12 Countries in 12 Months - 2003 Challenge
Dec 19, 2002 | 10:06 am
#46
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Let the slackers have their 12 countries in 12 months contest. 
We should have another challenge for the serious flyers. I had thought about 12 countries in 12 days, but there is little fun in that as some of us well know. How about 12 countries in a month? That is easily doable and you can enjoy yourself while doing it.
I've flown 4 countries in a day before (breakfast in Belgium, lunch in France, tea in Italy & dinner in the U.K.). And I've done 3 continents in 3 days a few times. But I'm always too burnt to string 12 together so quickly. That would be a challenge.
We should have another challenge for the serious flyers. I had thought about 12 countries in 12 days, but there is little fun in that as some of us well know. How about 12 countries in a month? That is easily doable and you can enjoy yourself while doing it.
I've flown 4 countries in a day before (breakfast in Belgium, lunch in France, tea in Italy & dinner in the U.K.). And I've done 3 continents in 3 days a few times. But I'm always too burnt to string 12 together so quickly. That would be a challenge.
Dec 19, 2002 | 10:39 am
#47
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I think we lose compared with the www.allnationsquest.com guys.. they're doing all 193 countries in 180 days.
Dec 19, 2002 | 10:41 am
#48
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I think we lose compared with the www.allnationsquest.com guys.. they're doing all 193 countries in 180 days. Anyway, by March I should have done the following:
1) Cambodia
2) Thailand
3) England
4) France
5) China
6) * Hong Kong (counts as china?)
7) * Japan (well, not leaving the airport)
1) Cambodia
2) Thailand
3) England
4) France
5) China
6) * Hong Kong (counts as china?)
7) * Japan (well, not leaving the airport)
Dec 19, 2002 | 12:57 pm
#49
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Hey, it's not a competition. It's just a fun way to set a goal to see lots of the world. Most of us aren't professional travelers, and I think one new country a month on average is a good challenge.
-alan in seattle
-alan in seattle
Dec 19, 2002 | 2:04 pm
#50
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So far, this is my plan:
January:
US
Netherlands
Denmark (possibly)
February:
Canada
March:
Spain
July:
Germany
This list will no doubt grow in the next few days....
January:
US
Netherlands
Denmark (possibly)
February:
Canada
March:
Spain
July:
Germany
This list will no doubt grow in the next few days....
Dec 21, 2002 | 7:54 pm
#53
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: New York
Posts: 199
I'm in. Sounds like a fun idea. I had just come up for myself with another challenge: climbing the highest mountain in another country every year. My first one will be next week: The highest mountain of The Netherlands which is on the island of Saba in the Netherlands Antilles (over 1000 feet high!!!).
My take off for the 12/12 challenge will be on New Year in Grenada, then a view days later Trinidad and Tobago follows.
Other countries on my agenda for 2003 are Germany, UK, Philippines, Spain, Mexico, Canada, Chile, Russia, and within the USA California. More to come.
[This message has been edited by reisevergnuegen (edited 12-21-2002).]
My take off for the 12/12 challenge will be on New Year in Grenada, then a view days later Trinidad and Tobago follows.
Other countries on my agenda for 2003 are Germany, UK, Philippines, Spain, Mexico, Canada, Chile, Russia, and within the USA California. More to come.
[This message has been edited by reisevergnuegen (edited 12-21-2002).]
Dec 21, 2002 | 10:15 pm
#54
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Is there a registration deadline? 
I probably won't know till mid-2003 whether I want to take on this challenge!!!
Kathy
I probably won't know till mid-2003 whether I want to take on this challenge!!!
Kathy
Dec 22, 2002 | 12:01 am
#55
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by stimpy:
. . . How about 12 countries in a month? That is easily doable and you can enjoy yourself while doing it.
</font>
. . . How about 12 countries in a month? That is easily doable and you can enjoy yourself while doing it.
</font>
Dec 22, 2002 | 9:38 am
#56
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by KathyWdrf:
Is there a registration deadline?
I probably won't know till mid-2003 whether I want to take on this challenge!!!
Kathy</font>
Is there a registration deadline?
I probably won't know till mid-2003 whether I want to take on this challenge!!!
Kathy</font>
Dec 22, 2002 | 12:52 pm
#57
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by alanw:
Most of us aren't professional travelers, and I think one new country a month on average is a good challenge.
-alan in seattle</font>
Most of us aren't professional travelers, and I think one new country a month on average is a good challenge.
-alan in seattle</font>
But I'm not saying "don't have the contest". I'd just like to see a more challenging one for those of us who really bop around the world.
Dec 22, 2002 | 2:02 pm
#58
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Here is an idea... how about having different levels of the contest...
Those who try but fall short of the 12 can have a black "basic" luggage tag just for trying. (Maybe a minimum requirement that they must actually leave their home country at least once.)
Those who complete the challenge as stated can have a "silver" luggage tag.
Those who complete the challenge times 2 can have a "gold" luggage tag. (24 in 12)
Those who complete the challenge time 3 can have a "platinum luggage tag. (36 in 12)
And if anyone wants to go beyond that, I'm sure some special prize could be thought up.
Those who try but fall short of the 12 can have a black "basic" luggage tag just for trying. (Maybe a minimum requirement that they must actually leave their home country at least once.)
Those who complete the challenge as stated can have a "silver" luggage tag.
Those who complete the challenge times 2 can have a "gold" luggage tag. (24 in 12)
Those who complete the challenge time 3 can have a "platinum luggage tag. (36 in 12)
And if anyone wants to go beyond that, I'm sure some special prize could be thought up.
Dec 22, 2002 | 2:05 pm
#59
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by stimpy:
Uh, I thought the whole point of Flyertalk was for us *professional* travelers to exchange tips. Each of the hundred-odd people on this board that I've met is a professional traveler except Horizon and lisamcgu who fly as much as the rest of us, but for fun only.
But I'm not saying "don't have the contest". I'd just like to see a more challenging one for those of us who really bop around the world.</font>
Uh, I thought the whole point of Flyertalk was for us *professional* travelers to exchange tips. Each of the hundred-odd people on this board that I've met is a professional traveler except Horizon and lisamcgu who fly as much as the rest of us, but for fun only.
But I'm not saying "don't have the contest". I'd just like to see a more challenging one for those of us who really bop around the world.</font>
That said, not everyone gets to leave their home country in the course of their professional work. I like the idea of the challenge for even 12 because it forces me to figure out the wisest usage for my four weeks of time off that I get (that I usually end up taking in chunks of 1, 2, or 3 days at a time).
I posted an idea for a higher challenge criteria above, but I think that going beyond 12 would be out of reach for some of us who might otherwise be up for the challenge. At the same time, I don't want to knock the "serious" travel that others do, although I think we could have a debate over that too.
Dec 22, 2002 | 2:43 pm
#60
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by hfly:
Give me a real challenge.....
How about 12 this month, or 12 by the end of January, hell I've done one and or both!!</font>
Give me a real challenge.....
How about 12 this month, or 12 by the end of January, hell I've done one and or both!!</font>
Canada
Japan
China
Taiwan
Korea
Singapore
Malaysia
Australia
Philippines
UK
France
South Africa
Germany