how long will it take to visit EVERY country in the world?
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 38,320
Remember it is a moving target.
When I started Yugoslavia was a country And I don't think I would be welcomed into Iran again.
While I appreciate the above arguments about "doing something useful" being on the ground in a country is a bit like pregnancy and life...... Either you are or you aren't......
fifty something sovereign territories and counting (wandering) slowly.....
Fred
When I started Yugoslavia was a country And I don't think I would be welcomed into Iran again.
While I appreciate the above arguments about "doing something useful" being on the ground in a country is a bit like pregnancy and life...... Either you are or you aren't......
fifty something sovereign territories and counting (wandering) slowly.....
Fred
I've been to pre-turnover Hong Kong, Yugoslavia and East Germany.
As for the doing something useful bit--I don't count Israel as a place I've been even though I landed at the airport. Simple plane change, nothing more.
#17
Join Date: Jul 2004
Programs: CO Gold; SPG Gold***; AvisFirst;
Posts: 3,970
...
Other travel problems: Does your trip time include the stop back home? If a US citizen goes to Israel, won't they have to come home, have their "dog eat their passport", then get a replacement expedited before they can travel to certain Arab countries? Certain nationalities (Swiss? Singapore?) might have an easier time or fewer visas.
Other travel problems: Does your trip time include the stop back home? If a US citizen goes to Israel, won't they have to come home, have their "dog eat their passport", then get a replacement expedited before they can travel to certain Arab countries? Certain nationalities (Swiss? Singapore?) might have an easier time or fewer visas.
It is not illegal for a US citizen to travel to Cuba. There are restrictions on how you get there and on spending US currency.
#18
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Austin, TX -- AA Life Platinum; QF Life Silver; UA Silver
Posts: 5,462
It's my goal to visit every country as well; my standard is usually one night spent there, if possible (its not likely I'll have a sleepover at the Vatican!).
There's ~194 'countries' recognized by the UN, so it's very possible to visit 5-10 per year and still make it. I'm currently at 86 countries, 72 are overnight visits.
It's harder to gauge 'coverage' when dealing with a bigger country. eg. I've been to Russia, but only Moscow; likewise only Rio in Brazil. But when in Liechtenstein I think we drove on every road in the country. So pretty good coverage there.
There's ~194 'countries' recognized by the UN, so it's very possible to visit 5-10 per year and still make it. I'm currently at 86 countries, 72 are overnight visits.
It's harder to gauge 'coverage' when dealing with a bigger country. eg. I've been to Russia, but only Moscow; likewise only Rio in Brazil. But when in Liechtenstein I think we drove on every road in the country. So pretty good coverage there.
Last edited by hauteboy; Mar 2, 2009 at 4:53 pm
#19
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 2
RTW
There are people and agencies that specialize in such kind of things.
RTW - Round the World trips.
You can google it and find lots of resources and agencies specializing on it.
There are case studies of people doing it in under 16 K (USD) and in a matter of 3 months.
Have fun doing it (hope you don't plan to venture into any of the war torn zones though )
RTW - Round the World trips.
You can google it and find lots of resources and agencies specializing on it.
There are case studies of people doing it in under 16 K (USD) and in a matter of 3 months.
Have fun doing it (hope you don't plan to venture into any of the war torn zones though )
#20
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Washington, DC USA
Programs: UA; Amtrak
Posts: 2,002
Collecting passport stamps and visiting countries are two entirely different games. What constitutes a country? Sure, discount Eelam, Abkhazia, and the Sahrawi ADR. But remember that according to the U.S. government, Taiwan isn't a country while Somalia is, in flagrant contradiction to any practical observation.
I admittedly do collect countries— heck, I even collect counties. But I try not to use it as a proxy for seeing the world. I'd argue that someone who's been to rmqi, Lhasa, and Shanghai, or Kona, Brownsville, and Nashua (all in one country) has seen more of the world than someone who's traipsed across three borders on a visit to Aachen or Iguazu/Este.
I admittedly do collect countries— heck, I even collect counties. But I try not to use it as a proxy for seeing the world. I'd argue that someone who's been to rmqi, Lhasa, and Shanghai, or Kona, Brownsville, and Nashua (all in one country) has seen more of the world than someone who's traipsed across three borders on a visit to Aachen or Iguazu/Este.
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: NC
Programs: AAConciergeKey/1MM, DL DM/2 MM, UA Gold,Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 11,918
What is the purpose of joining these clubs? I have just completed my 109th country (Actual countries not their inflated list). Im considering joining their association, but cant figure out what you get for the $150 annual fee other than a regular magazine subscription. Does anyone know if the benefits are worth joining?
#22
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Northern Nevada
Programs: DL,EK
Posts: 1,652
One of my goals is to visit every country. I've been to about 70 and have been to a few difficult ones (Turkmenistan, DR Congo, North Korea, Sudan). I figure the rest will take perhaps 10-15 years.
The expensive ones are typically islands and much of Africa is "roughing it" quite a bit.
I count a country when I have done something meaningful and gone through immigration (so the DMZ does not count as North Korea). Length of time doesn't matter too much, but typically 24 hours minimum.
The expensive ones are typically islands and much of Africa is "roughing it" quite a bit.
I count a country when I have done something meaningful and gone through immigration (so the DMZ does not count as North Korea). Length of time doesn't matter too much, but typically 24 hours minimum.
#23
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2009
Programs: I miss NW, TW
Posts: 4,828
I may be insensitive but I think some countries are almost the same. For example, Togo and Benin. Vising one is enough.
My list of countries that I want to see starts to levels off at about 75 because of the expense and certainly by 125. I have no interest in seeing Kyrgyzstan but Tajikistan seems a bit more interesting. Also Timor Leste more than PDRK (North Korea).
My list of countries that I want to see starts to levels off at about 75 because of the expense and certainly by 125. I have no interest in seeing Kyrgyzstan but Tajikistan seems a bit more interesting. Also Timor Leste more than PDRK (North Korea).
#24
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Northern Nevada
Programs: DL,EK
Posts: 1,652
I may be insensitive but I think some countries are almost the same. For example, Togo and Benin. Vising one is enough.
My list of countries that I want to see starts to levels off at about 75 because of the expense and certainly by 125. I have no interest in seeing Kyrgyzstan but Tajikistan seems a bit more interesting. Also Timor Leste more than PDRK (North Korea).
My list of countries that I want to see starts to levels off at about 75 because of the expense and certainly by 125. I have no interest in seeing Kyrgyzstan but Tajikistan seems a bit more interesting. Also Timor Leste more than PDRK (North Korea).