Travel With Meena

3 weeks ago | travelwithmeena.com | Meena Thiruvengadam

For someone who has lived in as many big cities as I have for as long as I have, I’m surprised at how easily I can feel overwhelmed by the sheer size and population of the world’s largest cruise ships. But when I was invited to try out MSC’s newest cruise ship, MSC World America, I was intrigued. This new cruise ship can accommodate almost 7,000 passengers across its 22 decks. This is a ship that looks, and feels, like a floating city with a whole water park on top.

Mar 19, 2025 | travelwithmeena.com | Meena Thiruvengadam

If your dream trip is a luxurious suite in an off-the-beaten path location where buffalo and elephant roam, the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge is the place for you. The lodge is located in the northwestern edge of Zimbabwe, just a couple of miles from Victoria Falls, the majestic natural wonder that separates Zimbabwe and Zambia. Each of the property’s 72 rooms have a balcony with views of the African bush that stretch to the horizon.

Mar 12, 2025 | travelwithmeena.com | Meena Thiruvengadam

In hindsight, I’m not even sure how the three of us—two Australians and an American carrying cruise cards instead of passports—got inside an industrial port in southern Vietnam. We caught the eye of workers who realized we were lost before we did. Despite the language barriers and poor cellular connections that prevented us from using Google Translate, we eventually caught up and learned we’d gotten dropped off at the wrong port. We had been headed back to meet our cruise ship.

Mar 5, 2025 | travelwithmeena.com | Meena Thiruvengadam

You could spend months in Paris and still not see or experience everything the city has to offer. But you can also have a memorable Parisian experience in a day. And take it from me, a day in Paris is better than no day in Paris. I say this as someone who’s getting accustomed to spending long layovers wandering around the city eating croissants and sipping espresso. The keys to experiencing Paris in a day are managing your expectations and choosing your priorities wisely.

Feb 26, 2025 | travelwithmeena.com | Meena Thiruvengadam

Somehow, 15 years passed between my last two visits to Singapore. By the time I returned in late 2023, there was an entirely different skyline, one I was familiar with thanks to movies set in Singapore like Crazy Rich Asians. Singapore’s airport—where I’d spent countless hours on layovers as a kid—had become a destination in itself, known for its futuristic dome and powerful indoor waterfall. This Singapore felt like an entirely different place from the one I visited in 2008.