Millionaire Holiday Home Swap Spotlight: Maison Mala & Adele Hetherington

Adele Hetherington, owner of Maison Mala, gives her take on the ins and outs of traveling and life as a THIRDHOME member.

Since joining THIRDHOME in 2016, Adele Hetherington has been an avid traveler, taking 41 trips to 12 countries. In 2022, Adele added her newly renovated Croatian villa—Maison Mala—to the Club, which in the same year, became one of the stars in the Paramount+ original series, Millionaire Holiday Home Swap. As a frequent jetsetter, Adele has plenty to tell, and we can’t wait to share it with you!

What is your favorite thing about THIRDHOME?

Going to places I may never have thought of going to before.

What is your favorite memory from a past THIRDHOME trip?

Amazing service at the Ritz Carlton Aspen — we loved it.

If you had the opportunity to experience a past trip again, what activities/attractions would you see or do that you never got the chance to?

Ski in Aspen when there was snow (we had the worst snow since 1974).

Who do you usually travel with, and what’s the reasoning behind your choice? (Solo or group? Friends or family?)

Always with family or friends, but fancy solo someday.

What made/inspired you to choose Croatia for your second home?

We have lots of them, Japan, Croatia, Thailand, England — maybe we are crazy — we just love owning houses in different countries and the massive challenges that are involved in that.

What is your favorite aspect of traveling?

Learning new things, smelling new smells, meeting new people, and eating new food.

Who is your dream travel companion, and why? Where would you like to go with them?

My husband; he is level-headed and kind and always keen to see more.

What characteristics make for a great/ideal travel partner?

Calmness and interest in learning new things. 

What destination is top of your bucket list, and what would you like to do/see there? 

Patagonia and South America.

What is the best piece of travel advice you’ve received? 

Keep your passport close to your chest and open your eyes. 

What is your top travel tip? 

Try everything (within reason, of course) — step out of your comfort zone.

What item can’t you travel without, and what are its benefits? 

Vitamins and a hydrating flight mask [that has a filter] keep me well and hydrated ([for example] long flights from Australia).

What is your most prized travel possession? What is the reason or sentiment behind it?

My “wheelie” bag — it is almost worn out — it is always packed and ready to go. 

What is the most exotic food you’ve tried while traveling? Did you enjoy it? How would you describe it to someone who hasn’t tasted it?

Cockroaches in Cambodia (yuck, but that is in my head, really) crunchy and salty. 

Who is the most interesting person you’ve met so far during your travels? What did you learn or experience from them?

I met a man on a Nile cruise many years ago wearing a Stetson — he had glued $1 bills together to tear off and hand to folks on his trip as tips — hilarious.

What is the most interesting thing you’ve learned on a trip?

Oh gosh, too many to tell — Jordan, Morocco, Egypt, Italy, France, England, Scandinavia, Asia — all give history history history, the human condition is amazing and mother nature too.

Do you travel with a fixed itinerary, or do you choose to go with the flow? Why? 

Always free and easy — I always put the itinerary together but more recently have enjoyed package trips — rather nice having someone else do all the work (need a holiday after organising a holiday).

Do you prefer to travel to popular destinations or off-the-beaten-track spots? Why?

Both — everything is interesting — we can’t get enough of this world.

Do you prefer adventure-driven experiences or a chilled-out relaxed vacation? Why? 

Both — it is great to experience everything as each will offer something special. 

See more of Maison Mala by watching Millionaire Holiday Home Swap, now streaming exclusively on Paramount+ in the UK and Ireland.

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