40 Before 30

40 Before 30 began life in January 2010 at the Hard Rock Cafe in Kuala Lumpur (no judgement please, I just really fancied a burger!). It was an idea uttered allowed about wanting to visit 40 countries before my 30th birthday, after scribbling names on a napkin of all the places in the world I felt I really must see in the next few years. Liking the ring it had to it, 40 Before 30 became the name and notion behind a crude looking website I’d been using to chronicle my travels.

Fast forward 4.5 years and that ugly site was being described as ‘one of the most influential travel and tourism blogs in the UK’ (the media’s words not mine!). My stories of what not to do on your travels were attracting readers from around the world and my challenge to blog 40 countries was being aided by delightful invites from tourism boards and travel companies who wished to host me along the way. The blog picked up several awards (special thanks to the British Travel Press and Cosmopolitan Magazine) and eventually became my full time career (via at stint at Flight Centre UK as content and social media manager).

All of the content from 40before30.com – from my first impressions of Cuba to tips for travelling Sri Lanka – can be found on this very site. If you are a new reader you might like to check out some of my favourite posts – like the one where I am beguiled by the beach sellers in Goa or am awed by Australia’s Red Centre.

I learnt a lot from travelling and tweeting those 40 countries and thank everyone who helped make it possible.

Find out more about my favourite destinations here.

For easy reference the (now 60) countries I have been and blogged are:

Antigua, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Barbados, Belgium, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, Cambodia, China, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Fiji, France, Gambia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Grenadines, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, India, Indonesia, Japan, Lithuania, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Morocco, Monaco, Mexico, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Peru, Portugal, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, UAE, USA, Uruguay, UK, Vatican City, Vietnam.