Been to: -USA, cause I live here. Visited 17 states, driven through a handful more. -Mexico. Tijuana, Cozumel, and the Mayan ruins at Uxmal. The pyramids were absolutely worth visiting and would recommend to anyone. The other two places were just tourist traps, but fun for vacations. -Japan. Several times under different circumstances. Had a great time but I pretty much knew what to expect. I don't recommend going there on your own the first time, but rather having someone who's been there before as a guide because otherwise it might get overwhelming. That said it's probably the friendliest and safest country I've been to and has some great sights to see. Can get pricy compared to some other destinations, but the currency conversion is pretty easy to wrap your mind around if you're from the US because you can approximate 100 yen to the dollar. -Taiwan. Fascinating country, but it cured me of any desire I might have to go to China because there were sooooo many people. The traffic was crazy (mopeds as far as the eye can see) but information in English wasn't terribly hard to find. Food was cheap and good and had a great variety. The National Palace Museum should be on everybody's bucket list, it's where they took a lot of China's historical treasures after the Communist party took power. I stayed in Taipei most of the time but we made a brief visit to some other places. Outside Taipei and Kaohsiung, it's better to have someone as a guide/interpreter because the level of information in English drops off dramatically. -Thailand. Went for a destination wedding, enjoyed it immensely. The ruins at Ayutthaya are spectacular, as are a lot of activities in the interior. I liked those better than our time on the beach at Phuket, which was good for a party but I'm not a huge beach bum so it's easy to run out of things to do. Food and activities are extremely cheap and even fancy hotels are reasonable. The traffic was once again hair-raising but less terrifying than Taipei. Like Mexico, there's a lot of poverty. Like the other two Asian countries I've been to, prepare for it to be a cash economy - take what cash you expect to spend and do not rely on places being able to accept your credit card. (Hotels do, but many retailers and restaurants, even large ones, do not.) The food was even better than Taiwan's but the drinking water isn't safe so you have to buy bottled water everywhere, which is inconvenient. And it's hot. Hot and humid and not everybody has air conditioning. Would definitely go back.
Want to visit: -Egypt. This place needs to become safe for American tourists again because I burn to see the Pyramids and the Cairo Museum and the Valley of Kings. -Cambodia because I'd love to see Angkor Wat. If we'd had another week to blow in Thailand I would have included this on the same trip, but the schedule was busy enough I wouldn't have had time to enjoy it. -Peru, Macchu Picchu. Are we sensing a pattern with ruins here? Look, I like these things. -Somewhere in Eurpose, but my desire is nonspecific enough it's why I haven't been there yet.
Re: WHAT COUNTRIES HAVE YOU TRAVELED TO/WHICH COUNTRIES WOULD YOU WANT TO TRAVEL TO?
-USA, cause I live here. Visited 17 states, driven through a handful more.
-Mexico. Tijuana, Cozumel, and the Mayan ruins at Uxmal. The pyramids were absolutely worth visiting and would recommend to anyone. The other two places were just tourist traps, but fun for vacations.
-Japan. Several times under different circumstances. Had a great time but I pretty much knew what to expect. I don't recommend going there on your own the first time, but rather having someone who's been there before as a guide because otherwise it might get overwhelming. That said it's probably the friendliest and safest country I've been to and has some great sights to see. Can get pricy compared to some other destinations, but the currency conversion is pretty easy to wrap your mind around if you're from the US because you can approximate 100 yen to the dollar.
-Taiwan. Fascinating country, but it cured me of any desire I might have to go to China because there were sooooo many people. The traffic was crazy (mopeds as far as the eye can see) but information in English wasn't terribly hard to find. Food was cheap and good and had a great variety. The National Palace Museum should be on everybody's bucket list, it's where they took a lot of China's historical treasures after the Communist party took power. I stayed in Taipei most of the time but we made a brief visit to some other places. Outside Taipei and Kaohsiung, it's better to have someone as a guide/interpreter because the level of information in English drops off dramatically.
-Thailand. Went for a destination wedding, enjoyed it immensely. The ruins at Ayutthaya are spectacular, as are a lot of activities in the interior. I liked those better than our time on the beach at Phuket, which was good for a party but I'm not a huge beach bum so it's easy to run out of things to do. Food and activities are extremely cheap and even fancy hotels are reasonable. The traffic was once again hair-raising but less terrifying than Taipei. Like Mexico, there's a lot of poverty. Like the other two Asian countries I've been to, prepare for it to be a cash economy - take what cash you expect to spend and do not rely on places being able to accept your credit card. (Hotels do, but many retailers and restaurants, even large ones, do not.) The food was even better than Taiwan's but the drinking water isn't safe so you have to buy bottled water everywhere, which is inconvenient. And it's hot. Hot and humid and not everybody has air conditioning. Would definitely go back.
Want to visit:
-Egypt. This place needs to become safe for American tourists again because I burn to see the Pyramids and the Cairo Museum and the Valley of Kings.
-Cambodia because I'd love to see Angkor Wat. If we'd had another week to blow in Thailand I would have included this on the same trip, but the schedule was busy enough I wouldn't have had time to enjoy it.
-Peru, Macchu Picchu. Are we sensing a pattern with ruins here? Look, I like these things.
-Somewhere in Eurpose, but my desire is nonspecific enough it's why I haven't been there yet.