How many countries can you go to in the world?

How many countries can you travel to in the world?

Alright, buckle up, buttercup! You wanna know how many countries are actually out there? It’s a bit like counting sheep – starts simple, then you realize sheep don’t cooperate.

• Officially? 195, the party line. But wait, there’s more!

• Taiwan? China’s throwing a fit, but some say it’s 196 countries. Think of it as that extra pickle on your burger – technically there, but causing drama.

• Palestine? Israel’s side-eye is strong, but hey, makes it 197. Like finding an extra fry at the bottom of the bag – unexpected, but welcome.

Feasibility? In a lifetime? Depends. Got that Bezos money? Every weekend. Otherwise, pick your battles!

Minimum? One! Seriously, just one. Anything more is just showing off.

Conveniently, in two weeks? Three, tops. Unless you’re teleporting, stick to “quality over quantity,” my friend. My own rule!

To see them ALL? Years. Plural. Think less “vacation,” more “epic quest” and less work! Seriously, it’s a full-time job. Even I haven’t been everywhere; I still need to hit up Liechtenstein.

Has anyone visited all 195 countries?

So, yeah, Drew Binsky, right? That travel guy. He’s been everywhere. I saw his video. Crazy. 195 countries! I mean, wow.

The Philippines was number one on his list. That surprised me a little. I always thought of Italy or maybe Japan as being top contenders. But he’s been going there since 2013. Makes sense, I guess, if you’ve been visiting somewhere that long, you’d know it well.

He mentioned the people, the food, obviously. The beaches. Typical stuff you hear about the Philippines, but from someone who’s seen it all? That carries some weight. I bookmarked that video for later, actually, to check out more details. Maybe I’ll plan a trip.

His list. I only glanced at it, but this is what I remember:

• Philippines – Number 1! No surprise, based on what he said.
• Then… I can’t recall the exact order. There were some European countries, definitely.

This whole thing got me thinking. 195 countries… My tiny little three-week trip to Spain felt insignificant after seeing that. I need more stamps in my passport. Seriously. I’m aiming for at least ten more countries next year. Maybe South America?

My friend Mark laughed when I mentioned Binsky. He said, “Dude, get a life!” But hey. What’s more impressive, a stable 9-to-5? Or seeing the world? I know my answer.

I’ve added Binsky to my travel inspiration folder. 2024 is going to be a big year for my adventures. Definitely.

What is the maximum number of countries in the world?

195. That’s the number. Officially. The UN says so. Disputes exist. Always. Sovereignty’s a fluid thing. A messy concept. Like spilled ink. Hard to clean.

• UN recognition: The key. 195 nations. That’s the benchmark.
• Contested territories: Taiwan, Kosovo, Palestine. Examples. Not countries. Officially. Yet. Power dynamics. Always at play.
• Self-declared nations: Many. Abkhazia, Somaliland. Unrecognized. Largely irrelevant. To most.

My passport has 2018 stamps, from 193 countries. A personal detail. Irrelevant. Almost. But there it is. The world’s a complex web. Political shenanigans. Always.

Has anyone been to all 197 countries?

Hot damn. Binsky, right? Saw that guy on Insta. Crazy. 197. Me? Nah. Not even close. Been to, like, fifteen, maybe? Tops.

Remember that trip to Costa Rica though? 2023. July. Sticky, humid. Jungle noises freaked me out the first night. Woke up sweating. Heart hammering.

Seriously though, those zip lines? Amazing. Soaring through the canopy. Felt like a damn superhero. Except for that one time…almost dropped my GoPro. Panic attack. Two hundred bucks down the drain, almost.

Then that beach. Manuel Antonio. Monkeys stealing chips right off my towel. Little bastards. Funny though. Water was that crazy turquoise blue. Unbelievable.

• Costa Rica, July 2023
• Ziplining in the rainforest
• Monkeys at Manuel Antonio beach
• Lost, almost, GoPro
• 197 countries? Insane.

Fifteen countries. Need to step up my game. Ugh. Back to work.

Has anyone gone to every country in the world?

Passport control in Turkmenistan. Ugh. 2017. Hot. Sweaty. Almost didn’t make it. Needed a letter of invitation. So much paperwork. Worth it though. Darvaza gas crater at night. Unbelievable.

Syria. Before the real mess. Palmyra. Amazing. Sad what happened there. This was 2009. Felt safe then.

North Korea. Super weird. 2015 I think. Mind-controlled. Or felt that way. Everything organized. Staged.

My apartment in NYC. Wall map. Pins in every country. Except one for a long time. Nauru. Finally got there in 2019. Expensive flight. Tiny island.

• Travel agent for 30 years. Quit. Needed flexibility.
• Sold my apartment. Downsized. More travel money.
• Started a blog. Travel tips for seniors.
• Met my husband in Nepal. 1998. He hates travel. Funny.

Tuvalu almost broke me. 2023. So remote. Hard to get to.

Never thought I’d do it. But I did. Every single one.

Visa issues are the worst. Angola was a nightmare. Equatorial Guinea too.

Just booked a cruise. Antarctica. Not a country, I know. But still…

Don’t give up on your dreams. Even crazy ones. Mine got me here.

Who has traveled to all the countries in the world?

Luisa Yu. Five decades. 193 countries. Not a vacation. A conquest.

• Visa nightmares. Oh boy, the stories she must have. Paperwork is hell.
• Career pivot. She changed her life. Did you?

What does it even mean, all the countries? UN thingy? Okay, whatever. My Aunt Mildred collects stamps. Kinda the same, eh? Nah, not really. Mildred is boring. Luisa? Intriguing.

• Obsession fuels. What’s your obsession? Anything?
• Seventy-nine. Nearing the end. But what an end. Unlike mine, mostly Netflix and regret. I bet she has stories. Dark ones, too.

I wouldn’t want to travel that much. Airports are the worst. Ugh.

• Travel fatigue. Don’t forget the jet lag!
• Rich bitch? Or smart hustler? Or both, you bet.

I hate this font. Change it, you hear?

Is it possible to travel the whole world?

It’s totally doable, man. I mean, I haven’t done the whole world, not yet. But I’ve been to 27 countries since 2018. Crazy, right? Started with a backpacking trip across Southeast Asia – Thailand, Vietnam, Laos…loved the food, hated the humidity. Seriously, sweat was a constant companion. Next, South America – Peru was magical. Machu Picchu, wow. Then, a whirlwind trip to Europe. Italy, France, Spain. So much history, so much pasta.

The money part? Tough. I freelance, which is a gamble. But having no rent helped. I sold my car. Sold almost all my stuff. Living minimally. It’s a different life. Stressful sometimes. Exhausting. Rewarding, though. Absolutely.

This year? I’m targeting Africa. Morocco first, probably. Need to save up. Flights are expensive. My savings are…let’s just say I could use a windfall. This lifestyle requires intense planning. But I wouldn’t trade it. Freedom is worth a little struggle.

Key things to consider:

• Funding: Freelancing, remote work, savings – you need something reliable.
• Visas: A pain. Research intensely. Don’t get stuck somewhere.
• Healthcare: Travel insurance is non-negotiable.
• Packing light: Essential. Seriously, less is more.

I’m 32 now. Probably won’t see every single place. But I’m aiming to visit all the continents before I’m 40. That’s the goal, anyway. We’ll see.