When I was a kid I didn’t really get to travel all that much. During my childhood we tended to return to the same holiday location every year which was lovely but as an adult I crave change. Until I was 18 I had only been to eight countries. And to be honest it didn’t change too much until I hit about 24/25 and got the travel bug.
When I thought about my first 30 countries initially I was quite lax with what counted as a country. I included Hawaii as separate from North America and Corfu, Crete and Zante as solo places even though they’re all part of Greece. But this time I’m being a bit stricter and have officially hit 30 countries.
United Kingdom
This one might be the only thing which could be seen as a cheat as I’ve been to all four of the countries in the UK; England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Obviously I live in England so shocker on that one. Wales I went to a lot as a child, but also more recently I’ve been to Cardiff and Aberystwyth. Northern Island I’ve only been to once during a trip to see Bring Me The Horizon in Belfast. But Scotland I’ve been back to quite a lot including four trips to Edinburgh alone.
Nordic countries
I blooming love the Nordic countries having visited Denmark, Norway and Sweden. I do find them slightly on the more expensive side compared to say Eastern Europe but there’s ways around this.
Denmark was my favourite, I made 3 trips to Copenhagen within the space of a year as I loved it so much. I’m keen to visit both Finland and Iceland over the next few years as well to round off my Nordic 5 piece.
My first 30 countries: Western Europe
This is where most of my countries have come from having visited: Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece (Corfu, Crete and Zante), Italy, Luxembourg, Republic of Ireland, Spain (Gran Canaria and Majorca), Switzerland, The Netherlands and Vatican City.
The only countries I have visited more than once are France (I’ve been to Paris more times than I can remember), Germany (I’ve been to Berlin and Nuremburg), Italy (I’ve been to Ischia, Venice, Naples, Rome x 2) and The Netherlands (I’ve been to Amsterdam three times I think). Out of all of the countries Italy is my absolute favourite. There’s something about the food, the people, the architecture, the way of life; everything just screams out to me.
Eastern Europe
I’ve not ticked off much of Eastern Europe but have visited Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Romania. I did love all four places but I fell in love with Budapest in Hungary after two trips there. I’m so keen to go back and explore more of the country or just relax in a thermal pool in Budapest.
My first 30 countries: The rest of Europe
Two islands I’ve been to which don’t seem to really fall anywhere else are Malta and Cyprus. Cyprus is where I always used to go as a child and I’ve been about 14 times, although not since 2006. I’m really keen to go back and see how much it’s changed in the past decade and a half. But the other half of me doesn’t want to ruin the idea of this as my childhood holiday destination.
Canada and North America
Further afield I have been to Canada twice getting to explore Niagara,Toronto, Quebec City, Montreal and Ottowa during a tour. Niagara Falls is officially my favourite place on area as it’s just an incredibly beautiful place. It’s so hard to describe what the falls are like to someone who hasn’t been.
North America I have visited quite a few times but only the East and West Coast. I did a three week California tour (including Vegas) when I was 17 with my family. And then I’ve been to Philadelphia, Washington DC and New York. The later I think I’ve been to about 6 times and I’m not fed up yet.
Carribean – Aruba and St Lucia
I was incredibly lucky to visit the Caribbean not once but twice in 2019. We headed to St Lucia for Luke’s 30th and stayed at a Sandals Resort which was incredible.
Then later in the year I was invited to Aruba on a press trip which was incredible.
Africa
Africa is the other continent I’ve been to, although I’ve not even scratched the surface. I have been to Egypt (albeit very briefly) and Morocco. With the later I did an 8 day tour across the country which was amazing as I got to see so much.