MELANY KWAK

Travel Designer

LOCATION

Berlin, Germany

EXPERIENCE

1 Year

Melany spent over a decade at Google building the travel tools used by millions of people, thinking deeply about how people turn travel ideas into real world trips. But she was drawn to the human side of travel that no technology can capture - the warmth of an exceptional property, the excitement of a new neighborhood, and the art of a perfectly paced itinerary.

Having lived across Seoul, Chicago, New York, and now Berlin, Melany brings a genuinely global lens to her work, with a sharp eye for authentic character and great design. Her own travels have moved through many seasons of life - from solo backpacking through Africa to culinary journeys across Japan, scuba diving in the Indian Ocean, and learning to ski in the Alps. She’s now focused on leisurely, elevated trips through the Mediterranean with her husband and toddler son.

Her favorite part of the work is building lasting relationships with clients - getting to know their distinct tastes and shaping their itineraries over time. As a travel advisor, she applies the same rigor and obsessive attention to detail that she once brought to building Google’s products, coupled with the lived instinct that comes only from having actually been there.

MEet the advisor

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE DESTINATION TO PLAN?

Honestly, it's less about a specific destination and more about a type of trip. I love planning trips that bring together friends and family across generations. It's tricky to balance preferences for that many people, ages, and starting points, but the end result is always so worth it. Last Thanksgiving my family spent a week in Rome, mixing Colosseum and museum visits with long incredible family meals, and that's exactly the balance I love designing for.

WHICH DESTINATIONS DO YOU GO BACK TO AGAIN AND AGAIN?

Costa Brava! It's unpretentious and doesn't feel overrun by tourists. I love finding a hidden cala for a swim while the locals sunbathe and eating gambas de Palamós over a long lunch. It's worth the drive up to Cadaqués at the edge of Spain with a wild coastline and whitewashed buildings. I love that I can go back every year and still find something new to discover.

WHAT IS YOUR MOST MEMORABLE TRAVEL EXPERIENCE?

Gorilla trekking in Rwanda. It was one of the most memorable 60 minutes of my life.