# How many countries have you been to? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 11, 2000, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-countries-have-you-been-to/25220 "2000-07-11T14:54:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![tshirts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@tshirts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tshirts)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2000, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-countries-have-you-been-to/25220/41 "2000-07-12T01:10:32Z")
One thing to note, is that I’m counting currently existing countries. That means I’ve counted two for what was Chechoslovakia when I was there, but is now split, and I no longer count East Germany as separate. Some counters, I think Guiness, use only countries as they existed at time of visit. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2000, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-countries-have-you-been-to/25220/42 "2000-07-12T01:18:58Z")
Um, eight or nine, depending on how you count. US (home) Israel (home away from home) Mexico Britain (England & Wales) Ireland France Italy the Vatican (that’s the maybe) Egypt (just Sinai, though) I’ve also been to the borders and _seen_ three more countries: Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2000, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-countries-have-you-been-to/25220/43 "2000-07-12T01:37:07Z")
Netherlands Belgium Germany France United Kingdom Spain Italy Austria Switzerland Liechtenstein Andorra Monaco Czech Republic Greece Turkey Singapore Malaysia South Africa That’s 18 in total. And next month, I’m going on holiday in a new country. It’s gonna be either Tanzania or Mexico. ---
**Author:** ![Geobabe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/geobabe/32/3908_2.png) [@Geobabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geobabe)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2000, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-countries-have-you-been-to/25220/44 "2000-07-12T01:41:20Z")
Let’s see… USA Mexico Japan Korea Hong Kong Thailand Singapore Diego Garcia The Philippines The Bahamas I think that’s all of 'em ---
**Author:** ![mega\_the\_roo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3da27b/32.png) [@mega\_the\_roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mega_the_roo)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2000, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-countries-have-you-been-to/25220/45 "2000-07-12T01:43:32Z")
Canada, The US, Mexico and France. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2000, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-countries-have-you-been-to/25220/46 "2000-07-12T01:57:24Z")
I forgot another maybe. I’ve been to the West Bank, which is not really a part of any country. It’s controlled by Israel, run by the Palestinian Authority, and its residents are Jordanian citizens. ---
**Author:** ![Myself](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8491ac/32.png) [@Myself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myself)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2000, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-countries-have-you-been-to/25220/47 "2000-07-12T04:05:51Z")
US of A - Vote 'em out! Germany, West - US Army, three fabulous years. Germany, East - Changed my life. Belgium - Made wrong turn and was through Customs before we knew it. “Wasn’t that customs? Hey, were in Belgium!” Neatherlands - The most liberated city I’ve seen! Bravo! England - Picadilly and the rest is blurry… France \ Literally couldn’t get the time of day in Paris. Austria - It was under construction at the time. Switzerland - They wouldn’t sell me a knife! Italy - Hated the food, and I’m Italian! They cheat, lie and yell a lot. Vatican City - Hey it counts! Ex-catholic, not impressed. Greece - Is all in ruins! Camped on the shore, roasted lamb. Yugoslavia (When one piece)- Saw dancing bear and gypsies. Mexico - So this is Spanish Fly?! Saturn - Wasn’t planning on it, but this guy gave me a cup of koolaid, and… Myself ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2000, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-countries-have-you-been-to/25220/48 "2000-07-12T04:09:56Z")
I doubt anyone will read this, but I want to count up myself. Let’s see, besides the US, there was: Mexico Germany Austria Czechoslovakia (back when it existed) Hungary The Phillipines Singapore Malaysia China Hong Kong (I guess technically part of China) That’s only 10. Huh. Thought I had more. Oh, well. ---
**Author:** ![ChiefScott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58f4c7/32.png) [@ChiefScott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChiefScott)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2000, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-countries-have-you-been-to/25220/49 "2000-07-12T04:48:41Z")
I dunno. Let’s count: USA Canada Germany Ireland England Morocco Spain France Monaco Italy Holy See Switzerland Austria Croatia Turkey Greece Lebanon Israel Egypt Kuwait UAE Bahrain Saudi Arabia Russia Brazil Then there’s minor places like: Malta Bermuda St. Thomas So I’d say 25, maybe 28 ---
**Author:** ![chique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2000, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-countries-have-you-been-to/25220/50 "2000-07-12T04:50:52Z")
I’m waiting for ChiefScott to come in and pound everyone into the ground… I did the “join the navy see the world thing” and never made it out of the East Coast…but I’ve been to every state except Alaska and Idaho. ---
**Author:** ![Eo\_Echo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ebca7d/32.png) [@Eo\_Echo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eo_Echo)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2000, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-countries-have-you-been-to/25220/51 "2000-07-12T04:53:05Z")
I’ve only been to the ones in easy driving distance: USA, Canada, and Mexico. But I’ve got high hopes for after I go platinum! Maybe… ---
**Author:** ![Bluepony](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Bluepony](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bluepony)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2000, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-countries-have-you-been-to/25220/52 "2000-07-12T05:00:21Z")
Most of these courtesy of 20 years with Uncle Sam’s Air Force. I do not recommend this travelogue for everyone. 😃 Korea (Republic of) Japan Philippines Australia New Zealand Singapore Thailand China (Republic of) England Scotland Wales Ireland France Belgium Netherlands West Germany East Germany (military travel in Berlin before 1989) Hungary Turkey Spain Italy Vatican City Saudi Arabia (don’t ask, it sucked) Kuwait (sucked more than Saudi) Bahrain (could get beer there, did not suck) Cuba (Guantanamo Naval Base) Haiti (thankfully for a short day) Bosnia (Tuzla Air Base) Los Angeles, California (I consider it a foreign country) ---
**Author:** ![realidad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8baadc/32.png) [@realidad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/realidad)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2000, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-countries-have-you-been-to/25220/53 "2000-07-12T10:46:20Z")
Beginning to think… This is kind of hard, travel is one of the things in life that makes me happy. Here goes More than a stopover : England (16 months and still counting) Bolivia (18 months +) Argentina USA Spain Iceland Italy Switzerland Austria Germany Luxembourg France Greece Sweden Denmark Ireland Scotland Belgium Hungary Czech Republic Poland and in two days - LATVIA with my new boyfriend Stopovers in Thailand Hong Kong Oh and Australia (birthplace) I think this is about right. about 22 Still many many more to add hopefully in the future. Happy travels ---
**Author:** ![realidad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8baadc/32.png) [@realidad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/realidad)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2000, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-countries-have-you-been-to/25220/54 "2000-07-12T10:47:22Z")
forgot Turkey damn my memory ---
**Author:** ![magdalene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df788c/32.png) [@magdalene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magdalene)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2000, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-countries-have-you-been-to/25220/55 "2000-07-12T15:32:12Z")
14 - USA, Czech Republic, Poland, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Ukraine, France, Canada, Italy, Monaco, Netherlands, Monaco, U.K. ---
**Author:** ![Kepi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kepi/32/7251_2.png) [@Kepi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kepi)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2000, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-countries-have-you-been-to/25220/56 "2000-07-12T16:04:16Z")
Ten, including my homeland (United States): U.S. (45 of the 50 states) Canada Mexico Belize U.K. the Netherlands Belgium France Switzerland Germany (both as West Germany and as a unified Germany) ---
**Author:** ![Kepi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kepi/32/7251_2.png) [@Kepi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kepi)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2000, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-countries-have-you-been-to/25220/57 "2000-07-12T16:04:17Z")
Ten, including my homeland (United States): U.S. (45 of the 50 states) Canada Mexico Belize U.K. the Netherlands Belgium France Switzerland Germany (both as West Germany and as a unified Germany) ---
**Author:** ![InTheStars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e56c9b/32.png) [@InTheStars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InTheStars)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2000, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-countries-have-you-been-to/25220/58 "2000-07-12T19:42:00Z")
Okay, you military service people have it made!! Just kidding - I don’t envy you, sometimes. Lets see, having parents living in England the last 10 years has been really nice! Canada England Ireland Scotland France Luxembourg Germany Switzerland Italy Greece Spain Holland Norway Virgin Islands - U.S. and British (does that count?) 13 or 14 - well, I’m impressed with myself - yeah me! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![brachyrhynchos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brachyrhynchos/32/376_2.png) [@brachyrhynchos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brachyrhynchos)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2000, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-countries-have-you-been-to/25220/59 "2000-07-12T21:42:43Z")
Okay, this should be quick…(US as home) 1. Canada 2. Mexico 3. Finland (twice) 4. Russia (as Soviet Union) 5. Poland 6. Senegal Man, I am a laggard. Kiffa, move out of this country so I can come visit you. I promise I will this time (right after Trinidad). ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2000, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-countries-have-you-been-to/25220/60 "2000-07-13T04:04:31Z")
Holding at 10, including home: USA (home) Canada Mexico West Germany (then) UK Australia New Zealand The Netherlands Kenya Tanzania Adding El Salvador next spring… And Coldfire, I’d recommend Tanzania over anyplace else I’ve been. It’s an incredible and beautiful country, and I’d go back in a heartbeat if I had the chance. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-countries-have-you-been-to/25220.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-countries-have-you-been-to/25220.md?page=4)