Over 49,000 JetPunk users have filled out a map of countries they have lived in or visited. Which countries were marked by the highest percentage of users?
Sometimes in Western Europe we get from some people an anti American snobbery that American people don't travel , I always answer this by saying cost is a factor and also why would you need to leave the usa you can ski in Colorado get tropical in Florida / Hawaii see the desert in the South west mountains ,wilderness, big cities , musical history native history etc without leaving your country. I'm European by the way .
Because seeing other cultures is cool! Going to a place where you don't speak the language and can't read the road signs, where nobody looks like you or sounds like you, is a really wonderful experience. Even just going to a grocery store is kind of fascinating. Seeing how many words and phrases you can pick up and challenging yourself to get by. It's really awesome.
The US is a beautiful country with lots of different kinds of landscapes and cities and vibes, for sure. I've been there a couple of times and my map is still covered in hundreds of stars of places I want to see - as it is in my home country too, I never stop visiting it. I just think that the world is such a huge, exciting place, and it's great to try to see as much of it as you can while you're here.
going to a place whose road signs I can't read feels dangerous. Like, if I can't even read public info, how could I deal with customs and all? How do I make sure not tu offend a culture unknowingly. I'm from Colombia, and I've always thought about this in the context of fellow Colombians going to the US without knowing English
the places you would travel to as a casual traveler are likely to be tourist-heavy, so locals are accustomed to interactions with strange foreigners. you're very unlikely to significantly offend any locals as a tourist. I've traveled across lots of countries and cultures but can count on one hand the 'bad' encounters I've had with locals, and none of those were remotely enough to ruin the trip. Definitely don't miss out on traveling because you're worried about getting lost or offending locals. Watch Anthony Bourdain's 'Parts Unknown' if you want some travel inspiration
Sometimes I visit Louisiana and it feels like I'm speaking a different language than the shop owner lol. Same for Los Angeles, Chicago, Texas, and Florida. Definitely different cultures.
Because you don't travel for nature alone, mate. I don't need to see the Gran Cañon, as I have been to the Fish River Canyon numerous times. I have been to the Alps in all seasons, so what if the Rockies are a bit craggier and younger? (And I don't ski unless I live right next to the pistes, which I did for 2 years in Austria.)
And the US has no Eiffel Tower, no Saint Peters, no Leaning Tower, no Brandenburg Gate, no Neuschwanstein, no Eagles Nest, no Paseo de Gracia, no Marble Arch, no Eremitage – just copies at best.
Traveling in the U.S. is certainly rewarding and it is a large and diverse place. In fact, I would even agree that to an extent in some contexts the U.S. is analogous to a single other country; and in some contexts it's more analogous to a subcontinent or group of countries.
However, the idea that you don't "need" to travel--or that any other travel is relatively valueless--for that reason is exactly the kind of blinkered provincialism that leads to negative American stereotypes abroad. The existence of treasures in the U.S. don't make the treasures of other countries and other places somehow less interesting, less compelling, less important or less fun.
it's obvious. Christianism is the biggest religion rn and the Catholinc church is a big part of that. Also Renaissance art. If one already is in Rome (with plenty more reasons to visit), just going in for the Vatican trip feels natural
I’m British and have a Czech partner… we regularly travel through three of these countries (sometimes a fourth - Luxembourg - but that’s not on the list) just to visit his parents. Take a wrong turn while we’re there and we could feasiblly end up wandering into 3 or 4 more.
If you are not from Europe and are doing a tour there, you can visit plenty of countries in a few weeks...If you went to North America for a few weeks holiday, you'd probably only visit or 3 countries at most...if you live in Europe, it would be quite common to visit multiple nearby countries every year
I have visited 5 countries. 3 on this list. 1 of them I cant put on my map because Jetpunk has no way to select overseas territories so I cant select Bermuda :(
It is believable if 45% have visited Italy. The Vatican number is about 42% of the Italy number. That makes sense. Except for nearby Europeans, most people visiting Italy probably go to Rome. Why not wander over to the Vatican while you are there? (Full disclosure: that's why I went there.)
indeed, because the percentage refers just to the people that actually filled in the map. As mentioned at the top about 50k people. Not everyone that has ever used this site has filled it out.
What incentives are there to go to Mexico? I assume there are some cool cultural ruins. I'll choose a more stable country for a beach visit/general lethargy.
mexico is a pretty nice place to travel to, especially along the coast. lots of touristy areas, cool nature, culture, and historical ruins, etc. it's not a destabilized mess like you think.
The fact that people struggle to understand how much easier and cheaper it is for Europeans to go by car/bus/train to neighbouring countries within Europe even for a weekend trip than do a full vacation on another continent...
Wtf, definetely not. People tend to travel to places are closer to them and most jetpunkers are from Europe or USA.
Most japonese will choose to travel aroung asia or oceania before europe. Most argentinans will choose Brazil before Eruope. Thats simply a matter of cost and distance
If you could see the sheer numbers of Japanese tourists in cities like London or Paris, you wouldn’t be saying this. Usually to be found crowding round something like the Mona Lisa in the Louvre, all desperately trying to take a picture… of perhaps the most famous picture in the world.
Everything that's been said about how easy it is to travel within Europe is true (relatively close, not as expensive as other travels, no need for a VISA...). However, I still wouldn't compare it to travel within US States, as there is a greater cultural and especially linguistic barrier between many European countries. While most of my European friends have travelled extensively, I also know several French people who'd rather go to Canada than to Spain or Italy, because they're afraid of the language barrier. I'm sure there are also lots of people of the US, among those who can afford it, who don't travel because of the language barrier.
I dont think the language barrier feels as strong to most of the world as it feels to americans. Itsnot that of a big deal, I traveled to russia when I was young and could only speak portuguese and an OK english and the trip was wonderful.
I mean, obviously people get excited to travel somewhere you can speak the language, so makes sense french wanting to visit canada, but I really doubt french people would avoid travelling to italy bc of the language
You clearly did not read the description: People that listed the countries they have been to on here, which is mainly people from Europe and North America, who will mainly travel to Europe and North America. Since Europe has a bunch of countries that are easily visited by Europeans, and as many Statsiders will do a bucket list of destinations when they come over, the European countries dominate.
What are the archetypical Euro family vacations? (for English speakers)
I can group these by (UK//Portugal/Spain/France/Lowlands/Nordic). Are international car road trips popular? Or does train/plane make the logistics & fees easier?
I'm a little confused about how to group Austria, Switzerland, Czechia, Poland, and Croatia.
I know of "dozen countries in 24 hours" types of trips.
I'm a little surprised to see the absence of Japan, China, SK, UAE, Russia, and maybe the Philippines or Thailand.
I was thinking of their aviation & languages. I'm guessing Russia has visa/language challenges. And maybe a lack of tourist industry due to distance + climate? No desire to go all the way to Moscow, just for Moscow?
I would've thought there'd be more SEA; something like Bangkok>KL>Singapore>Hanoi>Manila. Maybe it is too overwhelming to try to plan that with the language barriers. Same for Tokyo>Seoul>Vladivostok>Shanghai/Beijing.
There's only so much time & money. And easier trips to make.
road trips can be a nightmare in Europe because petrol is stupidly expensive and tolls can double that price in some countries *cough cough France*. You can fly to most any European capital return for under 100 euros if you just have a regular backpack
Many Europeans travel by rail: there's a great extensive rail network throughout Europe. Many young adults travel using an interrail pass, where you can travel throughout Europe by train within a certain time frame. In the course of a month, you can visit a lot of different countries very easily.
Vatican City here is such a funny result. Obviously statistically it makes sense that of the ~45% of people who have lived or visited Italy, many would have gone to Rome and therefore the Vatican, but it just never crossed my mind until after the quiz. Very weird to see it up here with much much bigger tourist destinations like France or Spain.
It's clear by the comments that most people can't read. It clearly states "lived or visited" so it would be weird if Caribbean countries were on this list with such small populations. Yes, Vatican City is on the list but that's because it's a very popular tourist destination within Europe and easy to travel to in comparison to the Caribbean.
Considering France is the most touristy place in the world, and that a big portion of Jetpunk users are European, I think it makes perfect sense. I'm Dutch and I don't think I know anyone who hasn't been to France
I always knew there was a European bent to this website, but sheesh. I've hardly been to the East Coast of the US, let alone Europe. No wonder there are so many quizzes on soccer and British history on here!
Monarchists in the UK would have us believe that the monarchy is essential to the tourist industry. Yet four of the top five most visited countries are republics, and number one (by some margin) remains France, who famously disposed of the their kings and queens nearly 250 years ago.
Yeah republics are popular in this ranking, but that doesnt change that the monarchy is popular with tourists in England, people go to tower of London to see how they literally turn them into more gold than human for coronation and go to castles because they are castles, for people that do not know how a monarchy is, that is interesting
Wow, I'm 1/20! I honestly thought that JetPunk was a little less Eurocentric, but I guess I'm wrong! On the other hand, I think I have some of the rarer countries on the list! :D
never did i think that vatican city, a place where roughly 1000 people live, would be on this list. but then again, if you think about the tourists, it kinda makes sense
I’m from USA and I’ve been to 15 of these 20. It’s true that my country has so many awesome places to visit you could spend a lifetime traveling to them all. But then you’d miss the history, culture, food, scenery of most of the world! The US is a huge country, yet a small fraction of the world.
The US is a beautiful country with lots of different kinds of landscapes and cities and vibes, for sure. I've been there a couple of times and my map is still covered in hundreds of stars of places I want to see - as it is in my home country too, I never stop visiting it. I just think that the world is such a huge, exciting place, and it's great to try to see as much of it as you can while you're here.
And the US has no Eiffel Tower, no Saint Peters, no Leaning Tower, no Brandenburg Gate, no Neuschwanstein, no Eagles Nest, no Paseo de Gracia, no Marble Arch, no Eremitage – just copies at best.
However, the idea that you don't "need" to travel--or that any other travel is relatively valueless--for that reason is exactly the kind of blinkered provincialism that leads to negative American stereotypes abroad. The existence of treasures in the U.S. don't make the treasures of other countries and other places somehow less interesting, less compelling, less important or less fun.
And please don't talk about the second place ; the leaderboard is probably rigged right after the first place......... :D
Most japonese will choose to travel aroung asia or oceania before europe. Most argentinans will choose Brazil before Eruope. Thats simply a matter of cost and distance
I mean, obviously people get excited to travel somewhere you can speak the language, so makes sense french wanting to visit canada, but I really doubt french people would avoid travelling to italy bc of the language
I can group these by (UK//Portugal/Spain/France/Lowlands/Nordic). Are international car road trips popular? Or does train/plane make the logistics & fees easier?
I'm a little confused about how to group Austria, Switzerland, Czechia, Poland, and Croatia.
I know of "dozen countries in 24 hours" types of trips.
I'm a little surprised to see the absence of Japan, China, SK, UAE, Russia, and maybe the Philippines or Thailand.
I was thinking of their aviation & languages. I'm guessing Russia has visa/language challenges. And maybe a lack of tourist industry due to distance + climate? No desire to go all the way to Moscow, just for Moscow?
I would've thought there'd be more SEA; something like Bangkok>KL>Singapore>Hanoi>Manila. Maybe it is too overwhelming to try to plan that with the language barriers. Same for Tokyo>Seoul>Vladivostok>Shanghai/Beijing.
There's only so much time & money. And easier trips to make.
I know JetPunk had a big spike of French Visiters but still.
Also i realize that its also travellers to France.
You all are missing out.
#Republic