• Hotel – Stay in a location that allows you to access the east and west coasts of the island easily.  The Hilton hotel is in an amazing location on the southwest point of the island.  You could also stay in an Airbnb rental near there if you are looking for more budget friendly options.
• Scooter Rental – Rent from Demario’s Cycle World in Bridgetown if you’re traveling solo or with one companion.  The rental cost is approximately $55 USD/day and will even deliver to you for $20 extra.
• Granny’s Restaurant – This is a legendary local restaurant located in Oistins.  Definitely try the macaroni pie and stewed beef.
• Cutters – Drive out towards the east coast and stop at Cutters for the best rum punch you’ll ever have.
• Crane Beach – This picturesque beach is surrounded by cliffs with The Crane Hotel overlooking.  Go to the south side of the beach and walk along the cliff path to find a point to jump off into the ocean.
• Bottom Bay Beach – Located about a 10 minute drive from Crane Beach.  Many travelers consider this the top beach on the island.  Walk down the beautifully landscaped steps to reach this palm tree fringed cove and true paradise.
• Foursquare Rum Distillery – Drive 15 minutes back west to reach the rum distillery, which is located on an old sugar plantation dating back to the early 1600s.  If you reach here after closing time, the caretaker is usually open to take you on private tour if you offer him a nice ‘tip’.  The distillery has an impressive setup and uses green technology to protect the environment.  Make sure you try their line of rums, including Doorly’s XO.
• Oistins Friday Night Fish Fry – The big thing to do on the island on Friday nights.  There are many local restaurant shacks lined up one after another serving amazing fish (mahi-mahi, flying fish, tuna, swordfish) and all types of local food in an informal setting with Reggae and Calypso music playing in the background.
• St Lawrence Gap – The best nightlife scene is located in the ‘Gap’.  This 1.3km stretch of road located 5-10 minute drive west of Oistins is full of restaurants and lively nightlife with local musicians and DJs.

• George Washington House – This restored plantation house from the 1700s was visited by George Washington in 1751.  It is worth a visit if you’re into the historical significance, but skip if you have already seen other restored colonial homes.
• Cuz Fish Stand – Beach shack serving amazing fish and cheese cutters (only $9BBD) on the beach on the west side of the island.  Be prepared for a long line.
• Jamaica 246 Restaurant – If Cuz Fish Stand is closed or too long of a line, go around the corner to this authentic Jamaican restaurant.  Try the curry goat or jerk chicken.
• Carlisle Bay / Brownes Beach – Beautiful picturesque beach with calm bright blue water and white sand beach.  Looks like something off a travel agency poster or calendar.  Spend a couple hours here taking in the majestic views, while enjoying the warm water and sail boats on the horizon.
• Mount Gay Visitor Center – Located 10 minutes drive north of Brownes Beach.  Mount Gay is the world’s oldest rum brand started in 1703 and named after Sir John Gay, who managed the company owned by John Sober (not making this up).  The tour is about 45 minutes long, and even though you don’t get to walk through the distillery, you get to sample many of their rums and is worth the visit.  Definitely try the XO rum.
• Brighton Beach – Another picture postcard beach located 5 minutes drive north of Mount Gay Visitor Center.  On the north side of the beach there is a tide pool with warm crystal clear water that the locals play in.  On the south side of the beach, check out Weisers Bar to cool down with a couple of rum punch drinks.
• TML One Love Bar – Popular rum shop and karaoke bar in Holetown (located 15 minutes drive north of Brighton Beach).  Stop here for a very strong rum punch, cheap local beers, and local atmosphere.
• John Moores Bar – Another popular rum shop full of local characters and tourists located right on the beach north of Holetown.  Go here for amazing sunsets while sipping on long aged rum.
• Shakers Bar & Grill – Highly rated local restaurant.  Make reservations ahead of time if going on the weekend.  Steak, ribs, and fish dishes are all excellent.

• Harrisons Cave – One of Barbados top tourist attractions. Tour the subterranean cavern on a tramway and view the crystallized limestone, flowing streams and waterfall.
• Hunte’s Gardens – Unique and beautiful gardens built up in an old sink hole by horticulturist Anthony Hunte.  Anthony if very friendly and will personally give you a tour of the gardens while telling you about the history of the island.  Definitely worth a 30 minute visit.
• Bathsheba – Soup Bowl – This east coast beach in the small town of Bathsheba is known as famous surfer Kelly Slater’s most favorite beach in the world.  Named for the foamy surf found here, it is home to many surfing competitions.
• Morgan Lewis Windmill – Drive 20 minutes north of Bathsheba to reach the only intact sugar windmill in Barbados.
• St. Nicholas Abbey – Located a few minutes away from the windmill, this mansion was built in 1658 and is one of only three Jacobean mansions left in the Western Hemisphere.  This former slave and sugar plantation is also home to an active steam and rum distillery.
• Sandy Lane Brunch – If you splurge on one thing on the island, this brunch should be it.  Priced at $160 USD/person and located in a beautiful beach front setting at the luxurious Sandy Lane hotel on the west coast of the island.  Make sure you make a reservation and bring your appetite for the huge buffet that includes dishes such as whole roasted pig, made to order steak and lamb chops, king crab legs and lobster, and amazing desserts such as the vanilla creme brulee and bread pudding.
• Mullins Beach – One of the most popular beaches on the west coast of the island.  Another white sand and crystal clear blue water beach with a bar with an amazing view.
• Brown Sugar Restaurant – If you still have room left after the Sandy Lane Brunch, head to Brown Sugar for some of the best Barbados and Caribbean cuisine on the island.

1. @passionpassport – A community of travelers, storytellers and photographers inspiring you to travel the world through unique and eye catching photos
2. @natgeo – National Geographic’s motto is “Life is an adventure” – enjoy the ride and the world through the eyes of the National Geographic photographers in this account
3. @natgeoadventure – Features the world’s best outdoor adventurers and photographers
4. @natgeotravel – Showcases the best travel photographs from around the world
5. @tourist2townie – Non-Stop World Traveler who counts relationships formed over countries visited. He’s always on a new adventure immersing himself in the local culture and learning the language
6. @wonderful_places – This Instagram account seeks to send you mindblowing photos of places around the world
7. @everythingeverywhere – This account is run by Gary Arndt, who was the 2014 Travel Photographer of the Year. He’s been perpetually traveling since 2007 with over 100 countries and all 7 continents visited
8. @stephbetravel – Steph has lived all over the world and continues to travel the globe.  Her amazing photos showcase her spontaneous and adventurous lifestyle
9. @thepointsguy – Brian Kelly is THE go to resource on frequent flier miles and hotel points.  He’s traveling the world almost nonstop on first class while teaching mile hackers how to rack up points
10. @timothysykes – Timothy Sykes is probably the most interesting character on this list.  He runs a penny stock trading ’empire’, while constantly posting photos of his dream vacations he turns into reality on a weekly basis
11. @topdecktravel – Posting pics of epic trips around the world on a daily basis
12. @uncornered_market – Daniel Noll is a travel & life evangelist. He connects people to life-changing experiences through his photography of interesting local people and cuisines that tell stories not found anywhere else
13. @matadornetwork – Instagram account of the web’s largest travel magazine.  Showcases breathtaking photos of every part of the world
14. @paulodelvalle – Traveler, influencer, and storyteller through predominantly photos of his base – Rio de Janeiro
15. @samhorine – Sam Horine is a New York City-based iPhone photographer, who takes you on a private journey of the Big Apple through amazing shots of the cities hidden gems
16. @kardinalmelon – Definition of #colorgasm.  Hatice Korkmaz brings on a global trek through bright colors and jaw dropping travel photos
17. @theblondeabroad – Kiersten is an award winning solo travel and style blogger from California, who features travel tips, fashion, festivals and photography from around the globe in beautiful settings.  Makes you want to pack your bags and run away with her
18. @tuulavintage – Jessica Stein is a travel and personal style blogger from Sydney.  Provides inspiration for all woman on where to travel next or what to wear on your next beach excursion
19. @lucylaucht – Lucy Laucht is a Brit in New York by way of Australia.  She’s a photographer, writer, and serial wanderluster who will inspire any cube dweller to pack their bags and hit the road tomorrow
20. @leeabbamonte – Lee is living the dream.  He’s the youngest American to visit every country in the world.  He is a nonstop traveler and shares photos and stories of his trips around the globe
21. @luxuryworldtraveler – Compilation of #eyegasm photos for the VIP traveler
22. @travelandleisure – The world’s leading travel magazine provides a compilation of awe inspiring travel photos from all corners of the planet
23. @bucketlistvacations – Like the name of the account, showcases amazing destinations around the world to your list of accomplishments in your lifetime
24. @earthpics – Amazing pictures of places, people, animals, and nature from around the world
25. @afarmedia – Official accounts for one of the world’s leading travel magazines.  Provides content, inspiration, and advice to connect with and serve the world’s best travelers
26. @gmr83 – Travel junkie with an iPhone showcasing eye catching photos from his trips to exotic destinations
27. @treyratcliff – Trey’s travel photos are mind blowing creations from his adventures around the world.  Every one of his photos is screen-saver worthy
28. @airbnb – The leading marketplace for booking unique accommodations around the world opens the door to the world’s most interesting places to stay through their official account
29. @jetsetchristina – Brush off this girl’s shoulders.  She’s a San Francisco blogger with the tastes of the finer things in life.  Follow her jet-setting and bottle popping adventures overseas through this account’s photo journey
30. @ms.luxuryworldtraveler – Self proclaimed passionate hedonist, she travels the 5-star world circuit while journaling and posting jealous inducing, colorful photos from around the globe
31. @followmefaraway – Goal of this account is to get you to drop everything and go to your dream destination tonight or to just help get you through the day with inspiring photos

There are literally upwards of a million+ travel blogs in existence, with thousands more being added daily. The majority of these are written poorly, do not have much useful information, or regurgitate what other sites are writing. I have found the below mentioned sites to offer the most useful hacks for many different areas of your travels. There are many others that could be a part of this list, but I have narrowed it down to the ones that keep me coming back to read more.

1. The Points Guy
Brian Kelly, The Points Guy, shows every possible avenue as to how to maximize your frequent flyer miles and other travel points. He shows you how to book international trips for next to nothing and provides an updated list of the top credit card point bonus offers. It’s one of the best resources for keeping up to date with travel loyalty programs.

2. Fluent In 3 Months
Want to learn a language in the quickest way possible? Benny Lewis provides hacks and unconventional learning techniques for getting up to speed on many languages for your travels. His site offers free posts and videos on his experiences learning various languages around the world. He also offers a course and book (not free) for more in depth study.

3. Roman Fitness Systems
This is not really travel related, but provides the most effective (in my opinion) diet and workout strategies for staying in the best shape possible while you travel. John Romaniello, blog founder, takes a humorous approach to fitness, while offering innovative fitness/diet tips. He trains many celebrities and athletes, but does not take himself too seriously. His posts and comments keep you engaged and wanting to come back to read more.

4. Zen Habits
I have been an avid reader of Zen Habits for years. This is another blog not necessarily travel related, but is one of the best resources for keeping you grounded and finding simplicity while you travel (or doing anything in life). Leo Babauta’s blog (one of the top 25 on the internet) helps you focus on what is important, create something amazing, and find happiness.

5. Nomadic Matt
Nomadic Matt’s site is currently the highest ranked travel blog on the internet. He provides you with the necessary tips and advice on how you can travel anywhere you want on a low budget. His mantra is “tomorrow is too late to start your travel”. He has years of blog posts detailing how to live a life of travel.

6. 48 Hour Adventure
Provides “whirlwind” guides and travel advice for career focused people to explore cities around the world in a short time frame. Justin’s one page guides provide a rundown of the “big ticket items”, restaurants, and accommodations to check out during a weekend stay in many large cities worldwide.

7. Wandering Trader
Marcello Arrambide’s travel blog discusses his experiences while traveling/living through 80+ countries, while day trading. It is a great site for both inspiration and information on unique travel destinations.

8. Eat Your World
One of my favorite sites for finding native/traditional food and drinks for upcoming travel destinations. Sites like TripAdvisor are obviously more comprehensive, but Eat Your World offers an engaging layout and descriptive posts that make you want to take a trip only for food exploration.

Obtaining dual citizenship opens up your world to multiple travel benefits that do not always present themselves with only a USA passport. Not every country in the world offers the opportunity for dual citizenship and it is not always easy to obtain. The following benefits and methods will help you understand the importance of a second passport and how one could be acquired.

Benefits

1. Expand your travel possibilities – Travel to Cuba legally (see here for how to travel to Cuba sub-legally) and without having to obtain a visa to go to countries like Brazil. Passports from Denmark, Finland, Germany, and Sweden are the most valuable and offer the best travel access to countries around the globe, while Afghanistan, Somalia, and Iraq passports offer the least flexibility. See here for more details on the rankings by country for visa flexibility.
2. Reduce your profile – In many destinations, showing a USA passport will instantly profile you as a target to terrorists, or criminal groups that think you have a lot of money.
3. Greater travel privacy – USA passports are now equipped with new technology (bio-metric identifiers and a radio-frequency identity chip) that can track everywhere you travel. This could get you into trouble when you travel to places not favored by USA authorities.
4. Reside and work in other countries – The legalities and difficulties of trying to maintain residence or work in another country can often be insurmountable. A second passport will open up many opportunities in this regard. For example, a passport from any member of the European Union (EU) will allow you to live and work in any of the 27 EU countries.
5. International tax planning – If you ever want to expatriate (give up USA citizenship) and move to a place (ie. Panama) with much more lax tax laws, you must gain a second passport first.

How To Obtain

1. Ancestry
Many countries have programs which grant citizenship to descendants of emigrants. Here are a few examples:

• Ireland – Ireland has detailed and clear laws in determining citizenship eligibility to descendants of Irish nationals. Check out here for more details.
• Poland – The laws for receiving Polish citizenship from a Polish ancestor are difficult to navigate. The following article found here can give you a detailed overview on what is required. If you have Polish ancestors in your bloodline, you may want to contact a firm like CK Law Office in Warsaw to find out your eligibility.
• Germany – Germany offers citizenship for children and grandchildren of former Germans who were deprived of their citizenship status between January 30, 1933 and May 8, 1945 on racial, political, or ethnic grounds. You can read more about it here.
• Italy – Italy offers citizenship to descendants of certain Italian nationals going back two generations. Find out more at MyItalianCitizenship.com.
• Greece – If one or both of your parents or grandparents were born in Greece, you are eligible for Greek citizenship.
• Lithuania – You have a right to citizenship if one of your ancestors was a citizen of the country. See here for more detailed information.
• Canada and United Kingdom – Offer citizenship to those born outside of the country and have parents with citizenship.

2. Residency
Here are some of the countries that offer the possibility of citizenship after a period of lawful residency:

• Australia – Apply for citizenship after four years lawful residence (temporary or permanent visa) in Australia. This period must include 12 months as a permanent resident immediately before making an application for Australian citizenship and absences from Australia of no more than 12 months in total in the four years prior to application, including not more than 90 days in the 12 months immediately prior to application.
• Belgium – Apply for citizenship after three years of legal residence.
• Latvia and Austria – Apply for citizenship after 10 years of legal residence.
• USA – After five years of legal residence from the date of receipt of a conditional green card, it is possible to acquire US citizenship and to obtain a passport
• Czech Republic – To apply for citizenship, it is necessary to spend 5 years of legal residence after receiving permanent residence permit. Note that Czech Republic does not allow dual citizenship.
• Brazil – Apply for citizenship after four years of residency. This period can be reduced to one year if you have a Brazilian parent, child, or married to a Brazilian.
• Canada – You must have permanent residence status for three years before being able to apply for citizenship.
• Bahamas – Apply for citizenship if you have resided in the Bahamas for at least 6 years and have lived there for 12 consecutive months before applying.
• Panama – Citizenship can be acquired after five years of legal permanent residence and full immigrant status.
• United Kingdom – Apply for citizenship after being in the country for five years with not spending more than 450 days outside the UK in the period. Also, you must not have spent more that 90 days outside the country and hold permanent residence in the final 12 months immediately preceding the application.
• Spain – Offers a reduced two-year residence before citizenship to citizens of any of several Latin American countries. Also, someone with a grandparent from Spain may apply for citizenship after one year of residency.

3. Economic Contribution
Only three countries in the world offer immediate citizenship through an investment:

• Dominica – Requires USD 75k (100k for family) and 9-12k for government registration charges and due diligence. You also must visit the country and go through a personal interview to gain citizenship.
• St.Kitts & Nevis – Requires USD 250k as minimum investment and 7.5k for due diligence and processing fees. No personal visit is required.
• Austria – By investing EUR 2-3 million, you can directly get the citizenship without any residence requirement. The less expensive option is to provide a EUR 100k investment, which allows you to get a residence permit and citizenship after 10 years of residency. With a residence permit, you can travel visa free to all European ountries.

Religion
In Israel, the “Law of Return” entitles all Jews, and those of Jewish ancestry (at least one Jewish parent or grandparent), to be able to obtain Israeli residency and citizenship. If your ancestry does not fit this description, the law also provides the ‘right of return’ to all converted Jews of all denominations, and the conversion need not take place in Israel in order for it to qualify. Once your background check returns clean and you have been accepted, the applicant is entitled to immediate citizenship. For the first year, a temporary travel document is issued. After the first year, the government issues a standard passport.

Birthright
Anyone born in one of the countries below, no matter their nationality, is entitled to citizenship in that country, no matter the legality or status of the parents:

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Argentina
• Barbados
• Belize
• Bolivia
• Brazil
• Canada
• Chile
• Colombia
• Dominica
• Ecuador
• El Salvador
• Fiji
• Grenada
• Guatemala
• Guyana
• Honduras
• Jamaica
• Mexico
• Nicaragua
• Panama
• Paraguay
• Peru
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Saint Lucia
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Trinidad and Tobago
• United States
• Uruguay
• Venezuela

Marriage
Marrying a citizen of another country does not usually offer immediate citizenship, but can sometimes speed up the residency requirements for applying for citizenship. For example, you need to legally reside in Colombia for five years before being able to apply for citizenship. This is reduced to two years if you marry a Colombian. In Brazil, the requirement is reduced from four years to one if you marry a citizen.

Being host to the fast approaching 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics has opened Brazil’s gems up to the world. From its booming economy, to its diverse landscape of rainforests and picturesque beaches, to its beautiful and welcoming people, Brazil is coming to the forefront as the destination everyone wants to relocate to. Before you dive in, you are going to need to learn the intricacies of the country and how to navigate the culture:

1. Learn Portuguese
Like many of us, your plan to live in Brazil is a few months away and you do not know what ‘bom dia’ means. Even though English might be prevalent in the larger cities like Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, it will be beneficial to you to know how to speak the local language if you want to make lasting relationships.
Many people are overwhelmed with all of the Portuguese language resources available online. Focusing on the right technique and program will allow you to hold your own in a conversation within a few months. You will be a step ahead if you already know some Spanish, as many of the words are similar (with slighty different pronunciations). The following resources will show you how to ‘hack’ your language learning and internalize the most Portuguese in the least amount of time:

• hackingportuguese.com – Comprehensive reviews and strategies for learning Portuguese. Everything you need to get started on your Portuguese journey can be found on this site.
• travelhack.org – One of my previous posts on the best method for tackling a new language.
• fourhourworkweek.com – The premise of learning guru Tim Ferris’s strategy for accelerated language learning is to learn the most used words and phrases first.

2. Jobs
Now that you have your sabbatical planned, how are you going to pay for it? Especially with the cost of living in Rio and São Paulo rivaling Manhattan. To sustain your lifestyle, many ideas for jobs can be found in my previous articleon working from anywhere.
If you are planning on staying for a long period of time or finding a job locally, you are going to face some difficult hurdles. You have a few options for gaining entry and staying in the country:

• Tourist Visa – everyone in the USA must obtain one to be able to enter Brazil, though it only allows you to stay in Brazil a maximum of 180 days a year.
• Business Visa – this is difficult to obtain. You must first get hired by a Brazilian company and have them provide a formal invitation, which is needed to present to a Brazilian Consulate. A long line is always waiting for approval and you must prove that your skills go above and beyond what any other Brazilian could do. This process can also take months to find out if you are approved or not.
• Investor Visa – this is perhaps the easiest way to obtain a long term visa, but you need to start a Brazilian company and have $75k USD to invest in it. See this article on the brazilforlife.com blog for more info on obtaining this.

Note that the Tourist and Business Visas can be obtained through a Brazilian Consulate in the USA. You can use a site like travisa.com to obtain through the mail.

3. Culture
People are much more family and relationship oriented in Brazil than the USA. Knowing the right people will help you get anything done much faster and minimize frustrastions, especially in a business sense. Socialising and spending time with each other are a must to build trust and succeed in business.
Brazilians also tend to live at a slower, relaxed pace. Punctuality is not always common, which can frustrate someone from a high speed, New York City lifestyle. Do not ever try to rush a business dealing.
Even though it is against the law, differences in class (mostly related to economic differences and skin color) are still prevalent. Darker ethnicities tend to be disadvantaged.
Although culture tends to be informal, Brazilians are very fashion oriented. Make sure you dress smart and conservatively in any gathering you are invited to.
The culture is very diverse as well. It is not uncommon to see a mixture of different races in a relationship.

4. Where to live
With many diverse and interesting cities to choose from, you should do your research and make a couple of visits before settling down in any given location. Here are a few of the more popular destinations:

• Salvador – has great nightlife, bars, restaurants, arts, and shopping centers. Average yearly tempurature is 80 degrees Farenheit. Known as Brazil’s happiness capital.
• Rio de Janeiro – most well known city in Brazil. Beautiful beaches, modern infrastructure, great nightlife and restaurants, and site of the 2016 Olympics. Average yearly tempurature is around 80 degrees Farenheit. It does have a high cost of living.
• São Paulo – huge city and center of all business in Brazil. It is also the richest and most populous city in the country. High cost of living and high traffic. Known for music, theatre, museums, car racing, sports, and varied ethnic cuisine.
• Fortaleza – located in the North East and know for its energy and excitement. Well know for its nightlife, carnivals, comedians, cuisine, music festivals, and 16 miles of urban beaches.
• Florianópolis – amazing beaches, nightlife, weather, low crime rate, and smaller city. Very young and vibrant, with a focus on sports and eco-oriented activities.
• Macapa – located in Northern Brazil and surrounded by the Amazon and its tributaries. Known for its great food (fish and different types of fruit).

As 70% of the planet is covered with water, there is much more of this world to explore than most people can fathom. Being able to traverse underwater wrecks and caves, photograph multi-colored fish in tropical reefs, and see how all the different types creatures interact opens your eyes to an entirely new world and experience. After you become certified, you will be able to dive anywhere in the world for the rest of your life. Diving also opens up additional career avenues in the commercial, police, scientific, and military sectors. Over a million new people (aging from 10 to well into their 80s) are getting certified every year. If nothing else, it provides a fun, new hobby to broaden your horizons. The answers below should get you all the information you will need to start your new found hobby, or even down the path to a new career.

Why do you need a certification?

Besides getting used to breathing under water at different depths and how to use different types of scuba gear, there are various risks with how pressure affects your body you will need to learn about. Careful training and preparation helps to significantly reduce these risks, which include:

• Decompression Sickness (DCS, or the “bends”) – This is caused from surfacing too quickly from a deep underwater dive. It can cause a lot of pain, and, if untreated, can result in nerve and tissue damage, and even death.
• Air Embolism (Pulmonary Barotrauma) – Happens when a diver holds his or her breath while ascending. The air inside the lungs will expand and can cause serious or even fatal damage to the lungs.
• Nitrogen Narcosis – A feeling of drunkenness that divers feel at deeper depths, usually around 80-100 feet. It is not directly damaging, but can cause bad decision making and motor coordination. This can lead to poor decisions, resulting in DCS, drowning, or Pulmonary Barotrauma.

What does certification entail?

Your initial certification will allow you to dive down to 60 feet. To obtain this, divers must be at least 10 years old, be able to demonstrate they can swim 200 yards, and tread water for 10 minutes. Scuba courses are typically divided into three parts:

• Information Development – Learn the basic principles of scuba diving. These include planning for a safe dive, how pressure affects you underwater, and dealing with various underwater creatures. This can be usually taken online beforehand ($120).
• Pool/Confined Water Learning – Learn how to use your dive gear and get used to scuba diving in a confined environment.
• Open Water Learning – You will need a minimum of four open-water dives to achieve certification. This will usually take two or more days, as most agencies limit training dives to two a day. You can get a referral to do your open water dives in a destination of your choice once you complete the information development and pool learning sessions. Upon completion, you will receive a C-card, which is physical proof you are certified. This is good for the rest of your life and you will need to be able to present this when doing subsequent dives.

After you have received basic certification, you can proceed to more advanced courses, which can open up additional commercial and career opportunities for you.

Where do I get certified?

With more than 1,800 professional retail dive stores in the US alone, finding a place to learn how to dive is pretty simple. There are three main scuba diving certification agencies:

• PADI – The front runner with 55% of the divers around the world certified through them. PADI is geared more towards recreational diving during initial instruction.
• NAUI – NAUI courses are longer in duration and delve more into technical matters related to diving and specialty.
• SSI – SSI courses are similar to PADIs’ and are offered in 2400 locations around the world.

When picking an agency to get certified with, make sure you find out what the price includes up front. The pricing should be made up of the following components:

• Equipment – The use of gear (other than mask, fins, and snorkel, which you usually provide), and the cost of airfills for the scuba tanks you’ll be using.
• Coursework and Confined Water Sessions – The training you‘ll be doing at your dive center’s facility, or at the facility they use.
• Open Water Sessions – The real-world diving (usually 4 or 5 sessions) that you’ll do at an actual dive site.

An accredited training course from a certified instructor will cost about $300-$500, including practice and certification dives.

Where can I find dive shops and referral locations?

There are many places to find dive shops and places to complete your training around the world. These include:

• DivingFinder.com
• PADI Affiliated
• NAUI Affiliated
• SSI Affiliated
• Google Maps

How much does diving gear cost?

If you are expecting to dive only a few times a year, renting is more cost-effective than buying all your own equipment. Daily rental costs range from $40 to $60 for a two-tank dive. If you own your own equipment, the cost of air ranges from $5 to $8 per tankful. At the minimum, you will need to purchase a mask ($40-$70), snorkel ($20-$50), and fins ($50-$100). If you want to buy all of your own equipment, you are looking at shelling out around $1300-$1500. On top of the mask, snorkel and fins, here’s a rundown of standard scuba equipment that will get you started with warm water dives:

• Buoyancy Compensator (BC) – Inflatable jacket allowing divers to adjust their buoyancy in the water ($250-$500)
• Regulator – This mouthpiece from which you breathe. It is connected to the air tank and regulates the pressure to a safe level for you to inhale ($150-$600)
• Weight belt – Holds you down in the water and counteracts the buoyancy of other diving equipment ($20-$50)
• Air Tank – Holds the compressed air you use underwater ($150-$400 each)
• Octopus – This is your alternate air source used as a back up to the regulator ($125-$350)
• Depth Gauge – Displays your air supply and depth. ($75-$350)

You can get all the new scuba gear you will need from places like Scuba.com, Divers-supply.com, or Leisurepro.com. Or you can find used gear on Ebay.com and Craigslist.org. I will have a later article describing a detailed rundown of the top valued scuba equipment to purchase.

Where can I find a diving buddy?

If you would like to feel more safe, or just want to make new friends, there many easy ways to find a diving friend:

• Scuba.com Diving Community
• Divebuddy.com
• PADI Community
• Contact a dive shop – Most dive shops offer dive clubs, which sponsor local group events and help pair up members diving.

Traveling or moving to a foreign place can be fairly overwhelming for the majority of people, especially if you are by yourself.  Not only is it stressful getting adjusted to new surroundings, but many people find it difficult to break into local cliques and make new friends.  This can lead to an immediate longing for a return home.  On the bright side, even if you are the shy, introverted type, it doesn’t have to be difficult to meet people. As long as you’re open and willing to try new things (which most travelers are) you’ll have no problem breaking into the local seen and developing relationships with almost anyone. The list below should provide you with a plethora of ideas for going to the right places and finding new friends.

1.  Stay in a Hostel – Hostels are usually full of very open, international travelers looking to get the best cultural experiences.  Some may consider these place to be lower quality (when compared to nice hotels), but they will allow you to save money and meet other like-minded individuals.  Check out Hostels.com to find a hostel in cities around the world.

2.  Take a Class – Art, language learning, yoga, dance, and many other types of classes offer an easy opportunity to meet people with similar interests in a small group setting. People are not on their guard as much as in a nightclub setting, making it easier to open a conversation.

3.  Volunteer – Volunteers are generally very helpful, trustworthy, and open to new friendships.  Check out ‘4 Hacks for Working Anywhere’ for places to look for volunteering activities globally.

4.  Learn the Local Language – Most countries outside of the US stress language learning from an early age.  It is common for a foreigner to know 3-4 languages fluently.  Most people from the US know English and the eight Spanish swear words they learned during their three years of studying it in school.  Foreigners greatly appreciate and are much more receptive to those who make an attempt at speaking their language. Check out ‘Best Language Learning System For Everyone’ for getting up to speed on a new language quickly.

5.  Group Sports – Any type of group competition or sporting event helps you develop an instant bond with those you’re playing with.  For example, if you don’t speak any of the local language, but you’re a good basketball player, you’ll make new friends in a heartbeat.  Ask a local or pick up the local paper to find leagues or pick up games in the area of your choice.

6.  Ask For Help – Most people in foreign places are very helpful to those who ask for it and love to show off their own knowledge.  People will not usually talk to you if you are standing around without saying anything.  Be outgoing and ask people questions, even if you already know the answer.

7.  Online Social Networking – Wayn.com, TraveBuddy.com, Facebook.com, Myspace.com, Plentyoffish.com, among others are free, social networking sites hosting millions of people’s profiles from around the world.  From any internet accessible location, they provide an easy way to make new friends in a foreign location.

8.  Religious Services and Gatherings – Churches and the events associated with them offer some of the most friendly and open people you will ever meet.  FindaChurch.com and Google Maps are excellent resources for finding churches and services in any city you visit.

9.  Sporting Events – Wear the local team’s sporting apparel and you can easily strike up a conversation with numerous fans (or haters).  You can meet people tailgating in the parking lot or even in the stadium during the event.  Local sports bars off the same opportunities.  Use Ticketmaster.com to get tickets to larger sporting events, and local papers for finding out about others.

10.  Craigslist Community – The community section of Craigslist.org (click on your city and then the community section) lists plenty of local activities on a daily basis for cities around the world.

11.  Couchsurf – As stated in an earlier article, CouchSurfing helps travelers find hosts who will let them stay at their place for free. It is the largest hospitality exchange network with over 1 million members (35% of them are offering a place to stay for travelers) in 232 countries. This large and active community is one of the best portals to making new friends, experiencing local cultures, and traveling cheaply.

12.  Bars/Clubs – Typical places to meet others looking to party and have a good time. Check out Worldsbestbars.com, or do a search for “Nightlife” in the Tripadvisor.com forum of the city of your choice to find the best venues.

Financial companies make their astronomical profits in one way or another. Foreign currency conversion fees are one of the ways they accomplish this. Any time you’re using or exchanging money in a foreign land, someone is trying to make money off of your transaction. Banks and credit card companies aren’t letting you make purchases around the world without getting their own cut. Most of the companies add a few extra percentage points onto the transaction and include it in small print on your statement. These “hidden fees” can pile up quick, and are easily overlooked. This can lead to a couple hundred dollars in fees you could have saved on your foreign vacation. The same goes for any foreign currency exchange location.  All of the rates are exaggerated in the house’s favor.  The following list will give you an overview of the currency conversion fees you will encounter and help you find the best options for making payments while traveling:

1. Exchange Rates – Get an idea of the current exchange rates before you leave for your trip. XE provides current exchange rates of currencies around the world. You can also view historical rates. The site also includes a useful Travel Expenses Calculator for keeping track of expenses in foreign currencies) and a Global Payments and Transfers Tool (for sending and receiving payments (with a guaranteed best rate) around the globe) for free.

2. Credit Card Fees – Most people are unaware the majority of credit card companies tack on an extra 3% foreign transaction fee. This usually includes the 1% Visa/Mastercard fee and a 2% bank fee. The chart below shows the foreign transaction fees for mainstream credit cards. Cards from Capital One, which eats the 1% Visa/Mastercard fee to offer a 0% foreign transaction fee, are your best bet for travel purchases. And don’t even think about taking a cash advance from a credit card. The fees for a cash advance usually include 3% on top of the normal foreign transaction fee and 24% interest accrued daily.

3. ATM Fees – Call or check online to see what fees your bank charges for ATM withdrawals. Some banks charge a fixed fee (around $5), some charge a percentage of the funds taken out, and some charge a combination of both. Find out which brands of ATMs are in your bank’s network and how much they charge. For example, Bank of America customers who use ATMs with the Global ATM Alliance network can withdraw money from ATMs for free, but are assessed a $5 fee for ATM usage outside of their network. Citi will charge a 1% conversion fee (with no ATM fees) for in-network ATMs, and an extra $1.50 fee for out-of-network ATMs. Doing some extra research and writing down addresses for several compatible, in-network ATMs in every city you plan to visit can save you some headaches and money in the long run.

4. Dynamic Currency Conversion – When making a purchase overseas, always decline when a merchant asks if you want to convert the purchase to your credit card country’s currency before charging it. These rates of conversion are usually much worse (sometimes up to 6%) than the rate you will get from the credit card company. Always check the receipt to make sure the merchant has not done this conversion without asking, which is against credit card merchant agreements. Make sure the purchase was charged in the local currency.

5. Debit Cards – Like ATM cards, check with your bank for the fees (usually around 3% and called “Point of Sale Fees”) you will incur while using a debit card abroad. It is recommended you don’t use a debit card when traveling because, unlike a stolen credit card (in which charges can be easily disputed), a stolen debit card can lead to a largely overdrawn bank account with a significant amount of turmoil to get it fixed.

6. Cash Exchange – Exchanging money at a certified bank is your best bet. You will get the best rates and have the least risk of fraud. At a hotel or airport, you will get the highest transaction fees and worst exchange rates.

7. Prepaid Travel Debit Cards – Visa currently offers the only travel debit card (Visa TravelMoney Card). You can purchase it at US banks and AAA. Fees typically vary from US $4.95 to $9.95. You can reload the card online or via phone, with up to $15 charge. You can use it to withdraw money from any Visa compatible ATM ($2.50 charge) and to make purchases. Making purchases in any other currency than is on the card will incur a gouging 7% conversion fee. It is recommended to pursue other options for making foreign purchases.

8. Travelers Checks – There are many pros and cons to using these. The advantages include: refunded usually within 24 hours if lost or stolen, can be purchased in currencies (Euro, Canadian Dollar, Australian Dollar, Pound Sterling, and Japanese Yen) other than US, no withdrawal fees, and you can cash in your checks for local currency wherever you are. On the other side, you have to first find a bank that will cash the checks (many countries will not cash them), you usually will be given you a bad rate and charged you a high commission for cashing them, and you are charged between 1% and 4% when purchasing them. If you decide to buy some, stick to major brands like American Express, Visa, and Citibank. Also, consider buying checks loaded in foreign currency. For example, checks in Euros will be much easier to use and cash when traveling in Europe.