Melissa Jean
She/Her
Based in Nashville, TN
Speaks English, Portuguese, Spanish
Melissa Jean
Ask me about
My Story
I'm a mindfulness teacher, forest bathing guide and creative writing teacher who loves the way that travel shakes us awake.
My Travel Style
I believe in the power of travel to help us connect with nature, build cross-cultural relationships and become immersed in a new place through encounters with people, art, cuisine and landscapes. My ideal trip is one that enhances my sense of wellness through lots of time spent outside, nourishing food and achieving the right balance between activity and rest. When I'm planning a trip for myself, I spend hours researching the quirkiest things to do in the place I'm visiting, as I love a surprising hidden gem more than anything.
I'm currently based in Nashville. I grew up in Salt Lake City and have also lived in Massachusetts, Brazil, Mozambique, the Philippines, the Marshall Islands and Russia. I speak fluent Portuguese and passable Spanish, and my current travel dream is to show my teenagers as much of the world as I can before they go off to college.
I'm interested in green/sustainable travel, socially-responsible travel and plant-based travel. I also have experience traveling with kids of all different ages--currently with highly-active teens who like adventures--and love planning romantic travel, too. I've spent most of my life doing budget travel, but I can appreciate an indulgence when the moment calls for it.
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My reviews (8)
Erin M.
2 months ago
Melissa is amazing!! She knows Iceland very well and created the perfect itinerary for our honeymoon! She was careful to address my medical and dietary needs in her planning, stuck to the budget we discussed, and artfully guided us to points of interest along our path. It was such a relief to leave the planning to her for this trip. 10/10 would book travel with her again. Thanks Melissa!!
Brooke W.
6 months ago
Melissa was a top-notch travel advisor! We felt comfortable knowing Melissa was always on top of everything. She had great suggestions and practical advice. She's very responsive, anticipated our needs, and ultimately put us at ease. We had the best trip!
John W.
8 months ago
Melissa was a consummate professional. She listened to our travel objectives, presented a variety of options to choose from, and took care of all the details once we made our decisions. She also followed up with helpful reminders and suggestions for things we could do once we arrived. Highly recommend her service.
Liz J.
travel to Cape Town
a year ago
We were so impressed and grateful for Melissa's travel services. She put together sample itineraries for us, gave us plenty of off-the-beaten-path suggestions, and found and booked tours and restaurants for us that we never would have found ourselves. She tailored her recommendations to our specific style of travel, and even when we had free days, we referenced her itinerary multiple times to find suggestions of things to do and places to see (or eat!). I consider myself an experienced traveler, and wouldn't have previously considered using a travel advisor, but I hope to use Melissa's services for every trip I book in the future - she was so helpful and made our trip even more incredible!
a year ago
Melissa Jean's thoughtful, informed suggestions for excursions and an itinerary made my family's weeklong trip to Paris the stuff of dreams. I often get overwhelmed by options, and it was so helpful to have Melissa by my side to give the trip structure with plenty of time built in for discovery. I would work with her again in a heartbeat.
Erin M.
2 months ago
Melissa is amazing!! She knows Iceland very well and created the perfect itinerary for our honeymoon! She was careful to address my medical and dietary needs in her planning, stuck to the budget we discussed, and artfully guided us to points of interest along our path. It was such a relief to leave the planning to her for this trip. 10/10 would book travel with her again. Thanks Melissa!!
Brooke W.
6 months ago
Melissa was a top-notch travel advisor! We felt comfortable knowing Melissa was always on top of everything. She had great suggestions and practical advice. She's very responsive, anticipated our needs, and ultimately put us at ease. We had the best trip!
John W.
8 months ago
Melissa was a consummate professional. She listened to our travel objectives, presented a variety of options to choose from, and took care of all the details once we made our decisions. She also followed up with helpful reminders and suggestions for things we could do once we arrived. Highly recommend her service.
Liz J.
travel to Cape Town
a year ago
We were so impressed and grateful for Melissa's travel services. She put together sample itineraries for us, gave us plenty of off-the-beaten-path suggestions, and found and booked tours and restaurants for us that we never would have found ourselves. She tailored her recommendations to our specific style of travel, and even when we had free days, we referenced her itinerary multiple times to find suggestions of things to do and places to see (or eat!). I consider myself an experienced traveler, and wouldn't have previously considered using a travel advisor, but I hope to use Melissa's services for every trip I book in the future - she was so helpful and made our trip even more incredible!
My travel ideas (4)
A Weekend of Rest and Adventure in Florianópolis, Brazil
Florianópolis is a nature-lover's dream in southern Brazil. An island located just off the coast in Santa Catarina state, Florianópolis is known as a surfer's paradise, but also offers endless hiking, beaches, biodiversity, eco-conscious infrastructure and lots of fresh food (and plant-based options).
A Weekend of Rest and Adventure in Florianópolis, Brazil
Florianópolis is a nature-lover's dream in southern Brazil. An island located just off the coast in Santa Catarina state, Florianópolis is known as a surfer's paradise, but also offers endless hiking, beaches, biodiversity, eco-conscious infrastructure and lots of fresh food (and plant-based options).
A Family Trip to the Magnificent Iguaçu Falls
My family just got back from an incredible visit to Iguaçu Falls, the most voluminous waterfall system in the world. My expectations were high and it was even more amazing than I could have imagined! It was the perfect destination for my nature-loving self (and for my high-adrenaline teens).
A Family Trip to the Magnificent Iguaçu Falls
My family just got back from an incredible visit to Iguaçu Falls, the most voluminous waterfall system in the world. My expectations were high and it was even more amazing than I could have imagined! It was the perfect destination for my nature-loving self (and for my high-adrenaline teens).
A Weekend of Plant-Based Delights in Salt Lake City
I grew up in Salt Lake City and my husband recently planned a birthday weekend for me to visit friends and family there, while also getting all my favorite treats. Most people are surprised at how many great options exist for vegans/vegetarians in Salt Lake--but it's a fantastic and underrated plant-based scene! Salt Lake City is also a nature-lover's paradise, with incredible natural areas and sights just a short drive away. For my birthday weekend, we combined nature and food for my ideal celebration.
A Weekend of Plant-Based Delights in Salt Lake City
I grew up in Salt Lake City and my husband recently planned a birthday weekend for me to visit friends and family there, while also getting all my favorite treats. Most people are surprised at how many great options exist for vegans/vegetarians in Salt Lake--but it's a fantastic and underrated plant-based scene! Salt Lake City is also a nature-lover's paradise, with incredible natural areas and sights just a short drive away. For my birthday weekend, we combined nature and food for my ideal celebration.
4 Nature-Loving Days in North Iceland
Most visitors to Iceland stay on the breathtaking South Coast and around Reykjavik, but even more amazing sights can be found in the North! With Iceland's second-biggest city, Akureyri, as your home base, amazing waterfalls, forests, ocean views and even the Northern Lights can all be yours. In the warmer half of the year, you can make Akureyri and North Iceland part of your roadtrip around the Ring Road. In the colder and stormier part of the year, you can fly to Akureyri from Reykjavik.
4 Nature-Loving Days in North Iceland
Most visitors to Iceland stay on the breathtaking South Coast and around Reykjavik, but even more amazing sights can be found in the North! With Iceland's second-biggest city, Akureyri, as your home base, amazing waterfalls, forests, ocean views and even the Northern Lights can all be yours. In the warmer half of the year, you can make Akureyri and North Iceland part of your roadtrip around the Ring Road. In the colder and stormier part of the year, you can fly to Akureyri from Reykjavik.
A Weekend of Rest and Adventure in Florianópolis, Brazil
Florianópolis is a nature-lover's dream in southern Brazil. An island located just off the coast in Santa Catarina state, Florianópolis is known as a surfer's paradise, but also offers endless hiking, beaches, biodiversity, eco-conscious infrastructure and lots of fresh food (and plant-based options).
A Weekend of Rest and Adventure in Florianópolis, Brazil
Florianópolis is a nature-lover's dream in southern Brazil. An island located just off the coast in Santa Catarina state, Florianópolis is known as a surfer's paradise, but also offers endless hiking, beaches, biodiversity, eco-conscious infrastructure and lots of fresh food (and plant-based options).
A Family Trip to the Magnificent Iguaçu Falls
My family just got back from an incredible visit to Iguaçu Falls, the most voluminous waterfall system in the world. My expectations were high and it was even more amazing than I could have imagined! It was the perfect destination for my nature-loving self (and for my high-adrenaline teens).
A Family Trip to the Magnificent Iguaçu Falls
My family just got back from an incredible visit to Iguaçu Falls, the most voluminous waterfall system in the world. My expectations were high and it was even more amazing than I could have imagined! It was the perfect destination for my nature-loving self (and for my high-adrenaline teens).
A Weekend of Plant-Based Delights in Salt Lake City
I grew up in Salt Lake City and my husband recently planned a birthday weekend for me to visit friends and family there, while also getting all my favorite treats. Most people are surprised at how many great options exist for vegans/vegetarians in Salt Lake--but it's a fantastic and underrated plant-based scene! Salt Lake City is also a nature-lover's paradise, with incredible natural areas and sights just a short drive away. For my birthday weekend, we combined nature and food for my ideal celebration.
A Weekend of Plant-Based Delights in Salt Lake City
I grew up in Salt Lake City and my husband recently planned a birthday weekend for me to visit friends and family there, while also getting all my favorite treats. Most people are surprised at how many great options exist for vegans/vegetarians in Salt Lake--but it's a fantastic and underrated plant-based scene! Salt Lake City is also a nature-lover's paradise, with incredible natural areas and sights just a short drive away. For my birthday weekend, we combined nature and food for my ideal celebration.
My travel photos
