I’ve Been to 100 Countries – Here Are 8 I Want To Show My Wife
I’ve been to 100 countries.
My newlywed wife, Linda, has been to three.
One of the things I’m looking forward to the most is showing her the world that I’ve seen and the places that have altered my perspectives on life.
This may sound cheesy, but I have always loved introducing new foods, sites, and experiences to my loved ones… possibly more than I enjoyed discovering them myself. I am so curious about how they perceived it and how it compares to similar experiences of their past, while always hopeful to witness a life-changing revelation!
I guess it’s no surprise my favorite classes in school were history and sociology and that I started my career as a journalist!
Here are the top ten countries I want to show Linda, excluding the powerhouses of Italy, Spain, Greece, Mexico, and Japan, because, let’s face it, those countries are amazing and they should be on everyone’s top lists!
1. Nicaragua
As the last country I visited in Central America, I didn’t intentionally save the “best for last” – it just happened to work out that way! What I’ll remember most fondly is scootering around Ometepe, an island formed by an active volcano in the MIDDLE of Central America’s largest freshwater lake, Lake Nicaragua.
Days were spent exploring inner-lake beaches – how often do you hear that term?! – and jumping into the water from makeshift rope swings, while nights unfolded around bonfires, sharing stories with yoga enthusiasts in the jungle. The relaxed, timeless (and shirtless 😉) atmosphere reminded me of parts of Southeast Asia.
If that weren’t reason enough to visit Nicaragua, did you know it’s one of only five places in the world you can board down an active volcano? Near the beautifully preserved Spanish colonial city of León, Cerro Negro is considered the premier location for volcano boarding, as you can easily reach speeds of over 100km/hour! Or, if you prefer ocean-side beaches over lakeside, you can’t go wrong with San Juan del Sur.
Nicaragua turned out to be an unexpected delight.
2. Philippines
I always recommend avoiding Thailand, especially if overtourism isn’t your thing, and heading to the Philippines instead. The beaches are just as stunning—if not better. With over 7,600 islands (compared to Thailand’s 1,400), you’ll find plenty of secluded spots where you can explore without encountering a single foreign tourist.
While many beach destinations are overdeveloped, some of the best parts of the Philippines remain refreshingly underdeveloped. Islands like Siargao, Malapascua, Palawan, and Coron offer the perfect setting to relax and read a book without being constantly approached by vendors on the beach.
With a nationwide love of karaoke (my favorite!), meals that cost just a couple of dollars, and some of the friendliest people in the world, your heart—and your stomach—will always be full.
For those who prefer a more touristy vibe, there’s always Boracay.
3. Slovenia
I believe one of the last true adventures in the world is arriving in a country without doing any prior research. That’s exactly how I found myself in Slovenia, quickly becoming enthralled and enamored at every twist and turn in the road. From sweeping mountainsides to breathtaking lakes, turquoise rivers, and majestic waterfalls, I couldn’t drive more than a few hundred meters without stopping to take photos or jumping into a body of water for a swim.
The entire time, I kept thinking, “Why haven’t I heard of Slovenia before?!?”
I couldn’t help but daydream about owning a cottage—like something out of a children’s fairytale—by a serene Slovenian lake.
And all of these feelings of wonderment and fantasy happened before I even reached Ljubljana, where I completely lost it. With a history dating back to 2000 BC, the city boasts Baroque, Renaissance, and Art Nouveau architecture, among other styles—all with a picturesque river running through its heart. Lined with cafes, bookstores, and restaurants, it’s an artist’s—or an unemployed drifter’s—dream!
4. Egypt
The “Seven Wonders of the World” lost all credibility when it didn’t include the Great Pyramid of Giza. That’s what happens when you leave the decision to an online vote in 2007, a time when many developing countries didn’t—and still don’t—have widespread internet access.
I don’t want to criticize the other “wonders” of the world, buuuuut I’ll start with Chichen Itza 😉 (just kidding!). The Great Pyramid was built by unknown methods over 4,500 years ago in the middle of the desert. For context, in places like modern-day Los Angeles, moving a boulder takes years and costs millions!
While seeing something so massive and mysterious leaves you in awe, I truly fell in love with Egypt in Luxor. (True story: I didn’t know Luxor was a city—I thought it was just the name of a hotel in Las Vegas.) Exploring the Valley of the Kings (where King Tut is buried) by bicycle and marveling at massive monuments and temples built before Christ made it one of my most peaceful yet historically profound bike rides ever.
The sheer amount of history in the region is almost incomprehensible for an American. In our movies, time machines only go back to the 1950s!
When you need to lighten the historical weight, the coastal town of Hurghada on the Red Sea is a spectacular escape. Crystal-clear water and white-sand beaches were not something I expected to find in Egypt.
5. Turkey
I tell people that Turkey has some of the most diverse terrain of any country in the world. That’s not even taking into account Istanbul, an electrically vibrant, international city sitting at the intersection of Europe and Asia. Istanbul is a breathtaking mix of ancient history and diverse cultures, where people from numerous civilizations coexist peacefully.
While Istanbul’s mosques and bustling energy are renowned, it wasn’t until I visited Pamukkale, with its stunning white travertine terraces, and Cappadocia that I realized Turkey is truly one of a kind. Cappadocia, shaped by volcanic activity over thousands of years, features extraordinary rock formations, including fairy chimneys, cones (penis-shaped, no joke), pillars, cave dwellings, and even entire “neighborhoods” carved into mountainsides.
As if panoramic valleys and canyons weren’t enough, Cappadocia offers one of the premier Instagram-worthy attractions that pre-dates social media! Around 100 hot air balloons take off before sunrise each morning, creating one of the most enchanting man-made scenes in the world.
6. Iceland
If you want to go to one country that doesn’t seem like it’s part of this world we call “earth”, go to Iceland. When I talk about Turkey having some of the most diverse terrain I have ever seen in one country, I think of Iceland as having terrain NEVER seen anywhere else!
By the traditional definition of glaciers and mountains and waterfalls, Iceland’s versions blow away the competition. Stunning landscapes feature endless expanses of pure green, white, and blues as far as the eye can see, all on this island country of less than 400,000 people. I can’t think of a better country to explore in a rental car.
While it’s a bit on the expensive side, Iceland will have you kicking yourself that you didn’t schedule more days for your visit!
7. Sri Lanka
I was taken with Sri Lanka as soon as I saw wild elephants walking down busy roads alongside cars, tuk-tuks, and people–all of whom barely paid any attention to them. If this was the norm for the country, I wanted to find out as much about life in this country as possible!
Finding out more turned out to be an easy proposition, as people struck up conversations everywhere I went. As a former British colony from 1815 to 1948, English is widely spoken across the country–but in a way that’s not like English you’d hear in the U.K. or U.S. Sri Lankan English is still rife with pleasantries and formalities, such as frequent uses of “sir,” “good day,” “fellow,” “proper,” “a bit,” as if you’re hearing dialogue straight out of a Sir Arthur Conan Doyle book.
Outside of Colombo, the country’s capital, you see a country that has largely been unchanged since the 1800s. The “antique” railway and trains that cross the country, takes you through sweeping greenery–paddy fields, tea plantations, tropical forests, and palm trees.
As an island country, Sri Lanka isn’t short on beach towns. I chose Arugam Bay, where everyone wears flip-flops and you hear Bob Marley coming out of every restaurant and shop, making you feel like you could be on any number of laid-back beaches across the world.
8. Vietnam
I’ve always been drawn to countries that shock your senses and push you outside your comfort zone. With Vietnam, I fell in love with the energy and hustle of its people. I was captivated by the vibrancy and confidence of its culture. To an outsider, it’s pure organized chaos.
This might sound crazy, but I’ve never had so much fun crossing a street as I did in Vietnam! In many parts of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), there were no stoplights for pedestrians—you simply had to muster the courage to walk into a sea of motorcycles and hope for the best. The key? Keep walking at a steady pace, and the motorcycles will weave around you, like Moses parting the sea. After a while, I started to love it!
For a country that defeated both France and the United States on the battlefield, Vietnam exudes confidence, and it shines through its rich culture and incredible food. While Mexico might have a case, Vietnamese food could be my favorite. Even in the mid-90s humid heat, I found myself savoring bowls of pho—a national treasure—at tiny street-side tables with my knees practically in my chest.
While it’s the culture that draws me to Vietnam, the country also boasts stunning coastlines, such as the limestone islands of Ha Long Bay, and historical gems like Hoi An, a town filled with pagodas, temples, and colorful lanterns. And did I mention the food?
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Having spent a lot of time around frequent travelers, I know how difficult it is to answer the question, “What’s your favorite country?”
The more countries you visit, the more judicious and cautious you become in your response. Some places you only experience for a few days, while others you immerse yourself in for weeks.
Then there are the stages of life you’re in when you visit—your 20s, 30s, 40s, or whether you’re traveling solo, as a couple, with friends, or as a family. The timing of your visit also plays a huge role: peak summer heat, rainy season, or the middle of winter can all influence your mood, comfort level, and overall experience. These factors inevitably color how you compare one country to another, especially when some trips were perfectly timed with ideal weather and sparse crowds.
There’s no universal consensus among travelers about which countries are the “best” because everyone has different tastes, interests, and personalities. That said, my favorite countries are obviously the best! 😉
I’ve gained a sense of my wife’s domestic travel preferences, so I’m almost certain her favorite countries won’t match mine! But I’m optimistic that our Venn diagram of “favorites” will overlap on at least one or two destinations.
The key is getting her to a point where she has her own arsenal of experiences and countries to choose from! 🙏 And, I’ll tell you what–I’m going to enjoy seeing these countries through her eyes even more.