of refuge. And the island has small-scale local experiences that it says celebrates the island's charm and um slower pace of life.

SPEAKER_00: 6:49

Well, look, I think Horatia's been having a moment since Tom Cruise stayed there a couple of decades ago. And then Game of Thrones sorry, Game of Thrones was filmed there, and it just went absolutely insane. Um beautiful, but yeah, it's so heavily concentrated around Dubrovnik. Um, fifth on the list is a country close to my heart, and that is uh Turkey. And the region they're trying to promote there is South, southeastern Anatolia. Um, so it's driven by a national push to showcase the region's cultural and culinary heritage. And I think that's the thing with Turkey. We just it's, you know, we just think it's all kebab and stuff like that. But this area, um, which is poised for tourism revival, everybody talks about the food from here. So it's no secret to the locals. Um the cities of Diakabir and Mardin are still well off the beaten trap for most foreign visitors because it borders Syria. And, you know, as we always say, war's not good for tourism. But the area is absolutely riddled with UNESCO World Heritage sites. And um those and its key cities are deeply invested in attracting more visitors. And there's I mean, there's plenty more interesting places on the top ten, um, including Arancha or Pradesh in far northern India, probably overlooked in the shadow of neighbouring Bhutan, and also the 2026 European City of Culture, Ulu, in lovely, lovely Finland.

SPEAKER_02: 8:10

Yeah, and Romania, El Salvador, and the US also have places on the top ten. So we'll save those for you because you can then look at the link and work out and see where they all are and have a good read. This week I'm challenging to Melissa Hoyer, one of Australia's most respected lifestyle commentators, journalists, and editors, who's worked in the travel and lifestyle sector of the media industry for decades, and she's interviewed the likes of Drew Barrymore, Lady Gaga, Kate Blanchett, and J.K. Rowling.

SPEAKER_00: 8:49

All right. Well, so besides some of the biggest names in the film and music industry, what made you want to chat with her? I mean, what's the what's the travel hook?

SPEAKER_02: 8:57

So Melissa has traveled extensively, and she got into the industry in the 90s when budgets were big. Um, I mean, I remember that back in our in my early journey days in newsrooms, you know, budgets were really big. And most of her biggest interviews with those really big names were the result of her being flown somewhere to meet them. So I wanted to have a chat with her about what some of her favorite places were that she went and also where the celebrities go for those of us that want to follow on their footsteps, which we all do. Um and she's also just an all-round wonderfully warm and really humble person and really personable. And I'm I'm sure that you will feel that. So take a listen. Welcome to the show, Melissa.

SPEAKER_01: 9:37

Thank you. I'm really happy. I'm excited about this, Kirsty. It's a podcast that I I listen to a lot. So I'm uh excited to to delve into it with you.

SPEAKER_02: 9:48

Oh, it's so nice to have you on the World Awaits, and thank you for saying that. That's very kind. Give us a little background about how you came to work in the media industry.

SPEAKER_01: 9:55

Yeah. Okay, so I in a nutshell, when I uh my first job, I was actually in public relations. So in that role, and that was with um the then Grace Brothers, which was which then turned into Maya. So that was it was a retail PR job. Obviously, in PR, I met a lot of editors, um, one of them being the fashion editor of the then Telegraph newspaper. She was going on a sort of a six-month sabbatical, and I had always um wanted to get into actually into journalism, into newspapers, and I'd studied and and all that, but I had got this job in PR. I thought, oh, well, you know, it's great. You know, I'm it was it was a great job, but always in the back of my mind, it was actually media I wanted to get into. Um this this this lady who has unfortunately since passed away, she uh was going away. I got the the sabbatical job. And then once she came back, they had loved what I was doing there in newspaper land. So I stayed at the Sunday and the Daily Telegraph, which were then sort of, you know, the two big newspapers in Sydney in the in the News Corp group. There was a Fairfax and News Corp. So it was the Telegraph, there was News Corp, and obviously Sydney Morning Held in Fairfax. So really that was my start. And then from there, and that was, and I was doing fashion columns, lifestyle columns, interviewing celebrities. It just sort of, it just sort of steamrolled. And I think in a weird way, those were the days when you could kind of do that. You know, I think now most people have could have sort of got a lane, they've got a gig in a particular area, unless you, of course, you're you're a news journalist. But mine was very lifestyle, travel, fashion, beauty, celebrity driven. And really, since then, I then moved and I did stuff on Foxtel. I did a fashion show where I co-hosted with Hugh Jackman, and then I did a lot with Foxtel, and I did a lot of commentary with networks like the Nine Network and Channel 7, and I've done stuff on the ABC and Channel 10, I've done radio commentary. So it all kind of just it sort of happened. And I think too, it was before obviously digital became the thing. So there, you know, we were newspapers were our source of news. Digital obviously happened, you know, around the like in my world 2008, 2009. And I then actually left newspaper land and focused on the digital side of wanting to get into that world. Because I just knew that that was where media was going. And a lot of people sort of went, oh, you're, you know, why are you doing that? You know, you've you've got this, you know, solid, good, strong job in newspaper land. But I had been doing it for, you know, 20 years. And I sort of thought, no, I'm just gonna do it and go freelance, and which I did, but then I got offered a job as the editor at large of the digital publication at News Corp, which is news.com.au. So that was very much uh a role that was it, it was, it was lifestyle, it was, it was, it was beauty, it was travel, it was entertainment, it was a bit of everything. So I sort of was then using what I had sort of learnt in the digital land, because I had a couple of years in between, and and I really embraced digital while still not forgetting sort of my roots of writing, because I still love writing for publications, you know. So it is just, you know, I mean, I think it's been good with timing because I've had that sort of experience in heritage media, but of late, and it's been much, much, much more obviously about the digital space.

SPEAKER_02: 13:54

Yes, absolutely. Gosh, what a vast, um, incredible background. Let's talk about some of the places you've been there, amazing places that you've been to interview celebrities. Have you actually have you traveled a lot to interview them or have a lot of them come to you?

SPEAKER_01: 14:08

Well, actually, interestingly, that there was a real period that was probably sort of the early 2000s, late 90s, God sent sounds on a go. And and and the naughtys. I mean, I went I went to Florence to interview Drew Barrymore for a movie she was doing. You know, I I I went to to London to interview um JK Rowling. I went to I was trying to think of other, I mean, oh, I went to Japan to interview um there was a a I think of who the the celebrity wise, but she was the what a face for SK2, which is uh a Japanese beauty brand. I went to New York to speak with Kate Blanchette, who was in a play at that stage, plus she was the face of again the Japanese brand SK2. I've been, I've I've interviewed Elle McPherson in London. Um yeah, so so I think that was when your budgets were a little bit bigger. And um and and that people you you would be flowing over to do sort of, you know, what you know, they're really junkets, I guess. Um so now they're probably not as as big simply because we can be doing we can Zoom, you know, the amount of interviews we all see now on morning shows or or or or news programs that have been done via Zoom because, you know, as we all know, the technology is so good and it can look as though you are physically, you know, talking to whoever in in wherever. I went I was in um I'm going to I was in Vegas a couple of years ago to see the Carly Minogue show, but I actually went just on off my own steam because I'd actually I'd actually been on a Oceania um two-day trip on one of their ships from Los Angeles to Mexico, and and I got back to Los Angeles and she was doing a couple of shows in Vegas, Carly Minogue. So a friend of mine and I, we bought bought tickets, which were like ridiculously expensive, but we had like the best night ever seeing Carly. We were like, you know, front, like literally front row on a little cabaret table, and there she was, and we you know spoke to her afterwards, and yeah, we that I mean, just those sort of things that have happened that often are sort of unexpected, but there've been, you know, I mean I've interviewed, God, I mean, you know, everyone from like Hugh Jack, mean Russell Crowe, Naomi Campbell, um like a million. I mean, if anyone wanted to bother me have having a look look at my LinkedIn, there's a million names, there's a million names there. So I've I've been very fortunate and interviewed some really, really fantastic people that have that, you know, are people that have inspired me. No, and I'm not not from a oh, I want to be an actor because I'm interviewed, blah, blah, but just the way they talk to you and the way they treat you. And it's so often the the really, really big names who actually do talk to you so beautifully and they don't talk down to you. But it it's often like sort of the the B and the C listers who think they're so clever, they're often the ones who are a-holes, to be honest.

SPEAKER_02: 17:34

From some of those trips that you've done, what what was your favorite? And were and who who are the actors? Uh can you name some that are actually were just really lovely? Um actresses.

SPEAKER_01: 17:47

Oh, actually, yeah. Um Drew Barrymore was phenomenal, Angelica Houston was phenomenal. Um I mean, Russell Crowe's always a great interview. Um who else? Oh boy, who else am I done? I mean, Hugh Jackman, like what you see is what you get with him. Like he's just perfection. I I mean, from a you know, he he gives you gives you what you need. And yeah, and you know, and and and and and with you know, yeah, there's a there's a lot of sort of provisos that some people want, you know, they won't talk about this or they won't talk about that. Kate Blanchette, amazing. Nicole Kidman, another fantastic interview. Naomi Watts, you know, all of that sort of, you know, they they're probably all slightly a bit older now, but I think, you know, they have learnt as as they've gone along as well that you know, they want to be nice as well, you know, that that they've they've probably gone as well and as far in their career because they are genuinely, you know, they're creative, they they they they want to give what they they know, and and they've all been, you know, fantastic when when I I've spoken to them. So it's it's been there hasn't really been one absolute sort of dickhead, which is sort of fortunate, isn't it? That's very fortunate, particularly Gang Street. That's exactly, yeah. So really good. Yeah. And also a lot of musicians too. I mean, people like sort of like J Jimmy Barnes, Kate Sabrano. Um, I did um I I had an interesting encounter with um Lady Gaga quite a few years ago. She was in town doing like a big gig, but she did a very, very small gig in a little uh uh little place off Oxford Street in Sydney called Nevermind. And it was there were only about 120 people there, and it was like a it was a secret squeal gig that the organizer, a friend of mine who unfortunately passed away a few weeks ago, Stevie Lowe, he organized and you know, we had to go through the back way, and we had to be, you know, our name signed off. And and she did this like private gig for us. And and then, you know, afterwards we were chatting to her and talking to her, and and and and I and I did ask her, I said, Oh, do you mind if I was there just as me, as opposed to Melissa Hoy, journalist doing an interview. But I did ask her, Oh, do you mind if I just asked a few questions? And she was so lovely. I asked her some lovely questions, and you know, I I got a beautiful story out of it that I I think it was I put it on towisternews.com that I use. So it was, yeah, yeah, those sort of often those unexpected, and then often I've met sort of interesting people at the those those Melbourne Cup carnivals, like like Crazy Paris Hilton and and people like that, that they've they've uh they've they've you know often flowing in to be sort of you know the guests. Naomi Campbell was one of those, but she kept everyone waiting for like three hours, so we all got over that. So, you know, she was a bit of a diva, let me tell you, but I think that that's that's sort of common knowledge. So uh so I think you sort of just uh you know, you you often learn to live with people who have got sort of existing reputation.

SPEAKER_02: 21:05

Incredible. And so did any of them that you've interviewed, have they sort of talked to you about their favourite places where they've filmed or or or performed as a musician? Like what are some of their um I mean, there's a big thing at the moment, just sort of a segue we can we can either touch on now or a bit later, but um, you know, this set jetting um idea of and white lotus has really taken off as far as people wanting to follow in the footsteps of of of where places are filmed. But are there any places, I guess, more so about the people from the people you interviewed who they talked about sort of places they filmed that they just thought were I remember I actually once interviewed um Tom Cruise when he was in New Zealand um and he just you know adored Mount Taranaki because they were they were filming there uh and uh and talked a lot about this surfing and this love of surfing in New Zealand. So I wondered if there are any who specifically talked about certain places that you interviewed.

SPEAKER_01: 21:58

Yeah, it's interesting because a lot of sort of uh celebs who that who come to Australia for interviews, often as part of their sort of their their their interviewing sort of schedule here, they'll often be then sent set up to um either sort of um Hamilton Island or Heyman Island as a as a for a week after they've they've sort of they've done their stuff in in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, da da da. But I've it's funny, it's quite a few that I've spoken to of late who have really wanted to go to New Zealand. So it's interesting that you mentioned that because I think, you know, I mean, from a from a visual, I mean, it still is it is the most spectacular. I mean, everything, I mean, there were so many places in all the world, whether it's whether you go to Puli or whether you go to an amazing uh what do you like the Morocco or Marrakesh or or the Cotswolds, everywhere there's there's beautiful elements. I mean, yeah, I've got gone to lovely islands in Fiji, I've been to Vanuatu, um, I just I was in the the Maldives just recently. Like there's all of these places we enter, we go, oh wow, wow, wow. But there is something about New Zealand that so many people that I have spoken to have often gone, they've they've come and done their Australian sort of promotional thing, but they'll go over to New Zealand. It it it's it's sort of, and and I think that's probably a lot to do with so much filming that you know that has been done in New Zealand and and and and it and it's so spectacular. I went I was in Queenstown about seven years ago for a friend's wedding, and it was it was it was I think it was June or July, so it was cold. But she she wore this extraordinary, like feathered, and she's not sort of a fashionista, but she wore this, she's very tall, and she wore she she walked down and she wore this like big feathered cape, and you'd think we were on the set of of like some amazing spectacular Peter Jackson movie. Like it was just beautiful, but but yeah, I'm I'm really New Zealand is is something, and I think a lot of um like Fijian islands as well, you know, a lot of people are wanting to go there who have spent time doing their sort of uh you know promotional stuff here, then they'll they'll go whether whether it's whether it's um Kokomo or Tokariki or or or uh Royal Diva Davui. You know, there's so many beautiful Fijian islands. So yeah, I think that kind of g that's sort of they want like a real holiday at the end of of their time in Australia, whether they've been filming or whether they're here for a promotional thing. So it's yeah, there's certainly the places that that I'm hearing that people are wanting to go to if they've come to Australia and they've got a week to sort of have for a bit of hour and hour afterwards.

SPEAKER_02: 24:52

So for a local getaway, if you want to spot the selege, you need to go to Heyman Island, Hamilton Island, or New Zealand.

SPEAKER_01: 24:58

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02: 24:59

Yeah, and a bit of Fiji in there as well. And a bit of Fiji, of course. Yeah. And VG is obviously always always a popular one. And and uh and also probably increasingly because of the incredible results that are opening now.

SPEAKER_01: 25:10

Yep, and so and so and and and so close. I mean, as in as in Australia. I mean, like, you know, when you you you're there in four hours, you know, like it's it's a very you sort of often forget how close Fijian islands are to Australia. So it's um yeah, and I think a lot, you know, a lot of people are looking at that too, that that they they don't want to spend a day getting to a resort holiday. You know, they're happy to do four, five, six hours, but but any longer, it's like, well, hang on, when I get there, I just want to relax. I don't want to spend sort of 24 hours getting to somewhere where I'm just gonna sort of relax. So yeah, it's genius.

SPEAKER_02: 25:48

Of all the places that you've been interviewing celebrities or musicians, um, which are obviously also celebrities, um, where where is somewhere, if you had to pick one place as a complete standout and somewhere that people that you would recommend to people to go, where would it be?

SPEAKER_01: 26:05

Auri. Well, I mean, I I was fortunate when um I mean just before White Lotus Thailand came out, I went to um the Anantara hotels that were used in White Lotus. I mean, that there were two particular hotels that were used as um as well as the so there's four seasons, but there were there were two of the Anantara. So I went on a on a media trip. And even though we, you know, we we didn't interview the because the filming had already been done. But to actually, it was interesting to because to actually go there and then come back and then and then we hadn't seen the show. The show then was on, I think about two months after we'd been on our trip, then to actually watch the show and and and spot the all the areas that we had been to. I mean, that that was really sort of quite special. And I can see the like the absolute sort of reason why people are sort of they're sort of flocking back to Thailand because you know that they want that their own white lotus experience. And also, I sort of had forgotten how beautiful sort of Thailand is. I think we sort of think bang, crazy Bangkok, da da da da. But then when you actually then go, you know, go to the islands, um, it's just spectacular. Like really just like that, you know, they you can either you can either do crazy and you can do nightclubs and all that, or you can just do sort of useful, beautiful, calm, which which is really probably the one thing most people want to do when they when they go to Thailand now. And probably a bit of you know, a bit of shopping and eat well. So it's good.

SPEAKER_02: 27:46

Yeah, lots of well-being there too.

SPEAKER_01: 27:48

Um yeah, very much.

SPEAKER_02: 27:50

And so what are some of your other favourite sort of travel experiences that you've had?

SPEAKER_01: 27:54

Okay. Well, my my father was Czech, so um I've had I've still got a small uh amount of family in Prague. So I've been to Prague a couple of times, which is always an interesting experience because his family, most of his family, a few of them have passed on since, but they could only speak Czech. There was one who could speak Czech, German, and bad, pretty bad English. My my Czech was hopeless, my German was okay. So poor, I mean, poor he would have to sort of I I would he would ask me a question kind of in in English and broken German. I would sort of answer it in German, kind of broken English, then he would then try to translate it to Czech in order to tell the family the question. So who knows what he actually ended up sort of answering some of these questions with, because it was this lovely sort of fusion of uh of three of three sort of languages. But it was a you know, it's funny, even even though you you you you'd have these conversations, then you sort of think, I wonder if she's actually understanding my answer. But I think just in the way you would talk and and and you know, and and also photos, you know, just showing photos. I mean, that was sort of a story in itself. So I I think I think I think we went we went okay considering the the the the complete lack of the Czech understanding of the language from my part. So yeah, so Prague, I love Prague. I mean, um Pulio, I've got a friend who has a fantastic place there, a Maseria, it's called Maseria Trapana. He's an Australian-born friend, uh Rob Potter Um Sanders, who's got a fabulous place. Another great great guy called Craig Markham, who works actually with, he works in London for the um the Ferndale group of hotels, which is like the ham yard and I mean amazing hotels. He's just built um a place um just outside of Puglia. Collect Dinnigan is a friend of mine, she's got a place there. So I do love that. Sort of I I love I love the boot of it of Italy, or the heel of Italy, because that's obviously where uh Puglia is. Um oh yeah, I've I've I've had like um it's funny, I've I've I've I've got these sort of bucket list that I've had have written down, and it's interesting. I've just said yes to uh uh a trip that I'm gonna go on next May, but it's with a group of friends, so we're we know we're all paying for it, and it's to Marrakech and to Morocco because I've not never I've never been and I've always wanted to go. And this trip has sort of come up, and there's going to be 12 of us, and it's um yeah, so that I'm so looking forward to that because it's a a place I've wanted to go to, but no, I'm I'm a single person, and and it's sort of hard sometimes to find like like-minded people who you want to travel to with who also want to go at the same time, want to do it the same kind of way. You know, some people might have lots of money, some people may not may want to do it sort of a bit more budget-minded, but yeah, the the way we're doing it is very sort of sort of middle of the road. That's it's it's a really it's a good price, and we're we're we're paying and and it's a fantastic itinerary. So I'm that's next May. So I'm that I'm really looking forward to that. And and I already know like four people who are going on it, so that's that'll be fun. Uh yeah, and and and I'd love to, um I'd love to go, I'd love to do an amazing pon trip to Antarctica. You know, I'd love to do all that, but you know, it's it's all relative and it's all you know, it's about the the bank balance and if someone can commission me. So it's all about that, as you know. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02: 31:36

So what would be uh give me a couple of top tips for people who want to be doing what you're doing one day. So who want to be traveling and also uh interviewing um celebrities. Uh what what are a couple of top tips for people to get to get into that?

SPEAKER_01: 31:52

Okay. Well, well, I think I mean and it's uh it's probably a lot different now because because I I started like you know, when I did, you know, and you and you you've been you know working in the media for so long as well, not as long as me, because you're you're much younger than me.

SPEAKER_02: 32:07

I don't think I don't think so.

SPEAKER_01: 32:09

Yeah, actually, yeah, let's let's let it. Let's have a bit about it. Well, let's say we're about even. Um, but um, you know, you sort of you you you you have to say, I think it was social media. I think the important thing and way to use social media, particularly if you're just starting off, is to really engage with people. You know, like a lot of people will like stuff, like stuff, like stuff, like stuff. You know, that's all good and well. But if you are wanting to get into that world of interviewing celebrities, or I mean, and and and and if you're not some nutcase, I mean, DM the person, you know, DM them. I mean, like, you know, and and and and do your research, work out who the management is or the PR who is looking after that particular person or that particular resort or that particular beauty brand or or that particular fashion brand. And and and and and and direct message them because you know, we we all do look at our DMs. I mean, you know, obviously, you're not gonna DM, you know, Kylie or Gaga or someone and go, oh hi, can I be work experience? I mean, because I went when they've got you know 30 million followers, it's a little bit different. But you know, but you know, with with with marketing people and their PR people, you know, direct message. I mean, you might only have 500 followers, but but you you have to create start creating your own brand. And in and and by creating your own brand, at least you're getting your name out there. You know, you your name is then going to be, you know, it might only be a little tiny trickle in that public relation person's um life, but you are you're making the inroads into getting potentially known. You know, comment on on accounts, don't just like things, actually comment and say, wow, well, you know, Kirsty. You know, that that I love that story, or I love that podcast that you did about blah, blah, blah. I was particularly interested when you spoke to so and so about that amazing resort in Vietnam. Yeah, so so so you look as though, or you know, that you are genuinely interested and potentially interesting, because you know, you are sounding as though you are interested in the subject matter because you've taken the time to actually, you know, research and and listen to whether it's your podcast or or a story someone's written or or or you know, read it or gone through an entire magazine that someone's just put out. So, no, I think it's really interesting. It's really, I think social media you it can be used so much for good and for garnering really good contacts.

SPEAKER_02: 34:52

Yeah, that's really good advice. We are sadly running out of time. So I'm gonna ask you the last question we ask all of our interviewees. What was what's the most bizarre thing that's ever happened to you on your chores?

SPEAKER_01: 35:03

Oh gosh. Okay, yeah, okay, okay, this is bizarre. I was I was flying from London down to Madrid because I was actually about to walk um part of the Camino Trail. And I'd been in um actually no, I'd been in London. I then went to Paris because a friend of mine, Shelly Sullivan, had just done this extraordinary big MCO Beauty, which is a beauty brand. She'd done the this thing in the Place Vendome, where she had all these people marching around like amazing, amazing. You know, I got a plane from Paris to Madrid because I was meeting a group in Madrid, and then we were going to walk the Camino. I'm on the I'm on the plane, I I I get off the plane, and I had noticed a woman sitting next to me who looked like just a quintessential sort of gypsy, but in a you know, like she was sort of like a like a great-looking gypsy, you know, in a you know, in a Stevie Nicks kind of way. Anyway, I got off the plane and and I had my passport in my my my passport holder. Then I went to look for my wallet and I could not find my wallet anywhere. And I thought this is really weird. Then I realized when she as we were as the plane had landed, she'd gone down to get her bags at her feet, and she spent quite a lot of time down there, which I like, which even I thought that was a bit weird because she would just have to get her couple of bags, and they were quite chock a block, and my bag was at my feet, but I did say it was open, and my wallet was at the top because I'd actually bought like a drink or water on the trolley that because it was just on a cheap flight. So she and I'm and I'm not even gonna say I'm not gonna say I think she did it because I know she did it. She's obviously got my wallet, stolen my wallet, and put it into her bag. And so then I arrived in Madrid with nothing apart, I mean, apart from my password. And I just got out money, I just got out money because we're gonna be walking the trail. I'd had had had, oh my god, every credit card, everything. And I was about to start this sort of this, you know, what you know, this really sort of cathartic, you know, wow, woe is me, Camino Trail. And I as on the uh I was on the phone all that night, canceling credit cards, doing all this crap. And luckily, you know, in a funny way, it was probably quite good that I did this, you know, eight-day walk because it sort of it made me think life isn't that bad. But that's probably the most awful experience and probably the sort of the kookiest, craziest one um that I've had. Apart from having a passport, while my passport was water damaged and I was nearly not let into the USA, but I somehow um I somehow got my got my way in. So but I did actually write about it. But I wrote about that because it was like, you know, passports, you you forget how you know they are legal tender. You really you have to so look after your passport. So everyone, look after your passport.

SPEAKER_02: 38:08

What amazing advice. And I've absolutely loved talking with you. Thank you so much for being on The World Awakes.

SPEAKER_01: 38:15

I love it. Um, I'd do it again anytime we we can we'll talk about more things next time, Kirsty. Thank you for having us. We will.

SPEAKER_02: 38:21

We absolutely will.

SPEAKER_00: 38:23

Thank you. I loved how she talked about the impact Thailand has had on her when she went to Kosamui for a jet setting experience and how it just transformed her view of a Thai getaway. So for more, follow Melissa on Instagram at Melissa Hoyer.

SPEAKER_02: 38:49

Our tip this week is about how to make your phone's data last longer.

SPEAKER_00: 38:54

Oh, it is the stuff of nightmares. You're stuck on the streets of Paris with a train strike, and you're gonna miss your time slot going up the Eiffel Tower, or you've lost your way on a self-drive trip in the US. You need an Uber, you need online maps, and your phone is out of data.

SPEAKER_02: 39:11

Yes, horror show. So between uploading self-holds to socials, checking mets and ordering online, we are burning through our data when we travel. And ESOM provider Saley gives us the stats on digital use, which is super handy because you can at least have some idea of how much data to buy when you land in a new country.

SPEAKER_00: 39:29

So they have done a quick approximation of of what your data is because you never know, do you? You think how much is, you know, how much data am I going to to if I upload this photo? Um, so here's a rough guide for you. An hour's phone call, uh an hour's video call uses up to 300 meg. Streaming music for one hour takes about half that, about 150 meg. And checking maps for five minutes burns 11 megabytes of data, whereas uploading the perfect photo, 16 meg. So all that adds up if you thought you needed to buy only one gig of data. Navigation apps and ride sharing apps left open, quietly guzzle the data in the background.

SPEAKER_02: 40:07

So, how can you put the brakes on? Saylee says first up, either use trust a trusted Wi-Fi connection wherever you can. So while you're still in your hotel in the morning, which, yeah, that's what we do, just always make sure we click into the to the local Wi-Fi and load up all your socials and stuff while you're there. Or buy an ESIM with a solid amount of data on it. Also, do you really need to make a video call? Audio calls cost a lot less and use a lot less data and are a lot more reliable when you're on weak connections.

SPEAKER_00: 40:36

And other great tips include downloading maps, playlists, and TV shows before you trip. So do it at home. Um, part of that essential pre-trip preparation that I think we'll both be doing this week, Kirsty. And if you want to keep an eye on your use, use a data calculator to keep track so you don't run out. And make sure your mobile data is turned off as well so that it doesn't default back to your home data plan and burn a giant hole in your wallet.

SPEAKER_02: 41:03

Yeah. I mean, I do tend to, when I travel, just use the local Wi-Fi a lot whenever I can. Um but yeah, having a SIM, having an eSIM is is is definitely helpful. And we've we did that too when we're in Europe last year. Um so those stats are on Saley's website, which is salie.com, and we'll put a link in the show notes.

SPEAKER_00: 41:22

Next week, my guest is Rome-based opera singer Brianna Stillman. The Australian Soprano is the force behind Opera Finity, which is a charity that uses music to create connection. And her work in Kenya is absolutely inspirational.

SPEAKER_02: 41:35

And we'd love it if you followed us on socials. You'll find us at the World Awaits podcast on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. And please drop us a line too if you want to. We'd love to hear from you. Hello at the worldwaits.au. Um, or you can drop us a little note on our socials. Um, and if you are enjoying any of our episodes, please give us a ranking and review. Thank you.

SPEAKER_00: 41:54

That's a wrap for the World Awaits this week. Click to subscribe anywhere you listen to your favourite pods. Thanks for listening. See you next week.