Around The World: 21-Year-Old Becomes Youngest to Travel The World and Visit Every Single Country

At just 21 years old, Lexie Alford from California has reportedly become the youngest person to visit every country in the world. Her incredible journey, which saw her visit 196 countries, has earned her a large following on Instagram.

Lexie Alford, known on Instagram as @lexielimitless, has claimed to be the youngest person to visit every sovereign nation in the world. According to her blog, she beat the Guinness World Record for this feat by over three years. 

Lexie Alford’s love of travel was inspired by her family’s successful travel agency in California. The family business has been in operation for over 30 years. On her blog, she credits her parents for teaching her how to travel on a budget.

Lexie Alford’s Forbes interview revealed how she credited her parents for instilling in her the value of travel from a young age. She described how her parents would take her out of school for extended periods and set her up on an independent study tour; doing so helped her experience different world cultures.

Many wonder how Lexie Alford was able to afford such costly trips. According to her blog, she lived rent-free with her parents and used public transportation instead of owning a car to avoid additional expenses.

To make her travels more affordable, Lexie Alford employed various strategies. She looked for the best deals when booking flights. If she could, she also used points or miles whenever possible. She also researched cheaper accommodation options such as hostels instead of splurging on luxurious hotels.

To have the time and financial resources to travel long-term, Lexie Alford made the decision to complete her education early. She graduated from high school two years ahead of her peers and received an associate’s degree from a local college by the age of 18.

Lexie Alford is currently in the process of applying to Guinness World Records for the title of “Youngest Person to Travel to All Sovereign Countries.” If approved, she will have beaten the current record holder, a Canadian girl who completed her goal in 24 years and 48 days, by over three years.

It’s not easy to be approved by Guinness World Records for the title of “Youngest Person to Travel to All Sovereign Countries.” They have a stringent process that applicants need to follow. In order to be considered for the record, Lexie had to follow a number of rules and provide proof of her travels.

Guinness World Records also requires that, in order to qualify for “Youngest Person to Travel to All Sovereign Countries,” the traveler must physically step foot within the border of each country and provide physical evidence of their visit.

Lexie Alford’s motivation for attempting to set the Guinness World Record was her desire to break down misconceptions about female solo travel. She also wanted to show that every culture harbors kindness despite political instabilities.

Lexie Alford admits to the dangers of traveling alone. Though she is grateful for the opportunity to be exposed to different countries and ways of life through her travels, she can only visit some countries for a short time due to safety concerns.

Lexie Alford’s visit to North Korea presented some logistical challenges due to the U.S. travel ban. However, according to Guinness World Records, visiting the North Korean side of the Joint Security Area on the DMZ counts as a visit to North Korea.

Previous holders of the Guinness World Record for “Youngest Person to Travel to All Sovereign Countries” have faced criticism for not spending enough time in each country or fully experiencing the culture of every country. These young people just had the goal of visiting as many countries as possible, just to beat the world record.

Pakistan was another country that required significant planning and effort for Lexie Alford’s visit. According to an Instagram post, it took Lexie five in-person trips to the embassy in Los Angeles, three different tour companies, two formal interviews, and numerous phone calls to be able to visit the country.

Lexie Alford has had the opportunity to experience more of the world than most people would ever consider possible. One such experience was going to the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, an area that she described as “one of the most intense places” she has ever visited.

With so many incredible destinations to choose from, it’s difficult for Lexie Alford to pick just one favorite. However, she has identified Angel Falls in Venezuela as one of the best places she’s been in.

“Country collecting” refers to the hobby of traveling to as many countries as possible. There are even clubs, such as the Travelers Century Club, that allow members to join only if they have visited 100 or more countries. So far, 1,400 members belong to the club.

Obtaining the necessary visas and documentation can be a major challenge for travelers, and this was certainly the case for Lexie. As an American citizen, she had to obtain more than 30 visas in advance – a feat that was especially difficult for certain countries in West and Central Africa.

What should a 21-year-old who has traveled all over the world do next? Lexie is taking some time to focus on her physical and mental health. She is also in the process of writing a book about her experiences.

Lexie has admitted to the mentally exhausting aspects of solo travel. Specifically, her 2018 trips forced her to be more comfortable with herself as she had to travel to 90 countries and spend almost five months with no travel companion.