I’m setting what I hope will be a very realistic goal in 2022: visit five countries I have not previously visited.
As I focus on the more important matters of my family, rebuilding my career, and working to live rather than living to work, I still hope to whittle away a bit at my country count each year. But long gone are the years when I could visit dozen of new countries.
This year, there’s an added dimension of uncertainty with coronavirus-related travel restrictions still an open question, but by the end of the year I hope to visit these five new places:
Algeria
I’ve always wanted to visit Algeria (and Tunisia and Libya) although I cannot explain why. Morocco is a favorite destination and I understand that Algeria is a bit more off the beaten track. I plan to make this trip a reality this year.
Bhutan
After reading Ben’s trip report (now many years ago), Bhutan sits at near the top of my list of countries I hope to visit this year.
Mongolia
Mongolia fascinates me, as does MIAT Mongolian Airlines. But I hope to visit this country during the warm of summer, not cool of winter. With no transit allowed from China, getting there will be more challenging…perhaps via Moscow?
Nepal
While I don’t plan on climbing Mt. Everest, I do wish to visit Nepal before or after Bhutan.
Syria
I’ll admit it, Syria remains so tantalizing to me, all these years later. Damascus in particular. Things have calmed down there. I want to visit the country and see first-hand the aftermath of the Syrian Civil War. I want to review the “fake” Four Seasons (the hotel left the Four Seasons chain in 2019 but still operates as a renegade Four Seasons).
There are so many other places I hope to visit. Madagascar, Mozambique, Angola, Kenya, and Malawi all come to mind. When I return to southern Africa, I want to enjoy an extended time on the ground, not a “review trip” (as much as I love those). There are so many cities and nations that I want to visit and I’d ideally visit 5-6 countries in one trip…it’s not exactly an easy jaunt to southern Africa. We’ll see.
Family Travel?
Our family travel in 2022 will likely just be within California and Germany, where we are now. Augustine is ready for greater adventures, but Claire Marie is not. Maybe we will visit Scotland together if we travel to Germany this summer, a place my wife has long wanted to visit.
CONCLUSION
I love the new travel possibilities in the new year, even with the pandemic lingering on. There is so much of this earth left to see. Hopefully I can visit at least five “new” countries (for me) in 2022.
What new country would you like visit in 2022?
Bhutan may not be ready for visitors this year but the rest more likely will be
My new country count may not go up much next year and I’ll focus instead on US states & Canadian provinces
Bro, I’ve processed Canadian visa many times but couldn’t make it, what’s your advice to me, and am still willing and praying to be in Canada.!!
Bro these countries aren’t new, they’ve been around forever. R u dumb?
New to him, Tom.
I think Mongolia is fairly easily accessible from Korea. The two countries have pretty close ties. Use *A miles on Asiana while you still can! (One of my greatest avgeek brags is flying TK in J from FRU to ULN in 2014).
As for Syria and Algeria, is there any way to get a visa other than using embassies in DC and paying $160? Algeria interests me a lot, but the perceived visa hassle has put me off.
Bhutan is arguably the most interesting country I’ve visited. It’s a controlled experience due to the guide requirements, but nevertheless very genuine and interesting.
Same trip was Nepal of course, best Hyatt redemption ever in Kathmandu. Took a helicopter up to Everest base camp, all the joy, without the week-long hike. Even included a stop at Lukla to refuel which makes the trip worthwhile for any avgeek. Highly recommend doing the same.
I really can’t think of a country that I would not want to visit but I think I want to visit Norway, Finland, and Poland. They all seem like such interesting places and I am from Las Vegas so those places are so nice during the summer. At least they were when I went to Denmark and Sweden.
If/when you visit Algeria, I’d highly recommend spending time in Constantine as well as Algiers. It’s one of the more unique city settings I’ve ever seen and the people were very friendly and helpful (and I visited during the height of political protests in the country).
While I did not make it to Algeria, I was in nextdoor neighbor Tunisia recently and loved it (especially the Star Wars filming locations).
Went to Nepal in November 2019 for a bit of hiking in the Annapurna region before flying to Bhutan. Wow, the flight alone between these two Himalayan countries make for a truly spectacular sightseeing!
Rebuilding your career. What career are you referring to? Are you going to practice law? Or get back into international product buying?
Stay tuned.
For me, I want to go to Palau.
For Matthew, I caution against Syria. Calmer? Yes. Problematic? Unfortunately, yes. There is a chance that geopolitical factors come into play and Matthew is held against his will as a guest. Live and Let’s Fly might then be inactive and Augustine without a Dad at home. Don’t. (And Syria is also on my list as a “want to” but is on the “want to, but won’t”
Mongolia sounds really good, always wanted to go there (during summer of course!). There are plenty of flight options from both Russia and S. Korea, but I think MIAT fly to Berlin (they certainly used to before the pandemic), so that would probably be the best way to experience their service.
MIAT flies now to/from Frankfurt/M, Germany.
I’ve been lucky to visit Nepal many times; on business but I did manage to get out and see a little of Kathmandu. Do try to take the early morning Everest Flight operated by several airlines such as Buddha Air and Yeti Airways. A great experience. To stay, while the international chain hotels do have some local flavour I’d highly recommend a stay at Dwarika’s Hotel and dinner in their Krishnarpan restaurant. It’s an independent heritage hotel with origins in preserving old wooden windows, doors and other features; they still have a restoration programme. And dinner there is a great experience.
I don’t know if I’ve seen a list of countries that you have visited, but if you have not yet made it to Armenia I’d really recommend that too.
Nepal is one of the most interesting countries I’ve seen. There isn’t a lot to see in Kathmandu, but be sure to visit one of the many Hindu temples, and local villages and hiking trails just outside the ‘city’. The Everest flight is something you will never forget, and plan your flight when clouds up there are at a minimum (I think Dougie is correct with going as early in the morning as possible).
For myself, I have yet to explore Peru, Brazil, Argentina & Chile. But I don’t think 2022 will be the year for those. Maybe next year….
Off topic, but I love that your daughter, Claire Marie has two “first”names, just like me. My mother went through a phase when I was born and wanted her children to have two first names and named me Andrew Stuart. There’s no hyphen on my birth certificate, but Stuart is still listed as my first name. I have no middle name.
Unfortunately, aside from one close friend and my mother who calls me Andrew Stuart when I’ve done something she doesn’t approve of, nobody ever calls me Andrew-Stuart. I put it down to the fact that Australians love to shorten people’s name and then end them with an O. If your surname is Robertson, you’ll be called Robbo. Johnson becomes Johnno. Even Olympic sprinter Matt Shirvington is called “Shirvo”in the media! It doesn’t bother me that much to have my name shortened, mostly because I’ve gotten used to just being called Andrew. I wonder if Claire Marie will have her name shortened as she ages. I hope not, because Claire Marie is a beautiful name,,,
I will always call you Andrew-Stuart! 😉
Wow, great list.
If you decide to make it to Algeria, maybe I can tag along or meet you there. Being originally from Algeria, I probably can help make your travels interesting and memorable.
If I remember for the visa and if you travel as a tourist, I believe you will need an invitation from a host or a proof of accommodation, such as a hotel reservation. Not sure if visa requirements have changed since 2019.
Bhutan was our first trip that was cancelled when pandemic started…had tickets, visa, everything. still in touch with the tour company we used, he was hoping they would eliminate the quarantine requirements by this summer…fingers crossed. I mean, you can go now if you are willing to quarantine for 21 days! good luck with that.
I’m skeptical that Bhutan will reopen anytime soon, but the rest of that list looks doable. I echo derek’s warning on Syria, though. While I’d love to go there someday (and Iran, too, for that matter), not a chance I’m willing to take with a small child waiting for me at home.
Austria and Finland are tentatively lined up for me. We’ll see how it goes. P.S. if you have any suggestions for a long weekend in Vienna in early May, I’m all ears.
If you have the time, a day trip to Bratislava is well worth it, the two capitals are only 50km or so apart.
Ram Al Pichini this is my Facebook. Check all my journey in the west of Syria last month was as amazing as it was before the war . It is 19 saver than any city in the UD or Brazil. Very happy to give you guys all the advices you need if you want to go one day.
I’ve done Finland to Moscow to Mongolia to South Korea before. Also Doha to Kathmandu to Bhutan to Bangladesh. Easy direct flights. One thing about Mongolia, if you’re planning on staying in one of those circular Yurt’s or Ger’s, it may be best to go there when it’s cooler as you won’t have a chance to shower or use a regular toilet when you’re in the rural areas. Of course, if you just want to stay in UB , the capital, then that’s not an issue.
Spent a couple of weeks in Syria in the late 90s. Rented a car and toured the entire country. If its safe I highly recommend it.
Mongolia is awesome. I’ve been going there since 2001. The countryside in winter is absolutely beautiful if they’ve had snow. But the temperatures are also dangerous so you need good, reliable transportation. Pre pandemic I almost always went via Seoul. You had your choice of MIAT or Korean Air. Hong Kong was another option in better times. My first flight to Ulanbaatar was on a MIAT 727.
I started traveling in London in October. Now I’m in Madrid.
What started as a great trip is now utter chaos because of the covid insanity. I’m going to try to fly back to the US this week. Forget international travel until this settles down. You’re only one test from being locked in a room with less rights than a murderer
Fascinating destination for sure. I’ve been to Algeria, Nepal and syria was my most recent trip.
I stayed at the fake four seasons, and honestly it is better than the one in Lebanon amd Jordan.
Nepal is beautiful, i say spring is best to visit.
I didn’t stay long in Algeria, but i had a great 2 days in Oran.