My Journey to 100 Countries and My Travel Strategy
April 2023 - London’s bustling China Town in the Theatre District.
One of the keys to a fulfilling life is having diverse experiences. Travel is the most concrete way to gain these experiences.
I have danced under technicolor pink and purple lights on a Spanish patio. I have sat in a Norwegian spa, and am nearly positive a Finnish woman tried to burn me alive.
I have walked down the “most dangerous street in Canada” by myself, have ridden horses in the middle of Missouri, and have (admittedly) chased down a bus in New Jersey.
I have swam in the sparkling waters off the South of France, attended British “boarding school”, and have driven by a volcano in the countryside of Costa Rica.
I have nearly tipped over a canoe in Nottingham from laughing so hard (yes, I did wee), and have been clubbing all night in Miami.
I have worked six-figure weddings in Charleston, lived with a 50-year-old woman in London and have eaten street tacos in Guatemala.
And this doesn’t even cover the half of it.
I have been blessed to see so much of the world at such a young age and live life to the absolute fullest. I recognise that millions of people would love to see the world the way that I have been able to, but do not have the luxury to do so.
I truly am the luckiest girl in the world and would not want anyone else’s life except my own.
At age 22, I have traveled to 23 countries and 31 U.S. states. When I am not traveling, I am listening to a podcast about traveling, reading about traveling or planning my next trip.
I am sure my family wishes that I would shut up about traveling!
One of my life goals is to reach 100 countries across the seven continents. On my journeys, I hope to inspire others to get out of their comfort zones and see our beautiful world.
August 2024 - A sunny morning in Split's Old Town in our 10-day hostel backpacking trip through Croatia, Slovenia and Austria.
Parameters for 100 Countries
I consider myself a type “A-”. I do not set a timer so I can clack my fingers on my phone and check into my flight perfectly 24-hours in advance. But, I do like to have some rubric, per se, of what constitutes a “country.”
I base my travels on the Travelers’ Century Club - a club in which anyone who has joined 100 or more “countries” can join. As of January 2022, there are 330 places to visit.
Each location is not its own country, but it is included because of the geographic separation from the “parent” country.
For instance, you couldn’t really say you have been to The Netherlands if you’ve visited Aruba, a Dutch island, 7,903 kilometers away.
Here is my list (as of August 2024), according to the Travelers’ Century Club:
August 2024 - My list of places I have visited in my lifetime, not including cities.
My Travel Strategy
I love living in England because a) I love the English culture and b) it makes this goal a hell of a lot easier. When I am considering where to go, here is how I pritorize locations.
For this example, let’s say there are flights to either Lisbon or Nice for $50 USD and I have 10 days to travel in summer. What a lovely problem to have!
1) Have I been here, or a similar location before?
Nice - I have not been here specifically but I have been to the South of France before.
Lisbon - I have not visited Portugal yet.
2) What options will I have there?
Nice - Relax on the beach, day trip to Monaco, explore nearby villages and the city centre
Lisbon - enjoy the city centre, party, potentially walk the Camino de Santiago
3) Will I enjoy traveling here over age 75? What is the optimal age of travel?
Nice - Yes, seems relatively mellow and appropriate for my elderly self
Lisbon - Yes, however the Camino de Santiago will need to be done at a young age, before having children (The Camino is a pilgrimage that requires 10+ miles of walking per day)
4) Will I likely have the chance to go here later in life, either on a family or friends holiday or on a business trip?
Nice - Yes, seems probable
Lisbon - Yes, also probable
I also consider the city’s TPI (travel price index) which is a measure of how much it costs for a coffee, a hotel room, etc.,
Could I convince friends to come with me? Would the destination be enjoyable by myself?
For this example, I would chose to do the Camino de Santiago because of its novel location to me, and to optimise my time as a young traveler.
My strategy is nothing Earth-shattering. Yet, I do think these are good ideas to keep in mind.
April 2023 - Jurmala Beach, a beach near Riga, Latvia on the Baltic Sea. On the train ride back to Riga, our train broke down and we were stuck in a Latvian suburb and had to figure out how to get back. As a 21-year-old, I found this thrilling. But when I am 81, I might not like the janky train.
As a real life example, for Easter holiday in April 2023 I chose to visit Riga, Latvia and Vilnius, Lithuania because they are affordable cities I likely wouldn’t travel to for business.
I had never been to eastern Europe, and would be more open to traveling there as young person craving adventure, rather than an older person prioritising comfort and quality.
My strategy is not a one-size-fits-all. Some of you might prefer an all-inclusive beach resort, while others might go for destinations that require some athleticism, like skiing (not me, I will stick with the Après Ski, thank you very much!)
Nevertheless, I hope my strategy inspires you to reflect and form your own.
Happy traveling!
