What's the definition of "well traveled" or "world traveller"?
Mar 18, 2012, 2:55 pm
#1
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What's the definition of "well traveled" or "world traveller"?
Ha, ha, I don't mean BA's World Traveller!
Years ago, friends were joking that someone was a world traveller for having been to Europe twice. What's the FT definition?
Possibilities:
1. Been to 50 countries. A country counts even if just at the airport.
2. Been to 100 countries. Too strict a definition.
3. Been to 25 countries but must be located in at least 5 continents.
4. Body passed through every longitude. For Americans, flying between India and Singapore is probably the hardest stretch as Indian bound passengers often fly through Europe and Thailand or Singapore is reached usually over the Pacific.
5. Minimum of 20 trips and at least criteria 3.
6. Minimum of 2 years abroad and 20 countries.
7. other
Years ago, friends were joking that someone was a world traveller for having been to Europe twice. What's the FT definition?
Possibilities:
1. Been to 50 countries. A country counts even if just at the airport.
2. Been to 100 countries. Too strict a definition.
3. Been to 25 countries but must be located in at least 5 continents.
4. Body passed through every longitude. For Americans, flying between India and Singapore is probably the hardest stretch as Indian bound passengers often fly through Europe and Thailand or Singapore is reached usually over the Pacific.
5. Minimum of 20 trips and at least criteria 3.
6. Minimum of 2 years abroad and 20 countries.
7. other
Mar 18, 2012, 6:18 pm
#2
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a world traveler is well traveled.....
for me,feet on the ground in 7 continents,24 time zones, 106 countries, ~200 tcc "countries", 50 us states,around the world on ships.....still missing cuba & suriname in n & s america....
i/we made a big mistake taking a lot of cruises & foregoing bus/driving tours, so missed a lot of inland countries & wont even think of it now....
for me,feet on the ground in 7 continents,24 time zones, 106 countries, ~200 tcc "countries", 50 us states,around the world on ships.....still missing cuba & suriname in n & s america....
i/we made a big mistake taking a lot of cruises & foregoing bus/driving tours, so missed a lot of inland countries & wont even think of it now....
Mar 18, 2012, 7:21 pm
#3
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It all depends who you are comparing yourself to. It's all relative. I've been to 29 countries and 29 states, but compared to a lot of people on these boards, I've barely left the house. Compared to my friends though, I'm freaking Magellan.
Mar 18, 2012, 7:38 pm
#4
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I don't really think there is a country count, but if you've visited and experienced more than a handful of the world's great cultures, then I'd say you're well on your way.
By "world's great cultures" I guess it's somewhat continental, but not exactly. For example:
Eastern Europe
Central and Western Europe
Southern Europe/Mediterranean Coast
North Europe
North American
Caribbean
Latin American/South American
China, Japan, Korea
Thailand, Vietnam, and other countries of southeast Asia
Hawaiian and other Polynesian-influenced locations
Australia/New Zealand
Middle Eastern/North African
Sub-Sahara African
By "world's great cultures" I guess it's somewhat continental, but not exactly. For example:
Eastern Europe
Central and Western Europe
Southern Europe/Mediterranean Coast
North Europe
North American
Caribbean
Latin American/South American
China, Japan, Korea
Thailand, Vietnam, and other countries of southeast Asia
Hawaiian and other Polynesian-influenced locations
Australia/New Zealand
Middle Eastern/North African
Sub-Sahara African
Mar 18, 2012, 7:40 pm
#5
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(and I love "I'm freaking Magellan" - the perfect way to put it. LOL!)
Mar 18, 2012, 8:04 pm
#6
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i took trains to new orleans, chattanoga, and long beach [2x sta in lax] & people were in a tizzy about so much travel...i was 18 for the last one....that was quite a while back.....
Mar 18, 2012, 8:11 pm
#7
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By "world's great cultures" I guess it's somewhat continental, but not exactly. For example:
Eastern Europe
Central and Western Europe
Southern Europe/Mediterranean Coast
North Europe
North American
Caribbean
Latin American/South American
China, Japan, Korea
Thailand, Vietnam, and other countries of southeast Asia
Hawaiian and other Polynesian-influenced locations
Australia/New Zealand
Middle Eastern/North African
Sub-Sahara African
Eastern Europe
Central and Western Europe
Southern Europe/Mediterranean Coast
North Europe
North American
Caribbean
Latin American/South American
China, Japan, Korea
Thailand, Vietnam, and other countries of southeast Asia
Hawaiian and other Polynesian-influenced locations
Australia/New Zealand
Middle Eastern/North African
Sub-Sahara African
Mar 18, 2012, 8:30 pm
#8
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World traveller and well travel mean different things to me.
World traveller is one who has travelled to lots of places. Well travelled is one who has done more than travelled to those places. For example, well travelled person would have learnt about culture, history, life style, language etc., beyond what one could read in a book.
I look at it the same way as the difference between someone who has read/skimmed through lots of books, but really hasn't learnt much from those readings.
If you have learnt from your travels, you are well travelled. Otherwise, you are a world traveller at best.
World traveller is one who has travelled to lots of places. Well travelled is one who has done more than travelled to those places. For example, well travelled person would have learnt about culture, history, life style, language etc., beyond what one could read in a book.
I look at it the same way as the difference between someone who has read/skimmed through lots of books, but really hasn't learnt much from those readings.
If you have learnt from your travels, you are well travelled. Otherwise, you are a world traveller at best.
Mar 19, 2012, 8:28 am
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Mar 19, 2012, 8:31 am
#12
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I don't really think there is a country count, but if you've visited and experienced more than a handful of the world's great cultures, then I'd say you're well on your way.
By "world's great cultures" I guess it's somewhat continental, but not exactly. For example:
Eastern Europe
Central and Western Europe
Southern Europe/Mediterranean Coast
North Europe
North American
Caribbean
Latin American/South American
China, Japan, Korea
Thailand, Vietnam, and other countries of southeast Asia
Hawaiian and other Polynesian-influenced locations
Australia/New Zealand
Middle Eastern/North African
Sub-Sahara African
By "world's great cultures" I guess it's somewhat continental, but not exactly. For example:
Eastern Europe
Central and Western Europe
Southern Europe/Mediterranean Coast
North Europe
North American
Caribbean
Latin American/South American
China, Japan, Korea
Thailand, Vietnam, and other countries of southeast Asia
Hawaiian and other Polynesian-influenced locations
Australia/New Zealand
Middle Eastern/North African
Sub-Sahara African
Mar 19, 2012, 9:26 am
#13
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I like this concept with hyderago's addition of the Indian subcontinent, but I would also add that consideration must be given to underdeveloped countries. Cattle Airlines' 25 countries on 5 continents can be done without ever going any place that really challenges you.
I'm only at about 30 countries right now...adding 4-5 more this year. Finally getting into some regions of India, Nepal, the Middle East, and Asia that I've previously never visited.
And there are still whole parts of North America that I've never visited...states/provinces where I know there are good trips to be had but I've simply never made the time to do them.
Mar 19, 2012, 1:11 pm
#14
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"World Traveller" is a cabin on British Airways Long Haul flights that, thanks to Flyertalk, I will never have to sit in again for as long as I live 
Mar 19, 2012, 1:54 pm
#15
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My realistic goal is 50 countries, 50 states. I am over 80% there but many places need more recent visits.
There a big gap for me in places like Gabon, Congo, Nigeria, Togo, Benin, Sierra Leone but I don't plan on visiting. Too expensive, too little time. There is no flight from JFK-Singapore with a stop in Lome, Togo, which would be a perfect flight to take and stop for a few days.
There a big gap for me in places like Gabon, Congo, Nigeria, Togo, Benin, Sierra Leone but I don't plan on visiting. Too expensive, too little time. There is no flight from JFK-Singapore with a stop in Lome, Togo, which would be a perfect flight to take and stop for a few days.