Las Vegas Review-Journal (Sunday)
Around the world in 554 days
24-year-old visits 196 countries in record time
ON Dec. 7, 2018, Taylor Demonbreun’s family arrived at Toronto Pearson International Airport to see the 24-year-old’s plane land.
The past couple of years had taken a toll on Demonbreun. After graduating from Vanderbilt University two years earlier, Demonbreun started what she thought would be her dream career: working in New York City as an intern at global investment firm Jefferies. But she was not happy and decided to see the world, something she had always wanted to do.
By late May 2017, Demonbreun was on a plane for her first stop in the Caribbean.
When her flight came into Toronto, the Tuscaloosa, Alabama, native became the youngest and
fastest person to visit every country in the world, except North Korea. The record was confirmed by Guinness World Records this month.
In one year and 189 days, Demonbreun visited 196 countries, besting the record previously held by Cassie De Pecol, 29, who visited every country in one year and 194 days.
Demonbreun arrived at her final destination in Toronto after a trip to Lebanon. Hugging her family after she landed, Demonbreun was overjoyed that she was able to accomplish her goal.
“It was a huge sense of relief and being ecstatic,” she said. “I put so much time and effort and energy into this, so it was just a great feeling to be done.”
Demonbreun’s father, David, said he was proud not just of his daughter’s accomplishments, but how she set up all the logistics of the trip herself, raising money through online fundraisers and donations.
“That’s what makes this stand out to me,” he said.
Demonbreun grew to love many of the countries she visited, such as Singapore and France, and said one of her favorites was Iceland.
“I loved Iceland because there is so much natural beauty,” she said. “It’s almost like being on another planet at times.”
In many ways, Demonbreun said, she feels like she is a different person since first embarking on her travels. For example, she feels more confident about doing things for herself now.
“There’s never going to be another period that even compares,” she said.
Demonbreun’s mother, Paula, said her daughter was very reserved and quiet before the trip. Now, she sees a change in her.
“If anyone wants to travel alone, you’re just forced to grow as a person,” Paula Demonbreun said. “She was pushed to her limits.”
Now that she has accomplished what she set out to do, Taylor Demonbreun is contemplating what her future will look like. Her ideas include writing a book on her travels or working in television.
“I’m hoping to do something I’m passionate about,” she said.
Looking back on her trip, Demonbreun said she was blessed to have met so many wonderful people in so many countries and that despite cultural differences, all people want the same things in life.
“Everybody wants to live somewhere that is safe and wants the best for their family,” she said. “I think it’s something everyone can understand.”