I think we can take a look at the following 2 things:
1. “过” is more like HAVE rather than HAVE+BEEN.
In English, we talk with the"HAVE+VERB(PAST PARTICIPLE)" structure, but in Chinese, the structure is VERB+过. For instance:
1). I have seen this movie. 我看过这部电影。
2). She has hepled me many times. 她帮过我很多次。
3). We've tried Spanish food. 我们吃过西班牙菜。
2. When the English word BE works as a verb with the meaning of "situate in some place", its corresponding translation in Chinese is 去, like GO. So, "I've been there." is “我去过那儿” in Chinese.