Meagan Drillinger Bio
Meagan Drillinger has always been torn between her life in New York City and one out of a suitcase living on the road. In 2021, she said goodbye to her old life in New York and started living on the road full time. This life change proved to be an easier transition than originally imagined since she has been a travel writer since 2009, though her love of travel started much sooner than that.
The earliest travel memory she has is being home schooled for several weeks while on an Italian road trip. Staying in local farmhouses, practicing Italian with local children on the playground, eating freshly made mozzarella sandwiches on cobblestone streets, it was experiential travel before it was trending, and that has been her method of travel ever since.
When she's not traveling and writing about it for publications like PlanetWare, Thrillist, or Travel + Leisure, she's working on her personal website (drillinjourneys.com), or simply throwing darts at the map and setting off into the unknown with her husband, who travels full-time with her, as well.
Recent Travel & Articles:
Mexico
Meagan's dive into travel writing began when she started covering Mexico. What started as a work assignment grew into a deep passion and curiosity for all things Mexico. Her travels have taken her from the beaches of the Yucatan peninsula to the jungles near the border with Guatemala, the colonial mountain cities, the wild and rugged Pacific, and all across the Baja peninsula. In fact, she spends more time in Mexico than she does anywhere else in the world.
The majority of her time visiting Mexico is spent in Puerto Vallarta, which she considers a second home. It was here that she and her husband met, while he was spending time living there, as well. Since then, the two have taken to driving the entire country, whether on four wheels or two. Her favorite spots in Mexico to explore are the Costalegre, the state of Oaxaca, the southern Quintana Roo beaches, and the jungles of Chiapas.
Below are just a small sample of Meagan's articles on Mexico. For a more comprehensive list see our complete guide to Mexico.
- Best Cities in Mexico
- Top-Rated Things to Do in Mexico
- Best Beaches in Mexico
- Best Mexican Islands
- Best Surfing Spots in Mexico
- Best Beaches in Puerto Vallarta
- Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Cancun
- Best Beaches in Cancun
- Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Cozumel
- Best Beaches in Playa del Carmen
- Best Mayan Ruins in Mexico
- Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Oaxaca
- Top-Rated Things to Do in Puerto Escondido
- Best Places to Visit on the Riviera Nayarit
- Top-Rated Things to Do in Acapulco
- Top-Rated Attractions & Things to Do in Rosarito
Thailand
One of the very first solo backpacking trips Meagan ever embarked on was one to Southeast Asia — Thailand in particular, and it is a place she has visited several times. It is a close second to Mexico in her heart. In 2022, she spent three months in Thailand traveling across the entire country, from the beaches of Krabi to the streets of Bangkok, the temples of Ayutthaya, and the rolling mountains of northern Mae Hong Son.
- Best Places to Visit in Thailand
- Best Beaches in Thailand
- Best Things to Do in Thailand
- Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Bangkok
- Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Ayutthaya
- Best Beaches in Krabi
- Best Islands in Krabi
- Top-Rated Attractions & Things to Do in Koh Samui
- Best Beaches on Koh Samui
- Top-Rated Attractions & Things to Do in Mae Hong Son
- Top-Rated Attractions & Things to Do in Hua Hin
- Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Thailand
Ireland
Meagan has a Master's Degree in Irish Studies, so it's safe to say that Ireland was her first international love. Since her 20s, she has not only visited Ireland more than 10 times, but has spent a significant amount of time living in Dublin. Over the course of her adventures in Ireland, she has driven the majority of the country, seeking out the small fishing villages, the remnants of castles, and the thriving, cultural cities.
- Best Small Towns in Ireland
- Top Attractions of the Ring of Kerry
- Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Limerick
- Top-Rated Attractions & Things to Do in Killarney
- Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Galway
- Top-Rated Day Trips from Dublin
- Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Dublin
- Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Cork
- Best Places to Visit in Ireland
- Top-Rated Beaches in Ireland
- Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Kilkenny, Ireland
- Best Cities in Ireland