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How to File Taxes as a US Expat: TFX Review

How to File Taxes as a US Expat: TFX Review

Humans have always been a nomadic species. Our adventurous spirit has long seen us travel the world in search of new lands and experiences. Even today we yearn to escape the confines of our regular lives in search of new cities and countries.

While travelling to a destination allows you a glimpse into a different culture and way of life, choosing to live abroad takes the experience to a whole other level. You’re able to fully immerse yourself into a destination, and gain a behind the scenes look at what a country is really like; the experience opens your mind to new ideas, helps you grow as a person, and gives you a greater sense of self confidence.

Whether you choose to backpack across Europe for 12 months or migrate to another country permanently, you become what is known as an expatriate (expat for short); a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country other than their own.

To live abroad is something everyone should experience at some point in their lives, but you do have certain responsibilities as an expat. And one of those is staying on top of tax.

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Fly to London for $270? Dollar Flight Club Will Save You SO Much Money on Flights!

Fly to London for $270? Dollar Flight Club Will Save You SO Much Money on Flights!

It feels like there are a million different secrets to finding cheap flights these days, and everyone has a different opinion. Some people will tell you to make your booking on a Tuesday, some might tell you to use an incognito window, or that you should cozy up to an air hostess for their friends and family discount!

But the one secret I’m loving at the moment are cheap flight subscriptions, where there’s a team of travel nerds who run algorithms and send you email alerts when they find crazy low prices.

I’m signed up to a number of these subscriptions, though I definitely have my favorites. And one of them is Dollar Flight Club. While many subscription services exist offering notifications on flights only out of America, Dollar Flight Club is something for everyone.

They search the web for flight deals leaving your home airport, where-ever you’re based in the world, and the deals they find usually save you around $500 on international flights.

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Travelling With a Portable Language Translator: Mesay 2.0 Review

Travelling With a Portable Language Translator: Mesay 2.0 Review

As I travel around the world, it never ceases to amaze me just how many people are fluent in more than one language. Granted, I am blessed that the only language I can speak is spoken nearly everywhere to at least some degree. Though this isn’t always true once you start travelling off the beaten path, and it is a sign of respect when visiting someone else’s country that you at least attempt to speak in their native tongue.

I am well aware that I should be the one to learn other languages. I don’t expect other cultures to conform to my native language, and I do actually enjoy discovering destinations that haven’t adopted English as an alternate or additional language. Like many frequent travellers though, I don’t have the aptitude to learn16 different languages, but I still want to communicate effectively wherever I go.

Last year I wrote an article about using MESAY, which is a portable language translator that you speak into, and it spits out translations in real time. Though the company has recently developed an upgrade, and will soon be launching MESAY 2.0.

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Top Places to Travel for Exceptional Underwater Life

Top Places to Travel for Exceptional Underwater Life

Experiencing underwater life never ceases to inspire and amaze. Offering an entirely different pace, human beings have long been enchanted by the blue silence, surrounded by marine life.

It is true that some of the coolest places on the planet are under water. There are hotels, shipwrecks, temples, museums, restaurants and other underwater sites around the world that are worth diving and snorkeling for.

While the list of exceptional underwater experiences seems as endless as the great depths of the sea, we’ve put together our favorites; some the top sites to don a full face snorkel mask and explore underwater life.

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Things You Should Know Before Visiting Byron Bay

Things You Should Know Before Visiting Byron Bay

With colourful shop windows, golden beaches and turquoise waters, and an extremely zen town mentality, there are very few places that can compare to the hippy town of Byron Bay.

A favourite on every east coast Australia road trip, Byron Bay truly is one of a kind. It boasts glorious beaches, an amazing chilled out atmosphere, enough bars and restaurants to keep you fed and watered for weeks, and beautiful surroundings.

But there are a couple of things you should know before visiting this captivating town in northern New South Wales, which will ensure you make the most of your time in the town and see the very best of Byron Bay.

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The Best Countries for Jungle Trekking

The Best Countries for Jungle Trekking

Jungles may make up only six percent of the earth’s land surface, but they produce nearly half of all the oxygen we require to survive. And, home to some of the world’s most iconic and endangered wildlife, jungle destinations offer a travel experience unlike any other.

Jungle trekking is a way to transport yourself back to a time of exploration as you come face to face with landscapes and animals few people have seen with their own eyes; from the lush humid jungles of the Amazon, to spotting tigers and sloth bears in the national parks of Nepal.

On June 5th, over 140 nations will participate in celebrating World Environment Day. And what better way to celebrate than by listing the countries that are home some of the world’s greatest rainforests.

We can only hope that through continued conservation efforts and sustainable eco-tourism, we can preserve these great jungles for generations to come. You might think that jungle trekking sounds primitive, but you might be surprised to find that the best hotels for jungle trekking are as much luxury as they are eco-lodge!

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The Five Things To Think About When Booking Flights

The Five Things To Think About When Booking Flights

Booking flights can either be impulsive, or carefully planned out, and years in the making. But either way, it’s something that almost every traveler will have some degree of experience with.

After 10 years + years of travel, booking flights has become close to second nature, though even as a frequent traveler, there are a number of things you really need to consider before clicking that final purchase icon on your screen. In some cases it could be a real money saver, in others save you from a nightmare flight.

So whether you’re a first time traveler, or a frequent traveler who often makes bookings without stopping to think, make sure you consider the following five things.

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Things to do in Naples, Italy

Things to do in Naples, Italy

World famous as the birthplace of the original pizza pie, and known for having the best pizza, pasta, and coffee in Italy, travelers to Naples are often lead by their appetite.

Though unlike the Italian dream destinations of Venice, Florence, and Rome, Naples doesn’t often rank as a tourist favorite. And perhaps it’s because the area doesn’t market itself well, or because there’s a certain gruffness to this urban sprawl.

Many people’s first impressions of Naples is one of grunge and grime, but for travelers willing to look past a rough exterior, the city is an unlikely masterpiece of breathtaking frescoes, strong tradition, and invaluable artistic, cultural and historic heritage. And, sitting within view of the mighty Vesuvius, the seaside offers one hell of a panoramic view.

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How to Book the Cheapest Flight Possible this Summer

How to Book the Cheapest Flight Possible this Summer

Summer is upon us (and by “us”, I mean you lucky folk who live in the Northern Hemisphere), and now is the time to figure out where you want to spend June, July and August.

And since we’re only 6 – 7 weeks out, you might already have a destination in mind. Perhaps you see yourself with a sun hat on a beach in Ibiza. Or spending days discovering ancient churches in Rome.

But for those of you who haven’t yet decided where you’ll spend your summer, there’s a fairly easy way to decide. We personally choose our next destination based on where we can find the cheapest flights. And the following is a free subscription we use to find them.

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8 Hotel Safety Tips

8 Hotel Safety Tips

There’s a lot of advice out there about staying safe while traveling, from taking precautions at the airport, to using public transport, or actually wandering around. But after an incredible day of exploring, we often get back to the hotel, kick our feet up, and let our guard down.

And I totally get it – you’re on vacation, and the last thing you want to do is worry about hotel security. But hotel stays carry an inherent level of risk, and everything from break-ins, to fires, to bed bugs, and terrorist attacks could potentially affect you.

While it’s not worth becoming too paranoid about some of these, after-all you’re much more likely to be killed by a vending machine than a terrorist, it’s definitely in your best interest to take a few precautions to protect against common hotel risks.

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Things to do in New Zealand

Things to do in New Zealand

It’s known as the Adventure Capital of the World for good reason. New Zealand, with its breathtaking scenery, offers visitors a voyage of discovery on so many levels. Whether you wish to seek out rare endemic plants and animals, engage in extreme sports, or simply introduce your tastebuds to cuisine unlike any other, New Zealand offers something for everyone.

While it would be impossible to place everything New Zealand has to offer into one “Best Of” list, the following attractions are my personal favourites and recommendations that will suit every type traveller.

This is a bucket list destination sure to provide you with an unforgettable holiday, so much so that you will leave the country with a determined mindset to return. So without further ado, let’s dive into what makes New Zealand so special.

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Three Amazing Restaurants to Visit in Cabo San Lucas, México

Three Amazing Restaurants to Visit in Cabo San Lucas, México

Set on the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula, and an easy two hour flight from Los Angeles, Cabo San Lucas has long been the destination of choice for a quintessential Mexican beach vacation.

With white beaches, spectacular arching stone cliffs, and a location where golden desert meets the shimmering sea, Cabo is firm favorite among surfers, divers and hikers. But with a coastline that stretches from the Sea of Cortez to the Pacific Ocean, Los Cabos is tempting a new type of traveler: the foodie.

It’s said that the only word you need to learn to eat well in Los Cabos is mariscos (Spanish for seafood), thanks to the incredible catch that comes straight from the bountiful waters.

Spending two weeks in Cabo San Lucas this past February led me to some truly amazing restaurants. But when it comes to highlighting my favorites, I have to recommend these three.

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Seven Reasons Every Girl Should Travel in Her Teens

Seven Reasons Every Girl Should Travel in Her Teens

As I’m sure you can imagine, telling my family and friends that I planned to travel solo for 12 months was met with considerable concern. A bright-eyed but relatively naive 18-year-old, I was fresh out of high school, and a number of relatives who believed the trip was irresponsible launched a full-scale campaign to stop me (their efforts were in vain).

But after having extensively traveled at 18 & 19, I would actually argue the opposite. I would argue that encouraging travel is one of the most responsible things you can do for a girl in her teens.

If I have one regret from my teenage years it’s that I didn’t travel sooner. So whether you’re a teenage girl yourself, or a parent wondering if you should send your daughter overseas, from personal experience, the following are 7 compelling reasons why every girl should travel in their teens.

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How to Travel Safely in Honduras

How to Travel Safely in Honduras

Nestled in the heart of Central America, between Nicaragua, Guatemala, and El Salvador, Honduras is a country that not a lot of people know about. And those who do? Well, they seem to only hear the bad things.

Honduras has a long history of military rule, corruption, poverty and crime which have rendered it one of the least developed and most unstable countries in Central America. And yes, it has somewhat of a negative global image.

But, little of the Honduran violence affects tourists, and most visitors to the country are free to enjoy the national parks, small towns and ancient ruins of the Latin American country without incident. This is in fact a vibrant and fascinating country, and one of the cheapest in the region; you’ll be able to do activities for a fraction of the price you’ll pay in its neighbors.

Honduras has a notorious reputation, but with these safety tips anybody can have a safe and happy time seeing the raw beauty and fascinating culture within this Central American country.

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5 Types of Travelers and the One Piece of Equipment They’ll Always Have With Them!

5 Types of Travelers and the One Piece of Equipment They’ll Always Have With Them!

Over the many years I’ve been wandering the world, there are certain types of travelers I’ll meet again and again.

It doesn’t matter if it’s Boston or Barcelona or Bangkok, it’s reached the point where I practically feel uneasy if I don’t meet these people – as if there is an imbalance in the Force!

But what’s equally as interesting as meeting the same types of travelers, is the common link between what’s in their hands. So, we’ve put together a list of the most common types of travelers, and the one item that seems to define their travel style.

Which type of traveler are you?

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10 Reasons We’re LOVING the New Coastal Pavilions at Freycinet Lodge, Tasmania

10 Reasons We’re LOVING the New Coastal Pavilions at Freycinet Lodge, Tasmania

When it comes to eco accommodation, there are eco lodges; the type that offer rustic accommodation in pristine natural surrounds, and then there are eco lodges; architectural gems so sleek and sophisticated, it’s easy to forget that they’re good for the environment. The newly launched Coastal Pavilions at Freycinet Lodge are the latter.

Ecotourism is thriving in Tasmania, and Freycinet Lodge has long been the sweetheart of the tourism scene. Nestled within Freycinet National Park, it offers one of the most unique locations for accommodation in Australia, with the ethos of looking after the environment first, and then the guests who come to appreciate it.

But their nine new pavilions have completely redefined what an eco lodge could be. Extending the current values and experience, innovative architecture seamlessly blends nature with accommodation in a way we have never before seen.

Blurring the lines between inside and out, a stay here is an immersive experience which draws the wilderness in, while not sacrificing on luxury or comfort. And we’re absolutely loving it!

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Varallo Sightseeing: Things to Do in This Charming Town on The Italian Alps

Varallo Sightseeing: Things to Do in This Charming Town on The Italian Alps

Discovering Italy is a unique experience, and whether you plan on visiting iconic cities like Rome, Milan, and Florence, or smaller towns by the lakes and the mountains, the list of attractions and things to see is truly endless.

But beyond its most famous sights, Italy is a patchwork of charming small towns. And this is an incredible opportunity to witness a more traditional side to an otherwise modern country, and experience some of its richest culture.

Situated 66km northwest of Vercelli in northern Piedmont, Varallo is a small mountain town set in a wild, remote region known for adventure sports; black skiing, rafting, canyoning, and fishing.

Famous for its pilgrimage site, the Sacro Monte, and the Sesia river which heads spectacularly north to the foot of the Monte Rosa (the second highest mountain in the Alps), there are plenty of incredible opportunities for sightseeing in this charming town on the Italian Alps.

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Travel Bucketlist: 30 Things to Do Before You’re 30

Travel Bucketlist: 30 Things to Do Before You’re 30

Today marks my 30th birthday, and a common question I’ve been asked is how I’m spending it. Perhaps I’m skydiving. Perhaps I’ve flown to Bali. Perhaps I’m hanging out with animals in the wild.

But for all the adventure I’ve sought over the past 30 years, today I have a bottle of wine, and a hard-drive full of photos; today I plan to reflect (and write this).

Thinking back to my 10 year old self’s daydreams, I had wanted to be a world traveler even then. Albeit, my inspiration for wanting to visit Africa was The Lion King, the Middle East, Aladdin, China, Mulan … you get the picture!

If I’m being perfectly honest I wanted to grow up to be The Little Mermaid, but even Ariel had an insatiable desire to be part of foreign worlds.

Most people have a list of things they want to accomplish before they hit their 30s, and if you’re one of those people, I would like to share my list. I can personally vouch for each item being worthy, having now completed all 30.

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7 Reasons You NEED to be Traveling With a VPN

7 Reasons You NEED to be Traveling With a VPN

Virtual Private Networks (VPN) have been around for a while now, and while they might have previously been viewed by travelers as a ‘nice thing to have’, nowadays they’re internet security 101, and firmly on the list of “must pack”.

A program you run on your devices which gives you security and privacy when you surf the internet, the perks of using one as a traveler include getting access to region-restricted websites, minimizing your risk of being hacked while using public WiFi, and preventing your bank accounts and email from being frozen.

The following are 7 reasons why you shouldn’t travel overseas without a VPN, plus a description of what it is, how it works, and why you need one.

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Photo Tour of Villa Iorama; a Private Luxury Villa in Nai Harn Beach, Phuket

Photo Tour of Villa Iorama; a Private Luxury Villa in Nai Harn Beach, Phuket

Thailand has become one of the popular countries in the world for travelers seeking affordable luxury, with everything from 5 star hotels, to Michelin star restaurants, and private luxury villas available for less.

Budget travelers and backpackers can often get by in Thailand for US $25 per day, but most of us have a lot more to spend. And what might get you a 3 star hotel in some of the world’s more expensive cities like London, Paris, or New York, can often translate into a stay in a million dollar villa in Phuket.

A country that offers some of the best value for the money, a trip to Thailand gives everyday travelers the unique opportunity to shoot higher than 5 star hotels, and as such, private luxury villas have become the trend.

Think incredible locations, infinity pools, state of the art kitchens, and the exclusivity of your own residence; antique furniture, elegant interiors, and tropical gardens with day beds.

But what’s more affordable than staying in a private luxury villa in Thailand? Not having to pay for it!!

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Everyone’s Favorite Topic: How to Prevent (and Manage) Travelers’ Diarrhea

Everyone’s Favorite Topic: How to Prevent (and Manage) Travelers’ Diarrhea

It’s not something anyone likes to talk about, but it’s something I guarantee that every traveler will experience at some point, regardless of whether or not you have an adventurous appetite.

Travelers diarrhea is the most common travel-related illness, and a very real health problem faced by developing countries. It is estimated that 15–20 million travelers will experience traveler’s diarrhea annually, which means that roughly 40,000 travelers got the runs today.

So what do you do if you find yourself with Delhi belly / Montezuma’s revenge, and have to make a sudden break for the bathroom? Follow these tips to prevent travelers’ diarrhea so you can still enjoy your holiday.

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Myanmar Sightseeing – 7 Places to Include in Your Burma Itinerary

Myanmar Sightseeing – 7 Places to Include in Your Burma Itinerary

It’s interesting to note that if you were to research why Myanmar has two names, you might struggle to find a concrete answer. Such is the country’s diverse and often turbulent history, that Myanmar and Burma are used interchangeably depending on where you go and who you speak to.

The ruling military junta changed its name from Burma to Myanmar in 1989, a year after thousands were killed in the suppression of a popular uprising. Rangoon also became Yangon. But some countries like the US and UK do not recognise the legitimacy of the regime that changed the name.

Regardless of what you call it, perhaps the country is best summed up by English writer Rudyard Kipling, when he said “…it is quite unlike any land you know about.” Apparently he only visited for three days, but it was enough to make such an accurate observation.

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Some of the Biggest Broadway Flops in History

Some of the Biggest Broadway Flops in History

Catching a show on Broadway is one of those bucket list experiences which sees travelers flock to New York City.

With 41 large theatres concentrated near the iconic Times Square, millions of tourists descend upon Manhattan each year to see the best Broadway shows, from long-running phenomenons such as The Lion King to more recent hits like Aladdin and Hamilton.

But between plays, musicals, and revivals, there’s a lot of variety out there, and sometimes, even shows which make it to Broadway end up being a flop.

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Ever Thought About Booking a Round The World Ticket? This Post Will Help You Decide

Ever Thought About Booking a Round The World Ticket? This Post Will Help You Decide

There’s definitely something romantic about the idea of a round the world adventure of a lifetime. Our last RTW took in 11 countries over 6 continents, 13 flights, and 35,000 miles … for cheaper than the cost of having purchased each leg individually!

Almost equally as entertaining as the trip itself, were people’s reactions when they asked where we were going next. It was quite a mouthful, but I eventually managed to run off Sydney, Singapore, Cape Town, Istanbul, Venice, Vienna, Barcelona, Cancun, Panama City, Buenos Aires, Auckland, and back to Sydney, all in one breath!

For us, this was the perfect balance of romance and adventure, and we managed to include a huge number of bucket-list experiences like cage diving with Great White Sharks in South Africa, and swimming with Whale Sharks in Cancun, all into the one trip.

If you’ve ever thought about booking an around the world ticket, it’s an incredible option with endless possibilities. The following overview will help you decide if booking a RTW fare is right for you.

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