I'm a travel writer who's been to 56 countries. Here are the 10 I loved visiting the most.

I'm a travel writer with 56 stamps in my passport, so people often ask me to name my favorite place in the world. Frankly, the question is impossible for me to answer.

Instead of narrowing down my response to a singular destination, I usually rattle off a list of some of the most spectacular countries I've seen.

Here are 10 of my favorites I've visited that I recommend to fellow travelers time and time again.

When I tell people that the Faroe Islands are one of my favorite places, many of them furrow their brows and ask, "Where?"

The archipelago sits in the North Atlantic Ocean between Iceland and Norway. I always say that those who haven't traveled to the 18 far-flung islands, which together make up a self-governed Danish territory, need to see them with their own eyes to understand their rugged beauty and incredible landscapes.

I've been to the Faroe Islands twice, staying for about six weeks in total. I explored Tórshavn, the capital city, and stayed in an oceanside, turf-roofed home.

I found it easy to travel between islands since many are connected by bridges, one-lane tunnels, ferries, and helicopters. As I ventured around, I discovered so many charming, tiny villages that had me dreaming of my next visit before I even left.

The first time I visited the nation of over 1,200 coral islands, the clear Indian Ocean water and stunning, shockingly expensive overwater villas were so beautiful that they moved me to tears.

After that, I kept going back. In the past four years, I've been to the Maldives six times.

During my visits, I've scoped out 28 different resorts. Each one is unique, with something different to offer visitors of all types, from honeymooners to families.

I've been to Japan twice. I snorkeled with turtles on Zamami Island, slurped ramen in Tokyo, boarded a train to Nikko, and onsen-hopped in Kinosaki.

After spending a total of three months traveling through the country, I can confidently say that there's nowhere in the world quite like it.

Japan is widely known as a mecca for foodies, but I also consider it one of the best, most fascinating destinations in general. The Tokyo streets are busy yet somehow practically silent, Kyoto's ancient alleys are filled with charm, and Hokkaido has entrancing mountains topped with snow.

Iceland, known as the "Land of Fire and Ice," is a nature lover's paradise. The island nation's landscapes range from black sand beaches to quaint fishing towns to colossal waterfalls.

I've been to Iceland three times. On my most recent trip, I drove a campervan around the entire country for three weeks. Major highlights included seeing the Northern Lights with a local astronomer and skiing under the Midnight Sun.

But in my opinion, the best thing about Iceland is its simplicity.

Stumbling upon an incredible bowl of fish soup, dipping into a hidden thermal pool, and exploring a village surrounded by a fjord are some of my most cherished Iceland memories.

My partner and I spent all of 2020 in Vietnam, so we consider the Southeast Asian country our second home.

The country closed its borders and successfully avoided major coronavirus outbreaks early in the pandemic, which gave us an incredible opportunity to travel the whole country without restrictions or tourist crowds.

We picked snails out of their shells in Phú Quốc, relaxed on Phú Yên's beaches, and rode motorbikes around the rice terraces in Mù Cang Chải.

My partner and I spent the majority of our time in Hội An, an ancient village in Central Vietnam. It stole our hearts, and we developed a community of friends that we can't wait to visit again.

I've been to Thailand five times, and I'm consistently impressed by the country's top-notch food, gorgeous beaches, and friendly culture. I'm also amazed by the extent and speed at which things change there.

I'm always scouting out new hotels, restaurants, and places to visit, especially when I'm in Bangkok, the bustling Thai capital.

Personally, Chiang Mai is my favorite part of the country. Located in Thailand's northern region, the city has elephant sanctuaries, incredible food, and stunning hotels.

I went to Tanzania for the first time to go on a safari with my dad.

We stayed at the exceptional Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti, one of the national park's biggest hotels. Our luxury villas had views overlooking the watering hole where wild animals sometimes gather.

He and I spent most of our time out on game drives. We were on a quest to spot the Big Five: the lion, the leopard, the rhino, the elephant, and the buffalo. Luckily, we did, and it was incredible.

When I studied abroad in Paris, I gorged on pains au chocolat, sampled escargot, and tried my hand at the beautiful French language.

I've been back to the capital city once since then, and it felt as familiar and comforting as meeting up with one of my childhood friends. All those years later, I still loved walking along the Seine and watching the Eiffel Tower sparkle at night.

But there's so much more to France than Paris.

Travelers can drive or train south to Languedoc, where they can slurp oysters and sip rosé, or they can head to the Champagne wine region for tastings. And in the North, Normandy has its unique charm, cuisine, and history.

On my tour of Australia, Fiji, and New Zealand, the latter quickly became my favorite of the three.

My partner and I rented a car and drove around both the North and South Islands for two weeks. We were amazed by the dramatic landscapes we passed, which ranged from jaw-dropping beaches to sky-high mountains.

Two weeks was nowhere near enough time to see everything, but we did catch some highlights, like Queenstown's ski fields and Auckland's food scene.

Visiting Antarctica, my seventh continent, was one of my biggest accomplishments as a traveler. I got a chance to embark on the bucket-list trip during a three-week expedition on the world's first battery-powered cruise ship.

When we landed on the continent, hundreds of penguins greeted us and swam around us as we kayaked in the frozen waters. We also marveled at the sheer size of a nearby elephant seal.

The sun took hours to set over the surrounding white peaks, and we stayed up late soaking in the ship's hot tub. It was one of the best trips I've ever taken, and I can't wait to return someday.