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Something DifferentMarket LeadsResources for Writers25 September 2005

Charles Veley: The World's Most Traveled Man?

Have some John Flinn with your Sunday breakfast. John has an article in the San Francisco Chronicle Magazine about Charles Veley. "I've Been Everywhere, Man" is online. Hey, hats off to Veley who has travelled to 518 countries in the past five years. That doesn't even sound exhausting, it's numbing. I get nothing but blankness when I try to fathom that. But I suppose it's good that I don't have Dromomania, because Veley has spent "a million and a half of his own dollars on airplane tickets, freighter passages and sailboat charters," told Flinn. His Five-Year Odyssey I had actually first heard of Veley a few years ago. You know, one Craigslist ride share rider talking about travel leads to another new aquaintance, and the next thing you know you're swapping Charles Veley articles. So, where is Charles now? He's in San Francisco today, but off to Beijing tomorrow en route to North Korea. Not to worry, he'll be back soon for the birth of his second child later on in October. Find out more about Charles and where he's headed next on his website, MostTraveledPeople.com. Or, you might rather look into Jeff Shea. He says HE is the "World's Most Traveled Man." Oh these country collectors, what can you do with them. Just read Flinn's article to see how these two are contesting the title, and what it takes to even make the grade for consideration. It's fascinating. If any of you have outlets, his story would make for more great articles and interviews... For other stories about Charles Veley, please log onto Michael mcCarthy's website at Intentional-traveler.com.

7 comments

  • Lori Hein28 September 2005
    Hi Jen, Your readers might get a chuckle out of the Charles Veley story I wrote for my travel blog, Ribbons of Highway, back in August. Here's a link to the post Has Charles Veley been to the state of Chuuk? Cheers, Lori Hein https://www.LoriHein.com https://RibbonsofHighway.blogspot.com
  • Pablo30 September 2005
    The "Most Traveled" nomiker is lame....stepping on a country's soil to merely get your passport stamped is not traveling. I agree with Shea that the rules for this "contest" are suspect. Wha t a waste of time and money...and to think he prefers this to being with his family is really sad. Anyone who travels knows that the people with checklists are missing out.
  • Susan Brady3 October 2005
    I was boggled by the article in the SF Chronicle and the claim to over 500 countries. Makes it sound like he has been to 500+ DIFFERENT countries. I was amazed, as I didnt know there where that many. Reading through Lonely Planeat's Travel Book last week (a coffee table book not worth the price), they list 230 counries. According to a google search, the UN and the US State Dept, recognize 191 and 192 countries, respectively (https://geography.about.com/cs/countries/a/numbercountries.htm). So I just don't get it. Is this some sort of Guinness stunt? Why the need to crow about it? Oops, I think I am ranting. Sorry,
  • Isaac Molina4 November 2005
    The countries continue to be, so far, 192, or 193 (depends on counting Palestine, West Sahara, Taiwan, etc.) according to the United Nations. But since many people have already visited all of them, now they count archipelagos, big islands, possessions, and break down into provinces the greatest countries. That kind of competition is normal in the human nature and is good, otherwise we still would live in caverns. I agree to split up countries into republics, oblasts, federations, etc. and count them like separate countries for travellers purposes. Man has always to have goals, and Charles Veley is encouraging us to travel more widely. And travelling means understand other cultures, is learning. That is why I joined his club www.mosttraveledpeople.com (I have been in only 7 countries but I am very young!). Regards from Barcelona, in Spain Isaac Molina
  • Mike13 April 2006
    My last name is also Veley, and I am realted in some distcant way...I sent a message to him because I thought it was sooo cool, I love to travel and wish I coul done day travel as much as travel, I suggested maybe its in our Genes...I have never recieved an e-mail back...just newsletters from his website! Wish we could talk that would be sooo cool!
  • novita shea28 June 2006
    i came from small islands in indonesia .i never travel before until i meet jeff shea my husband . we travel around the world and we bring our daugther lani shea and ian shea . until now we still traveling. i could done with out him ...! still more to go......!
  • Donald J. DuBon29 October 2006
    I was with Chales Veley when he stepped on country #571. Charles is truly an adventurous man and if you go to this website (www.peterone.com)you will see Charles helping our entire team. Charles was even stranded on the Island overnight at one point. Charles does not just get his passport stamped he actually learns the culture and participates in whatever activities he can while visiting new places. He is truly the "real" most traveled man!

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