After traveling to over 40 countries around the world, I think everyone should visit these 5 underrated spots

Malta is one of the many underrated spots I've visited.Yuriy Biryukov/Shutterstock

• I've always loved traveling and have visited over 40 countries around the world.
• Many of my favorite places that I've visited aren't typical tourist spots.

I've always loved traveling. In my opinion, there's nothing like waking up in a new country with a sense of excitement about what the day could bring.

Growing up in Australia, my bucket-list travel destinations were usually those you'd see in movies or on postcards — places like the Eiffel Tower and Disneyland. And it seems like many tourists have similar travel goals, with spots like Paris and Los Angeles predicted to be two of the most-visited summer vacation destinations in 2024.

But the more I traveled, the more I realized the countries I've enjoyed most are not necessarily the typical tourist hot spots. After visiting over 40 countries, these five are the underrated gems I recommend visiting.