most countries traveled?
 

I read somewhere, about a "club" for people that had traveled to the largest number of countries. anybody know about this?
thanks
surfingmomma

As Groucho would say, "I don't want to be a member of any club that would have me as a member."

This kind of thing -- most countries visited -- is the ultimate so-what.

You might be thinking about International Travel News - a very interesting travel newspaper-like magazine (quite thick) and gives out a certificate for people you have reached 100 countries, not counting just landing at the airport :-) It's just for fun and the cert, I think, costs $5. If you like reading about personal travel trips, it's worth the subscription (about $18/yr). If you're a subcriber you can even send in your own reports and pictures. ITN does have a website.

Oh, fabulous, Nancy. that's exactly what i was thinking about--a "just for fun" thing to do.
i lovvvvvvvvve this website.
thanks again.
surfingmomma

surfingmomma - there is the Traveler's Century Club. You can join once you have been to 75 countries, but you are a full member once you've visited 100 countries.

The link is http://www.travelerscenturyclub.org/

I hope, one day, to be a member! :)

Karen

thanks Karen-I hope to be a member one day, also.
surfingmomma

I do travel a great deal and I thought I was getting close, but I have to admit, 100 is a BIG number.

I just took a quick inventory. I have been to just about all the western, a good number of central and some eastern European countries, many Asian countries, quite a few Middle Eastern countries, some African and Caribbean and all North and many Central American countries and yet the total is only about 50, maybe few more.

South America and South Pacific has eluded me so far , but soon I will hit that part of the world as well.

The point is, 100 countries is an achievement, and not too many folks could say they've done it.

Half of the countries I've visited were on official business, so at least some are places that not too many people have been to, at least not recently.

I would be impressed if I got to meet a true, honest traveler that has 100 different stamps in their passport.

According to the latest count there are officially(whatever that means) 193 independent countries in the world. It's hard to imagine, but if you did 100 that's just over 1/2 of the world. Impressive.

191 members of the UN. Vatican City chose NOT to become a member of the UN.

192 recognized by the US State Department. Taiwan is not recognized as an independent country, even by the US.

I guess I better start planning some more trips soon before I run out of time! :-)

The travelers century club counts over 300 geographical areas as "countries" including Hawaii and Alaska which I think is quite a stretch.

I agree with AAFF - 100 countries is quite an achievement. Having been both to Taiwan and Vatican City I have them on my list. I was in Taiwan in the mid -1970's before the US cut ties and even though Vatican City is not part of the UN I still count it.

I'm with AAFF - currently planning trips out for the next couple or years.
I'm fortunate to have a job that gives me a chance to travel at any time of the year. 9 weeks off this year. Life is good. :)

Absolutely astonishing travel history in pictures at this man's personal site:

www.galenfrysinger.com

I should be so fortunate to see half as many places in my life. He's been to 169 independent countries and has photos of them all.

A few years ago I was on a trip, and a man showed me an astonishingly thick passport. He said he was the president of the century club, and that he had visited 301 places (?countries). ((C))