Avoid This Travel Trap
When I tell someone that I travel frequently, one of the most common follow-up questions is, “How many countries have you visited?”. It’s a great way to show interest and start a conversation, but I never really know the exact number, because I don’t count.
Counting countries is one of the most popular travel metrics, yet I’ve never understood the logic behind it — outside of bragging rights. Over the past few weeks, I’ve been thinking more about this, and I’ve come to the conclusion that focusing on the number of countries we visit can actually do more harm than good in the long run.
Most countries are so varied that visiting two regions within the same one can feel like visiting entirely different nations. Take the USA for example. New York, Arizona, the Pacific Northwest, and Hawaii might as well be four separate countries. Yet technically, you could say you’ve “been to the USA” after visiting just one. Even in smaller countries, the contrasts are huge. The experience of visiting London is completely different from spending time in Cornwall. A week in the Lake District will give you a very different perspective compared to a week in Liverpool.
I’ve been travelling full-time for the last four years and for work over the last fifteen, but I haven’t visited that many countries. At the time of writing, I think the total is around twenty-five. That’s because I prefer to pick one place and explore it in depth — to see all sides of it, not just a highlight reel.
For instance, I’ve been to Spain many times, visiting over fifteen towns and cities. My view of Spain is very different from someone who’s only seen Barcelona, even though we can both technically say we’ve “been to Spain.” The same goes for Japan. I’m about to head there for my fourth trip, this time exploring both the far south and north. In total, I’ve been to more than ten regions of Japan, and my understanding of the country feels much more rounded than if I’d only seen Tokyo and Kyoto.
This isn’t about bragging; it’s about my perspective based on experience. I feel that going deep in one country you love, is just as valuable (if not more) than ticking off new ones. I don’t look down on people who count countries; I understand the appeal, and would be a liar of I said I never tried to count myself. But I aim to be more mindful of how much I’ve actually experienced before saying I’ve “been” somewhere. For example, I’ve visited New York City many times, but I wouldn’t say I’ve been to America, because NYC is the only part I’ve seen.
