Can you say you've been to a country if you've only been to its territories, and not to the mainland?

Question

For instance, I have never been to mainland France.

BUT, I have actually been to several overseas departments/territories of France:

-New Caledonia (from Australia)

-Guadeloupe and Martinique (from island-hopping in the Caribbean)

-French Guiana (from Brazil)

Since I have been to all these different parts of greater France, is it fair to say that I have been to "France," or should I just say that I have been to some of France's overseas possessions?

Answer 1

0f course you can say that you've been to France but since for most people it means mainland (and many of them don't know that France has overseas departments or territories) better not confuse them, just say that you went to France's overseas departments or territories.

Answer 2

I wonder if a Territory is as differnt as one Province to another - If so then yes -

If I said I went to Texas - and that was it - How could I say " I have seen the US ?" No I have seen one State in the US

Just as you have seen one territory