Big News: Iceland, Antarctica & NYC
Hi friends,
I’m back in your inbox after far too long with lots of news!
First up, some news about this newsletter. From now on, I’ll be sending these updates to you once a month. In the meantime, you can keep up with me online and on Instagram.
I’m just back from 11 glorious days in Antarctica and currently working on my third Lonely Planet guide, this one to Chicago. I’m writing about Lincoln Park, Old Town, Gold Coast and the Near North neighborhoods and loving researching home. So if you land in town, say hi!
Books In Print!
I spent months of last year working on two very big projects that are finally out in the world: Lonely Planet’s newest guides to Iceland and New York City. Read closely, and you’ll hear me walking you through the history of New York City through 15 unmissable places and the ins and outs of riding the Subway.
For Lonely Planet Iceland, I wrote the guide’s welcome letter, several introductory chapters and the chapters on Reykjavik and southwest Iceland. One area I wrote about is where the volcanoes have been erupting lately, so I’m especially grateful to past me for including so much information on safely visiting these areas.
What I’m most proud of, however, is getting an entire section of reasons travelers shouldn’t mimic Justin Bieber by editors and having the perspective to mention Bollywood films shot here as well as Hollywood blockbusters.
Antarctica ✅
For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to visit all 50 states and all seven continents, and while I’m still missing three U.S. states, I finally made it to Antarctica—my seventh continent. It was magnificent.
I wasn’t prepared for just how pristine and undeveloped this part of the world is. Only a small sliver of the continent is accessible to tourists. There are no restaurants, no hotels and no retailers. There’s a post office, but the estimate for mail delivery between there and North America is about four months.
I traveled to Antarctica with about 300 other people on the Viking Polaris cruise ship and learned so much about polar travel, ocean currents and marine research. Stay tuned for stories and lots of pictures of penguins, seals and whales.
Site Updates
One thing I love about web analytics is being able to see where readers are coming from. I’m thrilled and honored to see thousands of people around the world reading TravelWithMeena.com. I especially love seeing so many readers from places I’ve never been or written about. It’s a reminder of just how big and wild of a world we walk.
For Food & Wine, I wrote a guide to Chicago—my current home and one of my favorite cities in the world. Read all about the best foodie events in the city, luxurious new hotels and the Indian fine dining restaurant you won’t want to miss.
For Tripadvisor, I wrote about six of my favorite New York hotels. And for Conde Nast Traveler, I reviewed the Discovery Princess cruise ship.
Meanwhile, I’ve been rounding up some of my favorites for Travel with Meena. Read about the best apres ski spots in St. Moritz, the best deep-dish pizza in Chicago and the best places to eat when you’re stuck at Chicago O’Hare International Airport.
And I spoke with Point Chaser Ariana Arghandewal for this Fortune magazine about scoring free access to airport lounges.
