I saw a video by a young American who had visited all 179 countries (admittedly, I am not quite sure how "country" is defined) about which were his five worst countries to visit, and which were his ten best. It got me thinking, admittedly as someone who has only visited around a third of that number, as to which mine would be. I will stick to five each.
First, some definitions - I am including only sovereign states here, and by "worst" or "best" I really mean "least worth visiting" and "most worth visiting". I do not regret visiting any, and indeed I have fond memories of all of them - in the end, it is a matter of prioritisation.
FIVE LEAST WORTH VISITING
So, all those caveats established, the five countries I would say are least worth visiting from my experience - in no particular order.
Moldova
I visited the Republic of Moldova on business in 2004. It was perhaps the most intimidating and awkward country in which I have spent time. Even entering the country took some time and required proof of currency; the visit included regular police passport checks even while just walking down the street, a weird day out in the breakaway republic of Transnistria, and an utterly bizarre trip to a Soviet-style nightclub.
There is no particular reason to go to Moldova (versus, say, other countries in Eastern Europe), and so it is not one I would recommend.
Morocco
This is a tricky one, as I have some very fond memories of two trips to northern Morocco while living in southern Spain in early 1998. However, I had already visited Tunisia (home of the fascinating ruins at Carthage as well as some excellent resorts) and Egypt (home of the utterly magnificent pyramids) and therefore Morocco was somewhat underwhelming.
At the time, Morocco was also full of people who seemed constantly to be demanding money. You cannot blame them, as such, but it just made the whole thing awkward. I gather things are much improved since but, based on my own experience, there are other parts of North Africa I would prioritise.
Namibia
I visited southern Namibia, primarily to see the Fish River Canyon, in early 2003. It was very impressive - yet astonishingly remote and, ultimately, in much the same way as Morocco was a little understated after Egypt and Tunisia, Namibia was likewise understated after South Africa and some of its neighbours.
I suppose I just think if you are going to Southern Africa, there are many other places to go to first.
Eswatini
I visited Eswatini, then known as Swaziland, in 2008. It was perfectly pleasant and the people were friendly but, again, there are other places in Southern Africa to prioritise.
Thailand
Perhaps the most surprising inclusion here is Thailand, which would be in many people's top ten. However, for me, Bangkok in early 1996 seemed to be full of traffic, temples, and foreign men of a certain age whose likely reason for visiting I would rather not spend too long contemplating.
Compared to nearby Malaysia and Singapore, which were both utterly magical, I was left somewhat underwhelmed.
FIVE YOU MUST VISIT
This brings us to five countries which are not necessarily my favourite as such, but which I would recommend anybody visit. I am, of course, overlooking some really worth candidates - from Egypt to Malaysia outside Europe to countries such as Czechia and Germany inside it.
United States
It seems a fairly obvious point, but my visits to various parts of the United States between summer 2001 and Thanksgiving 2018 have been part awesome, part baffling, and often like living in a movie.
Visits are as much about experiencing this astonishing society as about sightseeing in the world's only superpower. Nowhere mixes exultation and exasperation to quite the same extent. Furthermore, officious airport officials aside, the people are by and large ridiculously open and friendly.
Italy
Italy may be the greatest cultural power in the world. Mix its cultural impact, ancient sites, remarkable architecture, astonishing countryside, widespread glamour and world-beating cuisine, and it is small wonder I rarely let a year pass without a visit.
Toss in the hospitable people, the high-speed trains and beautiful language… see you there next month?
Cuba
I visited all sorts of weird places in my childhood - East Germany, Apartheid South Africa, Turkish Northern Cyprus, British Hong Kong, Yugoslavia… since the end of the Cold War the world has become more uniform with fewer truly exceptional places, and so perhaps the only place in the modern world which is quite so bizarrely outstanding is Cuba.
Nothing really works in Cuba, and it is exactly that which made it so intriguing on my visit in August 2022. It is no luxury destination and you will probably only visit once, but there is nowhere remotely like it - which is why it is on the list!
Denmark
Denmark, which I visited various times for various reasons between 1997 and 2013, goes on the list as the most impressive society I have ever come across. Nowhere is perfect, of course, but the Danes seem to know how to innovate without destroying their customs, how to be free without losing a sense of cohesion, how to deliver prosperity without it becoming vulgar, and how to be proudly patriotic without it degenerating into distasteful nationalism.
There is plenty to see and do too - from historical museums to literary landmarks to great infrastructure projects to the magical Legoland and Tivoli. No one would regret a trip to this small country with big ideas.
South Africa
I have a soft spot for South Africa given I still have family there (hence my regular visits for over thirty years from 1977, particularly when my own parents lived in the Cape from 2000-10), and of course I am intrigued by its social history and even more so by its social present.
However, there is one single reason aside from all of that which makes it a must-visit - safari.
There is nothing quite like seeing great animals over vast expanses in their natural habitat. It is life-changing and life-affirming - by watching non-humanity you learn more about humanity. You cannot but be profoundly affected by learning about crocodiles close-up, being communicated with by elephants, or sharing a gaze with giraffes. Sure, you can do this is Kenya, India or elsewhere - but combine the fascination of South Africa with the fascination of safari and it is surely a winning combination.
There are my five to de-prioritise and five to prioritise. What are yours? Tell me below!
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