I Had Zero Expectations... These Countries Changed My Mind

Hey, Johannes from GearUpYourLife here 👋

Today I’m writing this from Rotterdam, a city I’d describe as medium-sized, right on the coast of the Netherlands, but visually one of the most modern places in Europe. It has this crazy contrast: a clean, futuristic skyline, mixed with pockets of old architecture that still feel super authentic.

And being here actually made me think about a question I get all the time, probably the second most asked one after travel gadgets… and something I’ve also talked about with many of you privately:

What are the most underrated countries I’ve been to?

But before we jump in, I want to define what “underrated” actually means for me, because it’s easy to throw that word around.

For me, two things have to be true:

First,
👉 I would actually fly across the world for it.
As a European, it’s easy to say something like “Poland is underrated” but I can literally just get in a car and drive there. That’s not the level we’re talking about.

Second,
👉 my expectations were completely different before going there — and the country massively surprised me.

So this list is not about the most popular or obvious travel destinations.

And just to get this out of the way, my all-time favorite countries are still places like Argentina, Spain/Portugal, and Vietnam. But let’s be honest… none of those are exactly hidden gems anymore.

So let’s talk about the countries that actually surprised me the most. 🌍

🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan

My only stop in Central Asia so far and to be honest, I only went there because my girlfriend’s grandma is from there. She lives near a lake called Issyk-Kul, and since she’s getting older, we really wanted to visit her together.

At first, it was… not easy. Neither of us spoke Russian or Kyrgyz, so even basic things felt like a challenge. But once you get past that, this country completely blows you away.

The cities like Bishkek are interesting, but the real highlight is the nature — and I’m not exaggerating when I say:

👉 This is the most beautiful nature I have ever seen in any country.

Every single hike felt unreal. Mountains, lakes, landscapes that just don’t feel real.

But what stood out even more were the people.
👉 By far the warmest and kindest people I’ve met on all my travels.

Food was great, cities were surprisingly enjoyable, the only downside was the police. They’re quite corrupt, and you’ll almost always end up paying some kind of “fine” (usually like 10€ or more) for random reasons.

Not dangerous at all, actually very friendly but yeah… you will pay 😄

🇨🇱 Chile

Chile is easily one of my favorite countries in South America and mainly because of its insane natural diversity.

From Patagonia in the south to San Pedro de Atacama in the north, it feels like you’re traveling through completely different worlds.

👉 Mountains, deserts, glaciers everything in one country.

I didn’t make it to Easter Island (yet), but I’m pretty sure that would take it to another level.

What I also loved:

• relatively safe compared to other countries in the region

• super friendly people

• good food

• still quite affordable

And Santiago, the capital, really surprised me.
I had an Airbnb slightly above the city with an incredible view and I still think about that place today.

🇳🇱 The Netherlands

Okay… this could easily turn into a full love letter.

I grew up about an hour away from the Netherlands, so I’ve been there many times, especially in border cities like Venlo, Arnhem, or Nijmegen.

And  if you visit, I’d even recommend checking out one of those smaller cities, because they mix German and Dutch culture in a really unique way.

But of course, there’s more:

• Amsterdam — one of my favorite cities in the world

• Utrecht — probably my personal favorite in the Netherlands

• The Hague — right by the coast, with access to places like the Keukenhof and windmills

• Groningen — completely different vibe

• Rotterdam — where I am right now, super modern and unique

👉 It’s just an incredibly well-rounded country.

And the food…
Not healthy at all, but insanely good.

From kibbeling to frikandel... I’ve literally driven an hour just to eat at a random border snack place.

If you ask me:

👉 The Netherlands might be the most complete country in Central Europe.

Not necessarily the best big cities (Paris, London, Berlin still win there),
but overall? It’s hard to beat.

Fun fact:
👉 Rotterdam to Paris by train takes less than 3 hours.

🇲🇾 Malaysia

Malaysia is, in my opinion, the most underrated countries in all of Southeast Asia.

Most people think of Kuala Lumpur  and yes, it’s a great city, but Malaysia is so much more than that.

You have:

• Penang → incredible food scene

• Langkawi → beautiful islands and beaches

• Cameron Highlands → cooler climate, tea plantations, amazing nature

• Borneo → jungle, wildlife, completely different world

👉 It’s one of the most diverse countries you can visit.

And what makes it even better:

• super affordable

• great infrastructure

• easy to travel

• mix of cultures (Malay, Chinese, Indian)

Plus:

👉 You can literally combine it with Singapore in one trip.

For me, this is one of those countries where I had zero expectations and it completely delivered.

🇧🇦 The Balkan Area

This one is a bit different, because I’m not talking about just one country,but the entire region.

And no, I don’t just mean Croatia or Greece (even though both are incredible).

I’m talking about:

• 🇲🇪 Montenegro → insane coastline + mountains

• 🇦🇱 Albania → beautiful beaches, nature, super underrated

• 🇲🇰 North Macedonia → clean capital Skopje, amazing canyons

• 🇷🇸 Serbia → Belgrade, one of the most modern and vibrant cities in the region

And of course:

• 🇬🇷 Greece → arguably the best beaches in Europe

• 🇮🇹-level food (and I mean that seriously)

• insane history (Athens, Thessaloniki)

• 🇧🇦 Bosnia → I haven’t explored enough, but Mostar was absolutely stunning

• 🇭🇷 Croatia → already popular, but still amazing

👉 The Balkans for me offers:

• culture

• food

• nature

• coastline

• history

All packed into one region.

And the best part?

👉 Still way more authentic and less overrun than many Western European destinations and as you might now it will be my new home.

🌎 Honourable Mention: Uruguay 🇺🇾

I’ll be honest:

👉 I wouldn’t fly 20 hours just for Uruguay alone.

But if you’re already in the area, especially around Buenos Aires, you should definitely go.

The coastline is beautiful, the vibe is super relaxed, and what stood out the most to me:

👉 I’ve rarely felt as safe in a country as I did there.

It’s one of those places that quietly surprises you — not loud, not crazy — just… really good.

So guys, I really hope this gave you a slightly different perspective on the world — and I genuinely hope that at least one country or region from this list made it onto your bucket list.

And if you’ve already been to any of them (or end up going), I’d love to hear your experiences. Those are honestly some of my favorite messages to read.

This week there won’t be a new video — mainly because of the move and my trip to Rotterdam — but next week we’re finally back with two videos again.

In the meantime, I think a lot of you might have missed last week’s video:

My Personal Item Setup for Long Flights (What I Actually Use)

And with that, as always

Safe travels,
Johannes ✈️

P.S. Since I actually brought the bag with me again to Rotterdam, I thought some of you might not have seen the Tortuga Foldable Daypack video yet 👀
Definitely worth checking out if you’re into lightweight setups for 2026.

The Best Packable Backpack for 2026? (Tested Over 3 Months)