Add Syria to that list right now.

What is your definition of "visiting" a country? Does staying in the airport count?

I would say "visiting a country" requires at least seeing one meaningful landmark or some noteworthy place of interest or "thing-to-do".

1) Definitely a layover in an airport DOES NOT COUNT as visiting the country. Neither would an overnight stay in an airport hotel.

2) I also believe that what is visited in the country should be of relative importance and also be representative of that country.. For instance, if visiting the Maldives, you'd probably want to hang out on a beach, no need to spend time in the capital city... But staying a few days in Puerto Rico or Hawai DOES NOT COUNT as visiting the USA... Applying this logic to Russia, a visit to Volgograd would not, in my opinion, count as a "PROPER" visit of Russia because Moscow and St Petersburg hold so much importance. But in the USA, importance is spread out between cities such a NY, LA, Chicago, DC, Miamiii and Natural Wonders (i.e. Niagara, Grand Canyon, Monument Valley) and one cannot be expected to visit everything, but at least 1 or 2 of these...

3) Basically, for someone to be able to say they have "visited a country X", they should be able to aanswer the following question: "Did you enjoy Country X?" or "What did you think of Country X?"... Again, if you transit through Frankfurt, you would not have the credibility and credentials to be able to comment on German culture or the beauty of German cities/nature...

My rules are not so strict. You must clear immigration (if one exists). Having said that this is the bare minimum and against the spirit of things if this is all you have done. Personally I would like to see at least one city or town.

The one country of the 57 I have visited so far that I do have a problem of conscience with is Mexico having only been to Tijuana.

What you're describing is "visited country X extensively", not just "visited country X". A brief visit is still a visit.

The part I bolded is just ridiculous... how can a few days in Hawaii NOT count as a visit to the U.S.?

There are a few people (even here on FT) that fly in, and fly out on the same plane, and count it as visiting a country - to each their own.

I personally dont see a point in that.

But when I take the boat over to Anguilla for the day later this summer, and rent a car to spend a 9 hour layover in Antigua - I will certainly count those as a visit. Likewise, if I was to spend a few hours onshore from a cruise, but not if I just stayed on the ship in that port.

Everyone has a different definition.

Haha, my logic is that if Hawai is the only part of the USA that you've been to, and someone asks you: "Have you been to the US? What was your impression?", I believe the asnwer would not simply be a "YEs, I loved it" but rather a "YEs, but only to Hawaii, so I cannot tell about the mainland"

LEt's take other examples: Does Hong Kong count as China? If so, after spending a few days in HK, one would be able to say "I have been to China and loved it!" or would they be expected to say something like "I have been to China... Well, Hong Kong to be precise.."...
There are many countries where I believe that simply setting foot and walking around is enough: for Instance, most Caribbean countries are basically and Island with beaches and small towns.. No need to extensively roadtrip the island, as long as you leave the airport, have a swim or eat lunch in a town, I'd say you have properly visited the country.. But this cannot be applied to the USA, Brazil, Italy...

A little more: As Jahason says in his post, he has only been to Tijuana in Mexico, and therefore, feels something is missing. The logic being that MExico has so many world renowned sights (Mexico City, Cancun, Maya Pyramids...) that having been to a secondary city feels incomplete. In my case, I have been to Dammam in Saudi Arabia (3rd largest city) for nights, however, I still believe that one must see Ryadh,Jeddah or MEcca for it to count as a proper visit of Saudi Arabia.


Finally, to add to the Hawaii point, I am only stating that Hawaii does not, in many foreigners eyes, represent the "American experience" that you'd get from roadtripping on Route 66, or Camping in a DEsert or Hailing a Cab in NY.


As for the "Extensively" you added, I do not agree, here is why
- I am ok with someone spending 5 days in NY and saying they've visited the USA because it is generally assume that NY is the #1 city to visit in the US.. Likewise, if someone spent 5 days in Beijing and Shanghai, I would again be ok with them saying they visited China. However, do not believe that spending 5 nights in NY or 5 in Shanghai and Beijing counts as having visited those countries "Extensively"..
- What is an "Extensive" visit: say you're visiting France. Many will only visit Paris, and even spending 10 days in Paris does not count as an extensive visit because you won't have seen Mont St-Michel, or the Reims Cathedral, or the French Riviera...

I completely agree with you. Clearing immigration and leaving the airport premises are a minimum requirement but do not qualify as a proper visit yet...

I also agree that spending 5+ hours in a Carribeann Island counts as a proper visit since you won't have the feeling that you missed on a significant monument, museum or ladnmark.

No, I wasn't taking anti-malarials in Haiti (wasn't recommended by my company's health department) and incidentally, I tolerate doxycycline quite well. It was definitely an illness, although there is always the possibility that it was a delayed reaction from something acquired somewhere else - I travel a lot to high-risk (food-wise) places. I was, however, specifically warned about Typhoid by both my personal doctor and my company's health department.

I did choose the word haphazard intentionally, rather than the word non-existent. I have certainly stayed in far worse hotels than the one I used in Port-au-Prince (your comparison to Africa is apt), although I think there are relatively few of quality at the moment. I was also thinking about the broader infrastructure, roads, transportation, especially once you get out of PAP, etc.

^^^
as well as to the person who suggested getting a job interview

I made a lot of Saudi friends in university and one suggested it was as easy as him saying that I was his assistant. That didn't sound plausible to me though so we never tried it. I finally made it past the border this year when I went in with the ID of a Saudi friend's wife who looks somewhat like me - only downside is that I don't get a fancy new stamp in my passport. I'm scheduled for a university-organized trip soon though so I'll get to do it legally, although a friend who just came back from one last week says it's almost impossible to get away from these organized trips. Almost?

I guess my advice is to make friends with Saudis. If they can't get you in, they can at least get you away from an organized trip for a bit.

I went to Saudi Arabia on a trade mission in 2009, and I got the visa easily. However, a girl travelling with us had to pretend she was the wife of another member of the group (in Spain married women don't take their husband's surname, so it was credible), but no way, it got rejected.

I managed to do a bit of sightseeing in Jeddah and Riyadh, and here's my message to all of you eager to get there: you're not missing much. At all.

And I thought that I sometimes lived on the edge. You impersonated someone else by illegally using their ID to enter a country, Saudi Arabia, no less, and you weren't worried about being forced into an "extended" visit measured in years if you were discovered?

Not to mention the repercussions on the real owner of the ID upon discovery.

Can't say I was very worried, particularly as I look quite similar to my friend. I've so far found that no one pays much attention to me as a woman in an abaya anyway. I was aware of the consequences but considered the risk to be rather low.

That is -- can't say I was very worried, as I'm still young and foolish.

Niue is quite a pain to visit if you're going to see more than the airport -- it currently has only one flight a week.