The Definitive Ranking of International #DESTINATIONS
- Brit
- Apr 23, 2020
- 6 min read
I've been very lucky to have the ability to travel in my life, and it will forever be a priority to me. My dad gifted me with the travel bug, and I wouldn't have it any other way. While I still have a lot of places planned to see, this is my current ranking of international destinations that I've been able to visit. Keep in mind that I would re-visit any of these countries in a heartbeat, but you'll see my review of each place below. Enjoy!
13. ICELAND
Before I begin, a HUGE disclaimer. I visited Iceland when I was in elementary school, and I believe that I'd have a much different review if I visited now. In fact, I'd like to go back in the future.
Here's what I remember. Gorgeous waterfalls, large geysers, the Blue Lagoon, miles of volcanic rock that made it look like you were on the moon, Icelandic ponies, and a lot of paprika.
Not a fan of paprika.
As a kid, I remember feeling like there wasn't much to do. Obviously, as an adult, I realize that the nature in Iceland is so unique and out of this world; it's a destination where you can revel at the great outdoors. As far as food went, I remember being disappointed with a lot of my meals; I'm not a huge fish person, and that seemed to be the thing they did best.
Overall, I'd definitely travel there again (if for nothing but the Northern Lights), but it holds the place at the bottom of my list for now.
12. MEXICO
My dad is from Mexico, so I traveled there a few times when I was much younger. Because we were mostly going to visit family, I wasn't able to see much outside of my dad's down of El Carmen.
I do remember seeing Mexico City and Guadalajara, and enjoying the unique art and flavors to be experienced there.
I MUST say, a HUGE upside to Mexico is the food. Although some restaurants here claim to be authentic, nothing beats my grandmother's sweet tamales.
11. ENGLAND
Long live the Queen!
I've always been a huge fan of castles, so this was a must for me. The summer between my fourth and fifth grade year I was lucky enough to travel with People to People Student Ambassador Programs to both England and Scotland on a Myths and Legends trip.
We saw all of the things I'd want to see in England, including a bunch of locations used for Harry Potter films. A couple of places that stand out in memory are Alnwick Castle and Gardens and Stonehenge.
To be honest, I think one of the reasons this sticks out so much is the fact that traveling with this program gave me a ton of opportunities that I wouldn't have had if I had just been traveling with family.
10. CROATIA
I visited both Dubrovnik and Split as part of my honeymoon cruise, and I really don't have anything negative to say. I wish I could've explored more of the country on my own, but obviously the time didn't allow for that.
Dubrovnik was by far my favorite of the two cities. I loved how medieval the city was, and the old cobblestone streets were just beautiful. The cats that hung out around every corner were the cherry on top as well.
9. MONTENEGRO
Can I just say that Montenegro is absolutely gorgeous? Take a look at those mountains behind me. This was another stop on our honeymoon cruise, and we were only able to see Kotor.
The landscape here is absolutely to die for, and if mountains are your thing, you NEED to visit. I'm surprised that it isn't a hotter destination already!
My husband and I definitely want to take another trip here someday. I'm not much of a city girl, so seeing the nature close-up is a must.
8. GREECE
Greece is a beautiful country, and so different! I was struck by the architecture here more than anything else, and photos of Santorini just don't do it justice. We visited Mykonos, Santorini, Corfu, Athens, and Kefalonia while here. Views of the water really are spectacular here.
I've always been very interested in Greek Mythology, so visiting Greece was definitely a huge check off of the bucket list!
7. SPAIN
Lots of diversity here. From history to architecture to landscape, Spain has something for everyone. We visited Madrid, Barcelona, Mallorca, Pamplona, Segovia, and Toledo (to name a few)!
I would absolutely recommend that you add the San Fermin Festival in Pamplona to your bucket list and try running with the bulls. It was a RUSH of adrenaline (even though we only started our run about one hundred meters from the arena), and is something I will NEVER forget.
We also loved visiting Montserrat as a day trip from Barcelona. The pictures don't do this unique landscape justice.
6. SCOTLAND
This one comes in slightly above England on the same Myths and Legends trip, and its for one reason only: THE LANDSCAPE. The Scottish Highlands are to die for, and boating on Loch Lomond and Loch Ness are things that I'll never forget. There's a unique sort of mystery that hangs over everything in Scotland, and it's really magical!
5. ITALY
I've been lucky enough to see Italy twice now.
The first time I saw places like Pisa, Rome, Siena, and Montepulciano. Seeing things like the Leaning Tower, the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain, and the Pantheon are a must at least once in your lifetime.
The second time I went I was able to see Verona, Lake Garda, and Venice. I teach Romeo and Juliet each year to my students, so seeing Verona was amazing. Venice left something to be desired for me, but I am glad to have seen it once.
One huge thing that has Italy high up on my list is one simple thing: FOOD.
4. PORTUGAL
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to see much of Portugal, but the small part I was able to see has it pretty high on my list. We visited Lagos and the area around it, and the beaches were OUT OF THIS WORLD.
One of the biggest treasures of this trip was a sunrise trip to Praia do Camilo, a gorgeous beach outside of Lagos. We were also able to kayak in the Atlantic Ocean off of the Algarve Coast, which was amazing.
Food here? Fresh and delicious.
3. FRANCE
I've been lucky enough to visit France twice, and I've had amazing experiences both times. I'm not a city girl by any means, but Paris is something special.
The Louv and the Eiffel Tower are truly incredible, but definitely not all that France has to offer.
My first time I was also lucky enough to visit the Brittany region, including Quimper and a walled city.
The second time I visited France with my now-husband, we visited the French Pyrenees. We stayed in the town of Cauterets, and the beauty here is still embedded in my brain. If you ever get the opportunity to visit, trek to Lac de Gaube, as it was one of the most beautiful and surreal places I've ever been.
2. IRELAND/NORTHERN IRELAND
There's just something about the Emerald Isle that always has me wanting more.
I was lucky enough to travel to Ireland after my third grade year, and although I didn't remember anything VERY well, those memories stuck with me up until adulthood. Because of them, I decided to travel there with my now-husband on our first international trip together.
First and foremost, Ireland is such an EASY country to travel. Each time I've gone, we rented a car and called it a day. Driving on Irish roads (if you can call them that) is TERRIFYING, mind you, but so, so worth it.
I'm not the biggest beach girl, and the greenery here is TO DIE FOR.
I've been lucky enough to visit the Cliffs of Moher, Blarney Castle, Leap Castle, Giant's Causeway, the Dingle Peninsula, Dublin, Killarney, Cobh, and Kilkenny (to name a few). The history in each of these places is infused into absolutely everything, and they find a way to carve a place into your heart.
The last time I traveled here I splurged on a stay at the Lodge of Ashford Castle, and paid for the opportunity to participate in falconry. This was one of the most incredible experiences I've ever had, and I remember it vividly. My now-husband and I flew two baby hawks named Yaba and Yoda that were born on May 4th of that year (get it?).
Finally, something must be said for the PEOPLE here. In all of my travels, I haven't met friendlier people than the Irish!
1. SWITZERLAND
I've visited Switzerland once, and it is number one for one reason only: the SWISS ALPS. My father and I hopped over to Switzerland after my first trip to France, and we settled around the city of Bern (which I wasn't nearly as impressed with).
On one amazingly sunny day, we took a trip to Interlaken and Grindelwald, and that's all I needed to fall head over heels in love with the place. In Interlaken we took a cable car up the mountain to see the Alps from the top, and we spent some time at the small restaurant that lies at the top. There's nothing like feeling as though you are literally on top of the world.
The weather was beautiful that day, and the view of the lake below surrounded by mountains was just breathtaking. This was the first place I've ever visited that made me have such a huge reaction to a place, but I'd hope that these pictures can explain that.
I will visit this place again with my husband one day, and I'd like to make either Interlaken or Grindelwald home base for a lengthy amount of time.
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