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Here is E15: Top 20 Countries to visit – 14 completed!
I’ve been fortunate enough to travel to a lot of countries over the years, and people sometimes ask me…
What’s the best country I’ve ever visited?
[amused] That’s almost impossible for me to answer, because my answer keeps changing.Today? Probably the Philippines.
Last year? Vietnam.
The year before? Thailand.
Apparently my favorite country is whichever Southeast Asian country I’m thinking about moving to next.
That’s what I love about travel. Every country gives me something different.
So I took Google’s list of twenty countries worth visiting and compared it with my own travels.
I’ve visited fourteen. Six are still waiting for me.
Let’s go.
Number one — Japan.
I visited Tokyo in 2026 and it felt like another planet. The trains, food, cleanliness and organization amazed me. Even getting around became part of the experience.
Number two — Vietnam.
I’ve spent months here, from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi and places in between. Two-dollar pho, banh mi under a dollar, and apartments I’ve rented for under $300 a month.
And the scooters?
[laughs] Crossing the street can feel like a real-life game of Frogger.Number three — Italy.
Rome. Naples. The Vatican. History. Pizza.
[amused] Do I really need to keep selling this one?Number four — Thailand.
I’ve visited several times. Bangkok, Koh Samui, Koh Tao and Koh Phangan gave me different experiences. Great food, islands and inexpensive living keep pulling me back.
Number five — Argentina.
Buenos Aires was fantastic. I loved the energy around La Boca and the football culture.
And the steak?
[excited] I ate it almost every day for under ten dollars.Number six — Portugal.
I’ve been there, and the Algarve is one of my favorite areas in Europe.
Just don’t expect me to join the locals for sardines.
Number seven — Indonesia.
Bali gets plenty of attention, and I understand why. But I enjoyed getting beyond the obvious tourist areas too. Transportation made exploring surprisingly affordable.
Number eight — South Africa.
I haven’t made it to Africa yet. Cape Town, the Garden Route and a safari put this very high on my list.
Number nine — Turkey.
Istanbul fascinated me. It’s one of those places where I could actually feel Europe and Asia coming together.
Number ten — Colombia.
Still on my list. Medellín, Cartagena and coffee country all sound like my kind of adventure.
Number eleven — Spain.
I’ve been there. Great food, great cities and a completely different lifestyle.
Number twelve — Greece.
Athens alone gave me enough history to keep my head spinning.
Number thirteen — Peru.
I’ve spent time in Lima and found it to be a great example of geoarbitrage. Good food, affordable living and plenty to explore.
Number fourteen — Mexico.
Definitely been there.
Mexico has been part of my life for years, so for me it feels like much more than a vacation destination.
Number fifteen — New Zealand.
I haven’t been yet. Cost has probably been the biggest reason, but a South Island road trip is absolutely on my bucket list.
Number sixteen — Brazil.
I’ve been there, and it’s enormous. It deserves much more than a quick visit.
Number seventeen — Malaysia.
Kuala Lumpur was easy for me to navigate, relatively inexpensive, and a great jumping-off point for Southeast Asia.
Number eighteen — Croatia.
Still waiting for me. The Adriatic coastline and islands look incredible.
Number nineteen — Morocco.
Another one I haven’t reached. Marrakech, the Atlas Mountains and the Sahara would be completely different from most of my recent travels.
And number twenty — Georgia.
The country… not the state.
I haven’t been yet, but Tbilisi, inexpensive living, the food and the Caucasus Mountains have my attention.
So that’s Google’s twenty.
I’ve experienced fourteen, which leaves six on my list:
South Africa. Colombia. New Zealand. Croatia. Morocco. And Georgia.
Sounds like I’ve got some work to do.
But travel keeps teaching me there really isn’t one “best” country.
A place I love might not work for you. Maybe you want beaches, history, nightlife or mountains.
That’s why I share my experiences rather than tell anyone where they should go.
So here’s my question for you…
If you could choose one country and leave tomorrow, where would you go?
And what’s stopping you?
The funny thing about my bucket list is that the more places I cross off…
the longer the list seems to get.
Hopefully I never finish it.