How many countries have you been to? That sounds like a simple question; but think about it.
In the 1970s, I lived in West Germany. On two occasions, I visited East Germany. Today, those countries have been combined into one. So, should I count them as 1 or 2 countries?
On the other hand, I also traveled all over Yugoslavia, to parts that are today Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, and the country that is today called North Macedonia. Should I count them as 1 or 4 countries?
Are Wales, Scotland, England, and Northern Ireland one or four countries? (I count them as one.)
I have been on a plane that landed in Caracas, Venezuela, but I did not disembark. I have spent many hours on more than one occasion at the Lima airport, but never left it. Should I add Venezuela and Peru to the list of countries I have visited? (I don’t)
I have found the easiest way to answer the question how many countries I have visited is to use the app Been. This will count currently existing countries, not the countries at the time of my visit. I don’t count a country as having been visited if I only spent time at the local airport.
According to Been, I have been to 87 countries. I will add Malaysia and the Maldives next month (October 2024). I will also add another “airport-only” country: Qatar.
Will I be able to make it to 100? I will share my bucket list with you elsewhere in this website.
If, like me, you have been bitten by the travel bug, it is time for you to figure out where you want to go, figure out how you are going to pay for it, and get going. Hopefully, this website will inspire you, give you lots of great ideas, and help you make your dreams a reality.
P.S. Since writing this, I have been to Malaysia and the Maldives and spent a night in the Doha airport. In January 2025, I spent a week in Peru. In February, I went to Taiwan. 91 down, 9 to go.