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I first started this blog as a way of documenting my original travel goal of trying to visit 30 countries before I turned 30. So without counting countries, this challenge would have been rather difficult! But, let me explain why I like counting countries.
Check out all my destinations HERE!
But what was the reason I started counting countries in the first place?
Fundamentally the reason I started counting countries was curiosity. I had read an article on a woman who had set herself a goal of visiting 30 countries before she turned 30, which sparked my goal, and wanted to see where I was. At this point, at the age of 24, it was 18.
Writing down a list of the countries I have been to seemed natural to me. It meant I was able to see where I was against my goal of visiting 30 countries before I was 30. Once I had achieved this goal, it just seemed natural to carry on. Being able to say how many countries I have been to is something I enjoy, and find it often a bit of a talking point.
I am kind of person who is goal orientated and I love nothing more than ticking things off a list. Often I write items on a to list after I have done them, just so I can cross it off.
Therefore, I do have a ‘bucket list’ list as well, obviously, and nothing thrills me more than moving one from the ‘to go’ list to the ‘have been’ list on my notes section on my phone.
How has my view point on counting countries changed?
Returning to countries
It did get to the point where if I knew I had been to that country before I would be very reluctant to go back. This was something I made a conscious effort to change. I realised how limiting and blinkered this was making my travel. Yes, I might have technically been to Greece but does a week in a sailing resort and a girls trip to Zante mean I shouldn’t go back? Absolutely not!
Countries and experiences
I created a second list, my love of them continues. The first being a list of countries I want to visit, and the second a list of places or experiences. Things in this second list included things such as visiting a Christmas market or seeing the Northern lights.
Top Tip: I was given the book ‘Travel Listography‘ for my birthday and it is perfect for the travel lover, and organised person in your life!
returning to Familiar places
I have relaxed about feeling like I am ‘wasting’ my time or money on going back to somewhere like Menorca for the almost every year. Anytime spent doing something you love, is time well spent. I tend to over think things a lot, so have made a real conscious effort to not give myself a hard time over things like this.
How else do I count countries I have been to?
Counting countries using maps
One of my favourite ways of counting countries is using this world map bin board. It is perfect as way of documenting your travels, and often somewhat of a conversation starter if it is hanging in your home. Putting new pins in the map is a great thing to look forward to when you get back from a trip. It means you can chart somewhere new you have been, even if you have been to that country before.
Get yours HERE!
Other ways of doing this is via a scratch map. Which covers entire countries, rather than being more locaton specific.
Apps and lists
The other way to count countries is using an App on your phone. My favourite is the Been App, which gives you percentages of each continent as well as the whole world.
Finally I recommend the notes app in your phone! Keeps it simple, but there is nothing more satisfying than a list, and a note that has all the flags of the places you have been to.
What is The most important thing when counting countries?
Well, it is to enjoy travel. There can be a lot of judgement over how someone travels, whether they like counting countries or not, whether they travel long term or visit 3 countries in 10 days.
But fundamentally, it does not matter how you travel. Time and money are so often constraints when it comes to travel, so do what feels right for you. There are some places you will always want to return to, New York and, of course, Menorca for me. There are other places where you might only go to for a few days and are aware it’s unlikely you will ever get the chance to go back to. So in this case is whistling through a few key places the worst thing in the world?
The most important thing – just because I enjoy counting countries doesn’t mean I feel that I have ‘done ‘that country. You can’t have ever ‘done’ a country. It isn’t about crossing it off the list, there is always more that place can give. But it doesn’t mean you have to go back. There is no right or wrong.
Do what is right for you; count, don’t count. It’s all the same – Count memories, count places and keep counting countries.
Do you like counting countries? If so why? And if not, why not?
Useful travel tools and links
To help you plan your trip, here are some of my favourite useful travel tools and links I use on a daily basis to travel:
- Hostelworld: The place to book hostels and cheaper accommodation. Perfect for backpacking trips. With 24 hour cancellation options, and easy to manage from your account.
- Booking.com: One of the largest places to search for hotels around the world. Often with free cancellation options.
- Hotels.com: Also a fantastic place to source hotels, and they offer a loyalty programme.
- Expedia: Another option for hotels as well as a great place to search for flights, car hire and more.
- Skyscanner: The best place to search for flights to find the best rates.
- GetYourGuide: Easy access to book a wide range of curated tours, activities, and experiences around the world.
- Viator: A great place to search for group tours and day trips. Part of the TripAdvisor brand.
- KnowRoaming: eSIMs are a game changer for travel. Purchase before you go and be connected as soon as you land. KnowRoaming eSIM plans keep you and your devices seamlessly connected in 200+ international destinations.
- G Adventures: The ‘go to’ for all group travel tour adventures. Perfect for solo travellers.
- Amazon: Link to my storefront with ALL the useful gadgets and items I couldn’t travel without.
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Ahh I’ve got the Travel Listography book too, love it! I want a pin map next xx
I’m getting so into writing the lists. Have only had it a week so trying to take it slow. My pin map – I am addicted to!
I have enjoyed reading your blog posts for a while now, therefore decided to nominate you for the Mystery Blogger Award! Hopefully you will accept the nomination, if not then takes this as a thanks for posting great content for many to read! Here is the link if you would to participate. https://travellingantics.com/2018/03/29/mystery-blogger-award/
I count countries for similar reasons. There are few places that I have visited more than I can count. I often wish I went somewhere new instead of going back to the same place but if I had a good time then it’s not as important ?
Exactly!! I’ve tried hard to be too hard on myself if I return somewhere. I still have a different experience each time
“The most important thing – just because I count countries doesn’t mean I feel that I have ‘done ‘that country.”
Quite 🙂
I don’t count countries, in part because I’m not quite sure how to define having visited a country (I spent 8 hours in Thailand moving from the Laos border to the Cambodia border by bus, minibus, and motorbike. Have I been to Thailand? I’ve certainly set foot in the place, I’ve eaten there …), and partly because I’m not quite sure how to define a country in the first place (Kosovo is dubious enough; Transnistria pushes the concept to its limits. And what about Gibraltar?!).
But like you, I guess it’s not “important” in the sense that it doesn’t define your travel career. I’ve been to the USA and Canada several times, but nearly always to completely different places (*). Comversely I’ve been to the same small town in Queensland Australia three times (I have a friend there). It’s all about new experiences for me, and the passing of time itself leads to new experiences, even in the same places.
(* – there is, of course, the granular level of ‘counting’ – one of my aims is to visit ever administrative county in the UK; there’s over 200 of them. This is my objection to people who say “ah you can’t say you’ve been to a country if you’ve only been to ‘x'”; at what point *have* you ‘visited’ a country? There isn’t a tipping point of ‘number of places’ or even ‘amount of time’ – I’ve never been to Rochdale or Londonderry; have I ‘been’ to the UK, despite living here for 43 years?! That’s why I count Thailand as per above!)
I agree with a lot of this! I am going to be travelling a lot for work this year. But going to have very little time / if any time in the destinations. However, having given it quite a lot of thought ( I do tend to over think things!), I am going to count. Because, yes, technically I will have been there. And what it definitely does not mean, is that I will never go back because I have ‘been’ there.
The key difference is having ‘been’ rather than having ‘done’ . I don’t think you can ever ever ever have DONE a country. I define ‘being there’ as a passport stamp. I’ve been to Seoul airport, but would never say I have been to South Korea. Those who say they have are lying 😉
Equally I define a country as having it’s own ruling government, which gives me 196. But I would never really argue it, it’s all interpretive and that’s just my take 🙂
P.S I don’t think Gibraltar counts! I don’t count Scotland and Wales as it’s own country! (controversial!)
I never used to count countries until my friends and family started asking me how many I had been to. Since then, I’ve counted them and I enjoy reaching different milestones. Hitting 30 before 30 and when I reach 40 we’re pretty exciting to me!
I love reaching milestones too! I totally get why it’s so exciting. I remember how I felt when I hit 40 last year. So much yay!!
The Barefoot Backpacker beat me to it. “The most important thing – just because I count countries doesn’t mean I feel that I have ‘done ‘that country.” “Quite” as well 🙂 Somebody who’s been to 50 countries might be 10x less cultured and worldy-wise than someone who has visited and worked in just 5 countries. Also ‘country counting’ can get you dangerously close to checkbox ticking if a 30 minute detour means you can cross a border for 5 minutes just so you can add another country to the list. Then again – there are no rules but it’s funny that’s it’s a subject that can cause so much debate! I just feel very fortunate that as a westerner I have the funds and opportunities to see so much of the planet. Billions of people around the world will only ever get to see 1 country in their lifetime – their own 🙁
Yes, there is definitely a danger! I think it’s fine to count as long as it doesn’t become the only reason to travel. If that makes sense? It is crazy how lucky we are!
I think counting countries diminishes the value of an experience. Because people still think that the more countries you visit, the more of a traveler you are, the more perspective you have, and the more experiences you have. It’s not true. Several of my friends have visited more than 30 or 40 countries. When I asked how many countries they had been to for more than 2 days at a time, they suddenly had the number of countries in units. An acquaintance who works as a flight attendant had only been to 1 foreign country, except for 24-hour layovers. He would go from the airport to his hotel, eat at a restaurant, buy some souvenirs, and if he had time and the hotel was near the city center, he would take pictures of the city’s landmarks. He said he didn’t understand why people thought he had many adventures. His adventure was seeing many hotels, he said. A good friend visited 10 countries in 14 days. Is that really adventurous? Are photos of Big Ben and the Eiffel Tower enough? Traveling used to be the privilege of the rich. Today, it’s a privilege, for people who want to look rich.
Thank you for your comment, but I do wonder if you read the post? I agree that for certain people counting countries could lead to this mindset. But don’t you think its very biased to assume that is the ONLY motive for counting. You can still count countries, and have deep, meaningful travel experiences.
I’d draw your attention to some of these excerpts from the post:
“What is The most important thing when counting countries?
Well, it is to enjoy travel. There can be a lot of judgement over how someone travels, whether they like counting countries or not, whether they travel long term or visit 3 countries in 10 days.
But fundamentally, it does not matter how you travel. Time and money are so often constraints when it comes to travel, so do what feels right for you. There are some places you will always want to return to, New York and, of course, Menorca for me. There are other places where you might only go to for a few days and are aware it’s unlikely you will ever get the chance to go back to. So in this case is whistling through a few key places the worst thing in the world?”
and
“The most important thing – just because I enjoy counting countries doesn’t mean I feel that I have ‘done ‘that country. You can’t have ever ‘done’ a country. It isn’t about crossing it off the list, there is always more that place can give. But it doesn’t mean you have to go back. There is no right or wrong.”
Travel is undeniably a privilege, but the reason people travel? Not just because they ‘want to look rich’. What a silly statement to make.