After Visiting 44 Countries: Best Beaches, Food, Safari & Most Overrated Destinations

After Traveling to 44 Countries, Here Are My Honest Travel Awards 🏆

A seasoned traveler’s ranking of the best beaches, food, safari destinations, and more.

I grew up traveling.

Airports felt familiar. International trips were normal. But as I matured, travel shifted from exposure to intention. I stopped simply visiting destinations and started observing them by comparing landscapes, culture, infrastructure, value, cuisine, and overall experience.

Now, after traveling to 44 countries across six continents, I’ve developed standards.

I’ve stayed in overwater villas in the Maldives.

I’ve watched the sunrise on safari in East Africa.

I’ve eaten street tacos in Mexico City and pasta in Rome.

I’ve navigated some of the most expensive cities in the world and some of the most affordable.

Travel is subjective. But experience brings perspective.

If you’re searching for:

• The best beach destinations in the world

• The best countries for safari

• The most affordable international travel destinations

• The most expensive countries to visit

• Or simply where to travel next

Here are my honest travel awards after 44 countries.

This ranking originally started as a Reel that reached over 175,000 views and the response confirmed something I already knew:

Travel is personal, but patterns emerge.

Certain destinations consistently rise to the top. Others look better on Instagram than they feel in real life. And after visiting 44 countries, I’ve developed a clear framework for how I evaluate a place.

If you came here from the Reel, welcome.

If not, you can watch it here:

[Watch the full 44 Countries Travel Awards Reel here]

Now let’s break down the full rankings in detail.

🏖 Best Beaches

When ranking the best beaches in the world, I consider water clarity, sand quality, atmosphere, and overall experience.

🇲🇻 Maldives

The clearest water I’ve seen anywhere in the world. If you are looking for luxury beach destinations, the Maldives consistently delivers.

🇬🇩 Grenada

An understated Caribbean island with soft sand, fewer crowds, and a peaceful energy that feels authentic.

🇸🇽 Sint Maarten

A distinct blend of European and Caribbean culture paired with beautiful coastline.

🇹🇿 Tanzania (Zanzibar)

Zanzibar offers white sand and turquoise water with significantly more value than many comparable luxury island destinations.

🍝 Best Food Destinations

Food shapes how you remember a country. These consistently impressed me.

🇲🇽 Mexico

One of the best culinary destinations globally. Depth of flavor, regional diversity, and accessibility.

🇮🇹 Italy

Minimal ingredients, perfected technique. Italian cuisine highlights simplicity at its best.

🇵🇹 Portugal

Fresh seafood, rich stews, flaky pastries, and balanced flavors. Portugal is often overlooked in European food conversations, but it deserves far more recognition.

🇯🇲 Jamaica

Deeply flavorful and rooted in culture. From jerk seasoning to fresh seafood and tropical fruit, Jamaican cuisine is expressive and unforgettable.

🌿 Best Nature

These destinations offer landscapes that feel expansive and powerful.

🇮🇸 Iceland

Glaciers, waterfalls, volcanic terrain, and black sand beaches create one of the most dramatic natural environments in the world.

🇿🇦 South Africa

Few countries offer this level of geographic diversity from coastline, mountains, wildlife, and wine regions in one destination.

🇮🇩 Indonesia

Rice terraces, lush jungles, and striking cliffs define Indonesia’s natural beauty.

🇵🇪 Peru

From the Andes Mountains to the Sacred Valley, Peru offers powerful and historic landscapes.

🎢 Best Adventure Destinations

For travelers seeking activity and movement.

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

Rainforests, waterfalls, ziplining, and eco-adventure experiences make it one of the best adventure travel destinations.

🇹🇿 Tanzania

Safari remains one of the most transformative travel experiences available.

🇰🇪 Kenya

Expansive plains and wildlife encounters that feel raw and unforgettable.

🇿🇦 South Africa

Blends adventure with cosmopolitan experiences seamlessly.

💎 Most Underrated Countries to Visit

These destinations deserve significantly more recognition.

🇬🇾 Guyana

Ideal for nature-focused travelers looking for something less commercialized.

🇧🇿 Belize

Barrier reefs, jungle excursions, and cultural depth often overshadowed by larger Caribbean names.

🇧🇶 Bonaire

A quiet, refined destination particularly ideal for divers.

🇲🇾 Malaysia

Culturally diverse, affordable, and rich in both food and scenery.

😬 Most Overrated Destinations (In My Experience)

Overrated does not mean “bad.” It means expectations exceeded reality.

🇫🇷 France

Paris remains iconic, but outside of it, the overall experience did not resonate as strongly for me.

🇦🇼 Aruba

Beautiful beaches, but culturally it felt heavily Americanized.

🇦🇷 Argentina

Impressive landscapes, but comparatively less impactful than other South American destinations I’ve visited.

🇬🇧 England

London is dynamic, though the broader country did not leave a strong pull to return.

💸 Most Affordable International Destinations

High value for the overall experience.

🇲🇽 Mexico

Consistently strong return on investment for accommodations, food, and experiences.

🇹🇭 Thailand

Luxury-level experiences at accessible price points.

🇨🇴 Colombia

Vibrant culture and excellent cuisine without high costs.

🇨🇳 China

Many major cities provide strong infrastructure with comparatively reasonable pricing.

💳 Most Expensive Countries to Visit

These destinations require budgeting strategically.

🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates

Dubai offers world-class experiences, but costs accumulate quickly.

🇸🇬 Singapore

Exceptionally clean and efficient with premium pricing to match.

🇮🇸 Iceland

Unforgettable landscapes, high operational costs.

🇰🇾 Cayman Islands

Refined and polished, reflected in accommodation and dining prices.

✨ Honorary Mentions

Not every country fits neatly into a ranking but many still left a lasting impression.

• 🇬🇷 Greece

• 🇪🇸 Spain

• 🇭🇷 Croatia

• 🇰🇷 South Korea

• 🇹🇷 Turkey

• 🇦🇬 Antigua & Barbuda

Each offers something distinct depending on what kind of traveler you are.

If this ranking helped you plan your next trip, share the original Reel or send this article to someone building their international travel list.

Final Perspective

Forty-four countries later, one truth remains:

The “best” destination depends on what you value.

If you prioritize luxury beaches → Maldives.

If you prioritize food → Mexico, Italy, Thailand, Japan.

If you want safari → Kenya or Tanzania.

If you want high-value travel → Thailand or Mexico.

If you want high-glamour, high-budget → UAE or Singapore.

Experience builds discernment.

And discernment makes travel more intentional.

Country 45 is already calling.

Enjoy the Journey,

XoXo

Ariel Rose