Oct 19, 2018, 4:49 pm
Poll - how many countries have you visited?
Aug 19, 2016, 4:22 am
#1351
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: London, United Kingdom
Programs: Virtuoso, Four Seasons PP, Belmond BC, Dorchester DC, Hyatt Prive, MO Fan Club, Peninsula, Rosewood
Posts: 100
43 all up...
Europe
United Kingdom - England, Scotland, Wales and NI
France
Netherlands
Belgium
Germany
Hungary
Austria
Switzerland
Czech Republic
Italy
Spain
Croatia
Greece
Turkey
Poland
Latvia
Norway
Sweden
Slovakia
Romania
Middle East
Egypt
UAE
Jordan
Syria
Lebanon
Asia
Thailand
Vietnam
China
Hong Kong
Macau
Malaysia
Singapore
Laos
India
Cambodia
South Pacific
Australia
New Zealand
Americas
USA
Mexico
Africa
South Africa
Botswana
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Europe
United Kingdom - England, Scotland, Wales and NI
France
Netherlands
Belgium
Germany
Hungary
Austria
Switzerland
Czech Republic
Italy
Spain
Croatia
Greece
Turkey
Poland
Latvia
Norway
Sweden
Slovakia
Romania
Middle East
Egypt
UAE
Jordan
Syria
Lebanon
Asia
Thailand
Vietnam
China
Hong Kong
Macau
Malaysia
Singapore
Laos
India
Cambodia
South Pacific
Australia
New Zealand
Americas
USA
Mexico
Africa
South Africa
Botswana
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Aug 20, 2016, 1:15 pm
#1352
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Olde Dominion
Programs: DL Silver - uh huh!
Posts: 948
Not sure if this is in the thread it not - I admit I have only read bits and pieces.
What do you go with a country for which you have a passport stamp, but you never left the airport? This happens when you fly into a Schengen from outdide and then change planes to fly to a second Schengen country. Hence, I have a stamp for Denmark in my passport (so obviously I've been there, right?) but I never left CPH.
I've visited 34 other countries (with at least 2 more to be added this fall), transited 2 more, and landed in 2 more without getting out of the plane.
What do you go with a country for which you have a passport stamp, but you never left the airport? This happens when you fly into a Schengen from outdide and then change planes to fly to a second Schengen country. Hence, I have a stamp for Denmark in my passport (so obviously I've been there, right?) but I never left CPH.
I've visited 34 other countries (with at least 2 more to be added this fall), transited 2 more, and landed in 2 more without getting out of the plane.
Aug 21, 2016, 12:19 am
#1353
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: anywhere and everywhere
Programs: UA GS, AS MVP 100K, DL Diamond, Marriot Lifetime Titanium, AmEx Centurion
Posts: 5,523
What do you go with a country for which you have a passport stamp, but you never left the airport? This happens when you fly into a Schengen from outdide and then change planes to fly to a second Schengen country. Hence, I have a stamp for Denmark in my passport (so obviously I've been there, right?) but I never left CPH.
Aug 24, 2016, 5:22 am
#1354
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
Well said. There's a phrase in the law called "the laugh test". As in, could you explain your position to a judge without him laughing at you? Therefore, I say could you explain your claim on a country to a traveler without him laughing at you? As my only "claims" on Qatar are flying through DOH, Panama flying through PTY etc. I don't think I could explain those without the laughs and therefore I don't claim them.
Aug 26, 2016, 3:19 pm
#1355
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: PHX
Programs: AA ExPlat, United Gold, IHG Amb Plat, HHonors Diamond(Aspire), Bonvoy LT Plat, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 453
46 for me....
Just bagged Bolivia :-)
Need to get my rear in gear though.... I have a tendency to keep going back to places that I really like (e.g. Thailand)
North America (3)
Canada
USA
Mexico
Central America (6)
Guatemala
El Salvador
Nicaragua
Costa Rica
Panama
Honduras
Carribean (2)
Dominican Republic
Jamaica
South America (9)
Bolivia
Columbia
Ecuador
Peru
Brazil
Argentina
Paraguay
Uruguay
Chile
Europe (15)
UK
Belgium
Netherlands
Luxembourg
Germany
Norway
Sweden
Finland
Denmark
Estonia
Latvia
Lithuania
Spain
France
Czech Republic
Asia (11)
Japan
China
Thailand
Myanmar
Sri Lanka
Cambodia
Laos
Indonesia
Malaysia
Singapore
Vietnam
Just bagged Bolivia :-)
Need to get my rear in gear though.... I have a tendency to keep going back to places that I really like (e.g. Thailand)
North America (3)
Canada
USA
Mexico
Central America (6)
Guatemala
El Salvador
Nicaragua
Costa Rica
Panama
Honduras
Carribean (2)
Dominican Republic
Jamaica
South America (9)
Bolivia
Columbia
Ecuador
Peru
Brazil
Argentina
Paraguay
Uruguay
Chile
Europe (15)
UK
Belgium
Netherlands
Luxembourg
Germany
Norway
Sweden
Finland
Denmark
Estonia
Latvia
Lithuania
Spain
France
Czech Republic
Asia (11)
Japan
China
Thailand
Myanmar
Sri Lanka
Cambodia
Laos
Indonesia
Malaysia
Singapore
Vietnam
Aug 26, 2016, 4:09 pm
#1356
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Olde Dominion
Programs: DL Silver - uh huh!
Posts: 948
In this particular scenario, yes.
A judge (and immigration authorities) would count that day as one I spent in the Schengen Area, based on the stamps in my passport. From a technical/legal standpoint, I was "in" Denmark, even though I never left the airport. So, based on that, I guess I have "been to" (or "been in") Denmark (and not merely transited an airport that is located there). I don't think I would go so far as to say I "visited" Denmark, but that's not what I was really asking about.
(The full scenario—I was on a quite roundabout itinerary in which I flew into CPH from outside Schengen, flew from CPH to another airport—which I did leave for a while—and then exited Schengen to continue to my final destination, all in less than 24 hours.)
FWIW, I have spent less than 24 hours in 9 of the countries I have visited (not counting Denmark or the 4 airport/airplane-only countries). But I did things like see local sights, eat local food, and/or interact with local people. In one case I even spent the night with local friends. So I consider that I visited those 9 countries, albeit briefly.
(And it seems equally laughable to say that I visited friends in their home, or visited a museum, for X hours—which I certainly did—but somehow did not manage to "visit" the city or country in which they are located! That's my view, anyway.
)
A judge (and immigration authorities) would count that day as one I spent in the Schengen Area, based on the stamps in my passport. From a technical/legal standpoint, I was "in" Denmark, even though I never left the airport. So, based on that, I guess I have "been to" (or "been in") Denmark (and not merely transited an airport that is located there). I don't think I would go so far as to say I "visited" Denmark, but that's not what I was really asking about.
(The full scenario—I was on a quite roundabout itinerary in which I flew into CPH from outside Schengen, flew from CPH to another airport—which I did leave for a while—and then exited Schengen to continue to my final destination, all in less than 24 hours.)
FWIW, I have spent less than 24 hours in 9 of the countries I have visited (not counting Denmark or the 4 airport/airplane-only countries). But I did things like see local sights, eat local food, and/or interact with local people. In one case I even spent the night with local friends. So I consider that I visited those 9 countries, albeit briefly.
(And it seems equally laughable to say that I visited friends in their home, or visited a museum, for X hours—which I certainly did—but somehow did not manage to "visit" the city or country in which they are located! That's my view, anyway.
)
Aug 26, 2016, 10:55 pm
#1357
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: anywhere and everywhere
Programs: UA GS, AS MVP 100K, DL Diamond, Marriot Lifetime Titanium, AmEx Centurion
Posts: 5,523
To all those more interested in setting rules for others as opposed to being friendly in the spirit of this thread - come on. It's easy to criticize others, but whatever "rules" people use, I'm interested to hear their "list"
Aug 27, 2016, 7:33 am
#1358
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Olde Dominion
Programs: DL Silver - uh huh!
Posts: 948
Here's my list, for those who are interested:
Visited (34)
Albania
Austria
Barbados
Belgium
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Burma
Cambodia
Canada
China
Croatia
France
Germany
Hungary
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Malaysia
Mexico
Netherlands
Norway
Oman
Portugal
Qatar
Serbia
Singapore
Slovenia
South Africa
South Korea
Sweden
Switzerland
Thailand
Turkey
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
United States
Been in but not quite "visited" (1)
Denmark
Airport only (2)
Hong Kong
Japan
Tarmac only (2)
Kuwait
St. Lucia
Coming soon (2)
Costa Rica
Panama
Visited (34)
Albania
Austria
Barbados
Belgium
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Burma
Cambodia
Canada
China
Croatia
France
Germany
Hungary
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Malaysia
Mexico
Netherlands
Norway
Oman
Portugal
Qatar
Serbia
Singapore
Slovenia
South Africa
South Korea
Sweden
Switzerland
Thailand
Turkey
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
United States
Been in but not quite "visited" (1)
Denmark
Airport only (2)
Hong Kong
Japan
Tarmac only (2)
Kuwait
St. Lucia
Coming soon (2)
Costa Rica
Panama
Last edited by Kamalaasaa; Aug 27, 2016 at 7:34 am Reason: Forgot countries
Aug 27, 2016, 3:24 pm
#1360
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 157
I used to be shooting for 50 U.S. states and 50 countries but no longer aspire to that. My new aspiration is 49 states (met) and about 45 countries (almost me).
I am permanently given up ever going to Syria during my lifetime. Egypt and Jordan are also out due to security risks, though many people would deem those countries as sufficiently safe to visit.
Also unlikely to visit is Paraguay due to Zika virus. This might clear up in 10-15 years but by then I might not be healthy and take it off my list due to lack of good medical care. If you get into an accident and need a good orthopedic surgeon or neurosurgeon, there might not be one in Paraguay.
St. Helena is also out due to poor medical care.
I am permanently given up ever going to Syria during my lifetime. Egypt and Jordan are also out due to security risks, though many people would deem those countries as sufficiently safe to visit.
Also unlikely to visit is Paraguay due to Zika virus. This might clear up in 10-15 years but by then I might not be healthy and take it off my list due to lack of good medical care. If you get into an accident and need a good orthopedic surgeon or neurosurgeon, there might not be one in Paraguay.
St. Helena is also out due to poor medical care.
Aug 27, 2016, 3:26 pm
#1361
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 157
Russia is almost ruled out because of crappy medical care. If I get hit by a car, I don't want some crappy and uncaring Russian doctor to be taking care of me. Of course, that attitude might limit travel to Western Europe, Australia, Singapore, Japan and maybe South Korea, Republic of China on Taiwan and a few other countries.
Aug 28, 2016, 9:19 pm
#1362
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
Australia
Austria
Botswana
Brazil
Bulgaria
Canada
Chile
China
Czech Republic
Dominican Republic
Ethiopia
France
Germany
Hungary
Italy
Japan
Lithuania
Mexico
The Netherlands
Nicaragua
Portugal
Romania
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Switzerland
Tanzania
United Kingdom
United States
Vatican City
Total: 30
Austria
Botswana
Brazil
Bulgaria
Canada
Chile
China
Czech Republic
Dominican Republic
Ethiopia
France
Germany
Hungary
Italy
Japan
Lithuania
Mexico
The Netherlands
Nicaragua
Portugal
Romania
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Switzerland
Tanzania
United Kingdom
United States
Vatican City
Total: 30
Aug 29, 2016, 1:02 am
#1363
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Spire Ambassador, Radisson Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 3,622
Russia is almost ruled out because of crappy medical care. If I get hit by a car, I don't want some crappy and uncaring Russian doctor to be taking care of me. Of course, that attitude might limit travel to Western Europe, Australia, Singapore, Japan and maybe South Korea, Republic of China on Taiwan and a few other countries.
If you're ruling our countries like Russia due to poor medical care if hit by a car, then you should probably rule out at least 100 other countries with worse medical care and traffic safety than Russia.