Personally, i enjoyed france the most, so diverse and interesting. I think they have it all...

I think bali had some amazing people and things to see, and they love to laugh.

Oooh, I agree with Kate, New Zealand wins hands down - it has absolutely everything. South America's next for me though - I've randomly wanted to visit Uruguay for quite a while. Not sure it's going to be as spectacular as NZ, but we'll see.

Hi,

This question has several problems;

Firstly few people have been to every country and are therefore qualified to judge which country is the 'best.'

Secondly best is subjective - I thought Australia was the most disappointing place I've ever been, most people seem to love it.

Thirdly best at what cricket, boozing, gratuitously invading smaller countries. Or do we mean best scenary, cities or man made wonders?

My list would go.

Best at Cricket - Australia.
Best at boozing - Australia.
Best at gratuoitously invading smaller countries - USA.
Best Sceenary - Nepal.
Best Cities - USA.
Best Man Made Wonders - India.
Joint Best OVERALL - Sri Lanka, Jordan, Morroco and Peru.

Steve

Botswana for "being on your own" in nature,
Thailand for Asian culture, Italy for Euro culture and food,
Venezuela for amazingly beautiful women and Dubai for the most recent economic miracle

Following on from my ramblings on the 'worst country' thread, I was reminded of my trip across Mauritania with a member of the Guinean judo team. You know the sort of thing, you share a taxi with someone, get talking, and find out that the person you would otherwise ignore is in fact fascinating.

So I reckon it's all down to the people you meet and the experiences you have...

Been to too many to narrow it down to one ... but unlike most people, I was not too impressed by New Zealand! And you can see my worst thread about Morocco!! Wasn't too impressed with SA either when I was dragged off my bike at gunpoint but was very quickly impressed how the number of people came to my rescue, so SA doesn't go down based on that one time where my life has been under threat.

But the best ...
Best memory/memories (island-hopping from West Timor across the Nusa Tenggara to Bali - I would recommend anyone to do this - but I don't know how it has changed since 1996?)
Best scenery (Algerian Sahara; Wadi Rum, Jordan; Bungle Bungles, Australia)
Best cities etc. (Antigua, Guatemala; Inhassoro, Mozambique; what's left of Old Lhasa, Tibet - not China; Udaipur, India; Granada, Nicaragua)
Best beaches (Bottle Beach, Koh Phan Ngan; Tulum Beach, Mexico)
Best trek (South-West trek, Tasmania)
Best wildlife (not seeing a tiger in India - makes me very excited not seeing something like this, but what I saw ... seeing a hippo give birth from 2m away in the Kruger, SA)
Best hangouts (Lake Manijau, Sumatra; Chimimani Mountains, Zimbabwe; Luang Prabang, Laos; Dali, China; Olympus, Turkey)
Most Impressive Buildings (Angkor Wat, Cambodia; Macchu Picchu - seen coming through the Sun Gate; Temples of Abu Simbel, Egypt)
Best natural sight (Vic Falls, Zimbabwe & Zambia)
Best Diving (Sulawesi, Indonesia)
Best festivals (Running of the Bulls, Pamplona, Spain)

And I've probably forgot a lot of other stuff?? Can't think of any other bests, though, but suffice it to say, I have had many, many positive travelling experiences.

JB

Why - Because its just so over the top in Dubai, then when you go to Sharjah its so different just love it and you feel very safe (is that go or a bad thing?)

Also Oman is just fantastic so different and yet so friendly.

No question - it's got the lot.
All the safari animals of East Africa, plus Mountain Gorillas - worth the visit alone.
Further north, the Nile and Murchison falls, where this mighty river passes through a gap a few metres across. The boat ride to the base of the falls takes in Hippos and crocs, as well as the animals of the savannah. I've got a photo with hippos, crocs, giraffes, elephants and antelope in! You can also drive up to the top of the falls - we were the only ones there - anywhere else and you'd had had a McDonalds!
Back south to the source of the Nile, where extreme sports such as white water rafting, quad biking and bungee jumping happen.
And the beers cheap too!

I fall firmly into the I Love NZ category and agree with everything said on here by the other people in the same fanclub.

The reason I have found for some people NOT being so taken with it is to do with its Britishness. For me, the fact it all feels so comfortably familiar to Britain is a real plus - I love that a Brit can be as far from home as possible, but seemingly be so close! Those who have been and weren't that taken with it had entirely the opposite view: they travel to experience something completely different.

It does beg the question: why do you travel?

As such Im going to post it as a new thread.

Variety from San Agustin to Cartagena, Bogota to Leticia. Colombia has an amazing number of magical places from ruins to Andean peaks to beaches to colonial cities to the Amazon to deserts. The people are warm and know how to party and the women hot. Festivals -Carnival in Baranquilla, Feria de Cali and Manizales, Blancos y Negroes in Pasto......... endless dancing and debauchery.

I love India, Indonesia and Tanzania aswell but Colombia is addictive.

I spent two years in NZ and didnt have a single really negative experience. The people are very friendly and straight talkers, the countryside is stunning and really varied, the pubs ( esp in South Island) have character and some of the local beers are pretty decent. Id have to say that it is my favourite country in the world by a mile. There isnt a city in the world to beat Wellington on a sunny ( and hopefully not too windy) day... ( though Sydney comes close)

Brazilians take hospitality to a whole different level. Rio de Janeiro has probably the most amazing urban-nature landscape in the World, São Paulo probably has the best restaurants of all kinds of food in the World (did you know it has the largest Italian, Japanese and Lebanese communities in the World), Bahia, Natal and Fernando de Noronha.... ahhh just so relaxing... beuatiful beaches, warm water, fantastic weather all year round..., Manaus and The Amazon, do I really have to say how amazing this place is? not to forget the Southern parts like Iguassu Falls (one of the largest in the World) or Florianopolis, yes hard to spell but it does feel like a piece of paradise.... and this will all be packaged with dozens of smiles and kindness.... well... but if you like snow... fly somewhere else!

I agree with New Zealand as being all around the best. Been there twice and loved it, especially the natural beauty of the South Island, and if I were to move to another country I would pick New Zealand.

BUT.... it was not the most interesting place. For that I would have to pick Burma (Myanmar) and Kenya. Burma is probably the most uncomfortable place I have visited but was like a trip back in time, which I loved. Kenya for the animals, the people, and Lamu.

Yup, NZ has it for scenery, hands down - what a variety in such a small country. But for historical interest, I'd go for Egypt - fantastic buildings, and a well-established tourist route (Cairo, Nile cruise, Lake Nasser too if you can manage it). The people are genuinely friendly if you make even a little effort to talk to them - discounting the extremist areas where you have to go in an armed convoy. And because it's such a popular destination (downside, too many visitors!) you can get really good bargains.

General consensus seems to be NZ, I for one have yet to visit but do intend to but even after I am sure my favourite will remain unchanged. I have been fortunate enough to have lived in quite a few of the countries I have visited on my travels and outside of my birth place (UK) spent the most time in France.

For me France has it all, and that's most certainly a bold statement coming from an English chap! Hard to know where to begin in my praise for this truly wonderful country. If you were only to visit Paris I defy anyone to see a more wondorous site, the people, the food and the most amazing architecture in the world. But this is just the tip of the iceberg. France is such a diverse nation from north to south, east to west. So rich in culture and a true sense of being, a proud nation and rightly so.

I remember many an afternoon outside the Carlton in Cannes sipping on a nice glass of Sancerre and sampling the foie gras, gazing over the Med as the most beautiful women in the world strolled by (don't tell my ex), ahh, c'est la vie.

I notice New Zealand features very prominently in this forum. I agree that NZ is a beautiful country and a must for everybody to visit. Mountains, Lakes, Fiords, Beaches, Bush (Forest, Jungle) walks,Whale Watching, Sub-tropical climate in the North, Geysers and other volcanic activity etc. etc. Something for everybody. However there is no history in the country. The oldest building is less than 200 years old so history lovers miss out. But - still well worth a visit. The people are very freindly albeit a little crazy. Extreme sports are common and readily available to everybody. Bungee jumping, parachuting, jet boating and any other ridiculous pastimes are the norm. I did a bungee jump on my 65th birthday. DO NOT MISS NEW ZEALAND.
However as far as the best country - I have not visited very many but the small countries in Europe all impressed me and I could not choose between Andorra, Leichtenstein or San Marino for my choice. What do others think about these gorgeous little places. A very interesting forum.
Once again NZ is definely worth a visit.

It may be true that some places are just unique on certain aspects of a country but a country as a whole must be the only way to classify it as such....and I have to say that Spain is on a whole a 'complete' country, one of the most diverse from the world...different languages, lanscapes, cultures, history, etc from unknown north (green, sandy beaches, cristaline waters, seafoos, celtic culture) to south (sun, sangria, paella, flamenco and all that steoretypes...)

Ole!

So many hidden  treasures in this paradise. The politics have gotten better and it is a safe place to visit. You will love it! Especially Santander!

My favourite country would probably have to be Burma.  It has stunning religious sites, extremely friendly people, surprisingly good food, very low prices, and, unlike the rest of Southeast Asia, is not overrun by annoying backpackers.