A problem with commas

Not to me.

But it's an interesting question.

A pretty firm "no" to the semicolon, the way you've used it. Semicolons are sometimes used in lists where the list items use commas, but that would make your sentence look like this:

I’m a seventeen-year-old student and I've traveled extensively, including places like Malaysia; Singapore; France; and the USA, where I have relatives.

I'd just rephrase that:

I’m a seventeen-year-old student and I've traveled extensively, including places like the USA, where I have relatives, Malaysia, Singapore, and France.

This does, however, take emphasis away from the USA, so you may not want to do this.

RLSMiller said:

Here's the sentence I'm having trouble with:

I’m a seventeen-year-old student and I've traveled extensively, including places like Malaysia, Singapore, France, and the USA, where I have relatives.

Does the above sentence read as if I have relatives in all the places I mentioned, or as if I have relatives in the USA (which is what I meant). I'm not sure if I should be using a semi-colon (e.g. "and the USA; where I have relatives.") or if it's fine as it is.

Thanks in advance for any replies.

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You could go with a parethetical since the fact that you have relatives in the US is immaterial to your list of destinations.

I’m a seventeen-year-old student and I've traveled extensively, including places like Malaysia, Singapore, France, and the USA (where I have relatives).

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RLSMiller said:

Here's the sentence I'm having trouble with:

I’m a seventeen-year-old student and I've traveled extensively, including places like Malaysia, Singapore, France, and the USA, where I have relatives.

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I'd also stick in a comma after "student" to separate the two independent clauses, though I've noticed a few people not doing this anymore. Has the rule changed?

It reads fine to me. But if you're worried about clarity, maybe try using "as well as" instead:

I've traveled extensively, including places like Malaysia, Singapore, and France as well as the USA, where I have relatives.

I think it needs a "to". (And I like Maestrowork's "as well as".) And I think you need to lose the comma after "extensively".

Howzabout:

I've traveled extensively to places like Malaysia, Singapore, and France, as well as to the USA, where I have relatives.

RLB said:

I'd also stick in a comma after "student" to separate the two independent clauses, though I've noticed a few people not doing this anymore. Has the rule changed?

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It has become more optional lately. I think it's been rolled into the "comma before and" rule. I've seen it omitted as a rule unless there are two or more items before the and. Of course, there does seem to be an age-appropriateness issue as well, since I still see it in materials that are being produced for primary-grade children (grades 1-3).

Edited to add: As to the original question, I would go with the parentheses. Or with the rewritten version, as suggested above.