Two lonely stamps graced my passport before I met my wife, and they were from the countries that border the U.S.
As we approached our 25th wedding anniversary this year, we visited our 24th and 25th countries together on a cruise around Greece that featured one port day in Turkiye.
The symmetry was a happy coincidence, though our consistent travel clearly was intentional. Michelle and I prioritize a life of exploring the world over just about everything except our loved ones and our professions that double as passions.
(There was a lot that drew me to Michelle when we met in June 2000, but the agreement that our passports were prized possessions helped seal the deal.)
We’ve collected countries on planes, trains, automobiles and ships. One country we visited twice in seven weeks has a “Do not travel” designation from the State Department; another faces a “comprehensive economic embargo” from the U.S. We don’t add countries where we’ve only changed planes — sorry, Netherlands, Panama and Switzerland — but you bet your Global Entry status we count Vatican City.
And little draws us like an island, whether it’s our annual destination in the Caribbean or recent additions such as Hvar and Crete.
While a determination to wander is vital, we’ve also learned some things along the way that made 25 countries in 25 years of marriage possible and set us up for the next 25. Such as:
Play the points game: We committed long ago to using credit cards and brand loyalty to earn travel. Sure, it helped when I was on the road for work as a sports reporter and racked up hotel nights that were vital for our two trips to Russia to adopt our younger daughter. But even after that life ended for me long ago, we’ve gained a steady stream of free flights and stays by being smart about how we pay for everyday expenses. Note: We’re still relative amateurs compared to our friends, who regularly open new cards for points bonuses and consider it a challenge to win big at a game they play like 3-D chess.
Tack on neighboring countries: On our way back from New Zealand, a stop in Sydney for two days to include Australia in our portfolio was a natural (though nowhere near enough time there). A right turn out of the Dublin airport — on the left side of the road — added Northern Ireland to the Republic of Ireland for us. And a trip last summer for our friends’ daughter’s magical wedding at a Tuscan wine resort was preceded by a night in Paris, three in Munich and three in Vienna. There’s still a slight twinge of regret, however, that we skipped a day trip to tiny Andorra (population 89,000) from Barcelona two years ago.
Go where others aren’t: In the summer of 2021, much of the world was closed to international travel as we emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic. Not Croatia. We celebrated our 20th anniversary in what quickly became one of our favorite countries and essentially had Dubrovnik — perennially overrun by visitors — to ourselves. Vancouver in the summer is a tourism mecca; in November, it was a bargain. And the gems of Baja, such as Puerto Nuevo and Valle de Guadalupe, are there for the taking if your Spanish is even mediocre … or your fluent friends are along for the trip.
Avoid locations that are overrun with kids: Our recent introduction to Virgin Voyages’ adults-only cruising confirmed the bliss we’ve found at resorts that keep the crowd to 18 and older. Michelle is a teacher who led several trips with students and some parents to Europe — mind you, some adults behaved worse than the kids — so we got more than our share of shepherding young crowds through capital cities. It’s tough to avoid kids all the time since her breaks are school breaks, but once she retires, we’ll be on the road when class is in session. This personal policy, of course, is set to expire the moment our kids have kids.
Complement your travel partner: I’m the ultimate planner and don’t mind spending hours sorting through flights and hotel sites to find the best options. Michelle can fit our excessive luggage in a tiny rental car like a “Tetris” master. I’ll research the hidden gems of Lisbon bars — try the Red Frog; trust me — and she has a knack for spotting an amazing restaurant while we’re walking in London. (The Ivy next to Tower Bridge has a duck salad we hope to replicate at home.) By playing to our strengths, we’re able to accomplish much more than if we tried to switch roles.
Determine what’s mutually important: Getting a little too old to fly economy for 11 hours? Are you willing to sacrifice a night of the trip to upgrade? Need an ocean view or are you willing to walk a minute to see the water? When you’re in a city for the first time, do you insist on experiencing all the main attractions or do you focus in-depth on some highlights? These can be deal-breakers or mess-makers on trips, and constant disagreements extinguish the appetite for more travel. Talk out your options and figure out what really matters before it becomes a problem.
Keep it fresh: This is rich coming from someone who has traveled to Jamaica and Mexico more times than most locals have ventured as far as Vegas, but I’m talking about our other journeys. When a short cruise to Cuba suddenly became possible in 2017, we eagerly went with our family and cherished our time in Havana. A visit to Islay in Scotland confirmed that my intense mezcal training prepared me for the island’s peatiest pours. And when we heard the bargain price for a trip to Tahiti for our honeymoon 25 years ago, we quickly said yes before anyone came to their senses — especially the undercharging cruise line that went out of business not long after our trip. We’ll always return to some of our favorite places, but our excitement over the countless new destinations we have left to explore is intoxicating.
Travel with your best friend: Really, it’s the only advice that matters.
