My Journey to 100 Countries
Last week, while wandering through the cobbled streets of Skopje – my 99th country, I found myself pausing to reflect. Somehow, this milestone is creeping up rather quickly than I imagined it would.
Between countless boarding passes to countries I’ve already been to before, serendipitous detours, and too many “just one more nights,” I had nearly arrived at a century of countries.
This isn’t a boast — far from it. In an age of cheap travel, the world can feel both vast and intimately connected, visiting 100 countries isn’t the achievement it once was. Though I am somewhat taken back by how absurdly fast it has all happened.
Journey to 100 Countries
For me, this is a moment to pause. To acknowledge the immense privilege that travel has brought, and the way it has shaped not only my perspective of the world, but my understanding of myself within it.
The Origins of Wanderlust
Travel has been in my bloodstream from the beginning.
With parents from different countries and relatives scattered across continents, my childhood holidays were filled with anticipation, packed suitcases full of gifts for third degree cousins, and the familiar smell of airports.
Those trips weren’t luxurious escapes — more often they were pilgrimages to family, long dinners filled with laughter, stories, and an occasional “you’ve grown so much” from someone I barely remembered.
Yet, even then, I was captivated. The sound of different languages, the subtle rhythm of life shifting from one place to another — it all felt magical.
The Freedom Years
In early adulthood, travel evolved. The family trips gave way to adventures with friends, spontaneous decisions, and the kind of journeys where plans were optional and curiosity was the compass.
Films like The Beach convinced us that somewhere out there was our perfect slice of paradise (minus the questionable cult and shark attacks, obviously).
It Was Never About Counting
I never set out to visit 100 countries or all the countries. In fact, I find the whole “ticking countries off a list” mentality a bit, well, clinical.
Reducing an entire nation — its people, stories, smells, chaos — into a tick box feels WRONG.
Could I have visited every country before I even hit 30? Possibly. I had the means and drive to do so. Equally at the same time, I’ve been on several round-the-world trips that have felt exhausting ( just due to pace of it )
But I’ve always felt that travel shouldn’t be rushed. There were times were I felt it so, due to ambitious planning, but after each such trips, I’ve made my planning better. I want to slow down the pace, to enjoy a country/trip more and immerse myself not just when I am there but when I am back at home in London to have a proper breather before I venture out onto the next one.
I like the idea that even in my sixties, I’ll still have new places left to explore — landscapes I haven’t yet seen, cultures I haven’t yet understood, perspectives that will continue to challenge and inspire me.
My Own Quiet Rules of Travel
Over time, I’ve developed a few personal principles that guide how I travel. A way to make each journey meaningful:
Stay at least three days — long enough to feel the rhythm of a place beyond its postcards. Though I probably average 10 days in each country at least.
Eat three local meals — the way locals eat, wherever possible.
Have one meaningful local interaction — a conversation that leaves a trace, however small.
Yes, so if I have not met all 3 of the above, I do not count have visited a country!
Some trips have been profound; others were simply good fun (there’s a version of me in my twenties who saw “culture” mainly through the lens of dance floors, beach clubs and night markets).
But every destination has left a mark — a memory, a flavour, a lesson.
The Statistics
Here are the 99 countries in the map..
Some countries clearly have a gravitational pull:
Over 15 visits to the US and Spain — though I suspect Spain owes most of those to tapas, paellas and the island sunshine.
4+ visits to favourites like Australia, Japan, Greece, Brazil, and Thailand (where I’ve lost more flip-flops than I care to count).
30+ countries revisited at least three times — proof that I’m a serial repeater, not a collector.
As for miles travelled, my trusty App in the Air stopped tracking a couple of years ago when I was on 2.4 million miles flown.
A bit of napkin maths suggests I’m hovering around 2.7 to 2.8 million now. The equivalent of circling the Earth more than a hundred times. A thought that feels both extraordinary and humbling.
The Environmental Conscience
Yes, I’m fully aware that this blog celebrates flying — and yes, I do think about the footprint.
I’d love to say I’ve optimised every itinerary, but life doesn’t always fit neatly with time and contrasting desire. As much I have toyed with the idea, I am proud to say, I have never done a mileage run. And now that BA has all but diminished appeal of Tier point runs, I probably never will.
I always try and do my part and mitigate the affects of my flights.
I don’t drive at home or abroad. I’m a proud user of public transport where ever possible, including more than one chicken bus well into my thirties ( Perhaps the very antithesis of luxury travel ?)
What Next?
That brings me to the question some have been asking: where will number 100 be?
After much thought (and a fair bit of daydreaming), I’ve narrowed it down to four contenders — Costa Rica, Georgia, Pakistan, and Senegal. Each one offers something remarkable that has piqued my interest.
Costa Rica, with its lush rainforests and “pura vida” philosophy, topped the poll I ran recently on Instagram — clearly a crowd favourite.
Georgia, on the other hand, tempts me with its blend of old-world charm and dramatic landscapes. Pakistan is a surprise, with lush mountains and unexplored wonders, a heritage closer to my roots, and culture I’ve long wanted to rediscover.
Senegal stands out as a gateway to West Africa’s vibrant soul and rhythm.
So perhaps it’s time to open the floor to you, my readers. Which destination do you think should mark this milestone? Should I follow the will of the crowd and embrace Costa Rica’s pura vida, or chart a more unexpected path?
I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Reflections at 99
I would have became part of the Travelers’ Century Club sometime in 2024 – but that is a dated club. Furthermore, it is not the list I am going by, as it includes some territories that are not UN recognized independent countries.
Reaching 100 countries feels less like an achievement and more like an appreciation.
The world feels smaller than ever, technology, travel, and TikTok trends have woven us together in ways unimaginable 30 years ago. Yet, we still wrestle with the same old issues that divide us.
So if there’s a next chapter to this journey, I hope it’s one of deeper connection. Because travel, when done right, isn’t just about seeing the world – it’s about understanding it better, one boarding pass at a time.
Faze, founder of Wander Up Front and Elevate Your Stay, is a London-based travel specialist with a deep passion for aviation. With over 2 million miles flown, he has spent the last 7 years focusing on First and Business class experiences.
Faze provides straightforward, no-frills insights into premium airline products and services, sharing what matters to help travellers make informed choices.
Follow him on his adventures and behind the scene stories on Instagram !