July 27, 2004 -- Actually it's called the Travelers' Century Club (TCC), and it is one we should all aspire to join. Why? Membership is reserved for globetrotters who have reached the milestone of traveling to at least 100 countries; provisional membership is permitted for those who have traveled to 75 countries. And it's not just extended visits that count -- after consideration, club members (known as Centurions) decided that even the shortest visit would suffice, even if only a port-of-call or a refueling stop on a long flight. This greatly widens the field and gives the traveler a better chance to qualify for one of the more unusual clubs in the world.
The TCC has set up its own guidelines as to what does or does not constitute a "country." You'll be surprised to note that you may be closer to the 100 mark than you think -- especially if you've traveled to lots of islands, which they regard as separate countries if they are situated at least 200 miles from the mainland or have a population exceeding 100,000 and are administered as distinctively separate provinces (i.e. Hawaii, Sardinia or Bali). Several of TCC's members have had the honor of traveling to all 317 identified countries (although technically there are currently 193 recognized countries in the world -- the US recognizes 192 of them).
The club was established 50 years ago by Bert Hemphill, who was known at the time as the "Dean of Travel" (a title later bestowed on Arthur Frommer, as well). His company, Hemphill Travel Service in Los Angeles, had pioneered deluxe aroundthe-world escorted tours by air, and his loyal following of clients accompanied Bert on his exploratory tours, which were then marketed to others. At that time, international travel was perceived as a luxury and air travel was in its infancy. Visiting 100 countries was an accomplishment that most people could only dream about and few had succeeded. Today, the goal may not be quite as elusive, but worthwhile nonetheless.
Benefits of membership include worldwide recognition and bragging rights -- how may people can say that they have visited 100+ countries? Members receive exclusive info files, written by fellow Centurions, based on their own travel experiences, containing helpful information on more difficult-to-reach or unusual destinations. When was the last time you saw a travel guide on Burundi, Lakshadweep or Fujeirah? In fact, do you know where they are? TCC provides educational speakers and presentations about unique destinations, social events and networking activities in each of its eight regional branches across the United States.
Most importantly, membership offers the opportunity to share experiences with other well-traveled, adventurous and often like-minded people who are passionate about travel, the world and its myriad of cultures. The club does not actively encourage travel to highly dangerous or politically volatile destinations, rather it suggests that travelers be realistic and cautious in their choice of destinations -- after all, the TCC "countries" were identified back in 1954, when some of the dangers now associated with international travel were unheard of. There are currently 50-60 countries on the US State Department list of travel advisories and warnings (https://travel.state.gov).
Until 2002, TCC ran its own specialized tours, but with the rapid growth of travel information available online, Internet travel booking capabilities and the expansion of tourism in many lesser known and third world countries, TCC no longer feels that it is necessary to provide this service for its members. Members do, however, receive information regarding unique travel opportunities, and TCC encourages both independent and group travel to unique destinations.
The club does not actively seek new members. Its current membership base of 1,700 comes from all walks of life with 90% of members located in the US and the remaining 10% in countries such as Australia, the UK and Germany. No age group is identified on the membership application form, but, in general, members tend to be older due to the time it takes to actually visit all the destinations.
Membership Fees for U.S. Residents:
- Initiation Fee: $100, Spouse $100
- Yearly Dues: $40, Spouse $30
Residents of Other Countries:
- Initiation Fees: $100, Spouse $100
- Yearly Dues: $50, Spouse $50
For further information or to see if you qualify for membership, visit www.travelerscenturyclub.org -- the sky's the limit!
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