The highly anticipated year 2020 came and went. I’m sure most would agree that 2020 did not disappoint, a memorable year for most of us, if not, all. We welcomed 2021 with open arms hoping things will go back to normal for us International travelers but it is has not. Even though 2020 as passed, the COVID-19 virus stayed with us to this present day. With that, international travel restrictions are in place.  In 2020 we had international travel restrictions when the COVID-19 virus was new to use. Now in 2021 we have vaccines, therapeutics and an overall understanding of the virus. If you take the COVID-19 vaccine or even therapeutics to combat the virus nothing is going to change. The International traveler restrictions will still be there for you to follow if you wish to travel abroad. Welcome to the new normal for international travelers in 2021, for now.

​The stress of protocols, COVID-19 testing, 72 hours pass/fail windows and vaccine apps etc. All that, with the anxiety of missing your next mode of transportation because someone sneezes on you while you are  adjusting your mask because you cannot breath. Out of a reported 249 countries on this great earth only a hand full do not require testing before you enter the country, but try to return home and your home is the USA. You need to get tested for the COVID-19 virus and have negative results 72 hours before you can return home, with a few exceptions. Not sure how many people want to deal with the hassles of paying for luggage, multiple tests, sharing all your personal information with people you do not know, risk being quarantined, having a cavity check, robbed etc. Sounds like a lot to put up with, if you can just travel locally and have a good time breaking all the rules when it is convenient than risk having to pay for another airplane ticket home. Vacations are your time to relax a bit, let loose, be carefree and explore. It is hard to do all those things I just mentioned with travel restrictions. The restrictions might be fine for some but some people do not have a lot of vacation time to work with nor the money to take a loss during this COVID-19 pandemic. Until things cool down and COVID-19 restrictions are a thing of the past, 2021 can be a time used to save money and plan for your unrestricted, carefree vacation. 

1. Eliminate daily habits that cost you money: Using your discretionary income on discretionary items can eat away at your future travel arrangements. If you buy Starbucks every day, stop. One Starbucks coffee can cost you at least $5. Do the math 5 x 365 equals a total of $1,825. I know some items are only a dollar. You work hard for your money and want some instant gratification. Delayed gratification can be the deference between budget travel staying in a hostel or luxury travel staying in a 5 star hotel. To save money buy in bulk for the items you  enjoy and use the most. 
2. Plan to spend money: Look at your future expenses and needs like drivers license renewals, credit card annual fees etc. Knowing your future expenses can help in avoiding the temptation of dipping into the money you saved or planning to save for travel. Before you go shopping look around the house to see if you already have what you need or want. Do your research, make a list and always look for deals before buying anything. For big item purchases, save for the item, ask family or friends if they have a spare or if you can borrow. You can even go to a resale shop and buy something used. If you have to finance the purchase look for store credit that offers 0% interest in at least one year. For food, buy in bulk, use coupons and sale ads. 
3. Eliminate monthly expenses: Drop monthly expenses that you do not use or can live without. Cut the cable bill in half or off and get rid of app fees that does not affect your daily life. You can skip out on having your hair cut every two weeks or once a month. Cutting you own hair can save you at least $780 a year if cut by a professional.  
4. Make a game of it: Go online and research a few games that can help you save money to meet your financial travel goals. Do not miss out on the opportunity to include family and friends especially if you are traveling in a group. 

Feel free to leave a comment and share some helpful tips. Thank you!! 

1. Never use your real name. 
2. Avoid using cell phones or smart phones and exchanging phone numbers. Use a drop phone if necessary. 
3. Avoid kissing and groping in the club or public events. There are cameras everywhere and everyone is watching. Kissing and touching does not mean the girl wants to have sex with you. Public displays of affection with a female that is not your girl will also hinder or ruin your chances with other women if she decides not to go home with you. 
4. Do not take the girl to your house. You do not want her to know where you live for safety reasons. A hotel room might be a better option.
5. Use cash to limit digital footprint.
6. Use condoms and dispose of them yourself. You can flush the condoms in the toilet or take them with you. Avoid exchanging any bodily fluids. No oral sex and avoid kissing. Kissing is very intimate and women are not into kissing with strangers. 
7. When you are done get dressed and leave. Do not clean up or use any bath towels. Be respectful and gracefully leave.
8. Make sure the female is not in your social circles. No women from your school or place of work. 
9. Avoid having sex with intoxicated women or women who seem drunk and/or impaired. If women are incoherent or inebriated by law she is unable to consent to sex or any physical contact.
10. Practice abstinence. You will avoid any false charges, sexual transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies. 

1. I had to pay off my Apple MacBook Pro: Right after my trip to Thailand late 2017 my MacBook Pro had an unexpected accident. Lucky for me I was about to recover the media/data from the hard drive. Yep!! A late night beverage and a MacBook do not mix. Not to divulge too much information but I got a new MacBook Pro and I'm still paying for it. That really hurt any possible impromptu vacation anywhere at anytime in 2018.
2. Cigars & Whiskey: My pastime did not have a budget or I did not budget one of my favorite pastimes. This will not happen in  2019. 
3. Did not save enough money: That's explanatory if you ask me. 
4. Spent next trip money on last trip: I booked a hotel room on Khao San Road when I visited Bangkok,Thailand late 2017 for 10 days. Big mistake!!! Never ever book a hotel/motel on Khao San Road for more than two days. At night Khao San Road turns into one of the world's largest block parties.  The hotel rooms are not sound proof and the music is so loud that you would have to book a room two blocks away to get some peace and quiet. I was not able to take a night off and just rest and relax. Day 5, I moved out and got a new hotel room in the Central Embassy area of Bangkok.     
5. I did not plan to go anywhere: "If you fail to plan you, you plan to fail", Benjamin Franklin. I felt that the turn around time for another trip would have been too quick. With all the changes going on at home and work a vacation just did not feel right for 2018. You really have to plan and have a purpose on these trips/vacations. Vacations are expensive and extremely dangerous. To be on the safe side of things one should have a general idea of what he would be doing everyday of a trip. I already have a country in mind for 2019 that I want to visit. If planned just right, it will be very rewarding and knockout a few birds with one stone.  

Cigars are symbols of Luxury, wealth, education, celebration, sophistication, class,  power and success.

CPF is the Brazilian abbreviation for Cadastro De Pessoas Físicas.
Cadastro De Pessoas Físicas translates to Individuals registration. A CPF is equal to a U.S  tax identification number.  A CPF is used in Brazil to open a bank account, get a line of credit, employment, start a business, pay taxes, buy real estate, investments, furniture, cell phone plan and e-commerce (online shopping).
A CPF is fairly easy to get outside of overcoming a few hurdles. If you are not a Brazilian citizen no worries. Non-Brazilian citizens can get a CPF number without being a permanent resident or citizen living in Brazil. Non-Brazilian citizens or foreigners can get a CPF by visiting a Brazilian consulate in their own country if one is available. Just follow these easy steps and you can have a CPF with no problem.

1. You need to have copy of your birth certificate (original or certified) and a valid passport.​
2. Locate the nearest Brazilian consulate. In the United States of America Brazilian consulates are in these major cities: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Hartford, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. Note: You may need to schedule an appointment every consultant is different.

​   3. Visit the website of the Brazilian consulate nearest to your current  location. Each consulate has its own website. They look the same but each one operates differently.
      4.  Once you have located the proper website find the CPF tab/services on the home page. There you will find a link to the Federal Revenue form/Receita federal form.

      5. Complete the Federal Revenue form/Receita federal form. Your reason for completing the form is for “Registration” purposes. Complete all that is applicable: Name, sex, birth date, mother's maiden name (Name before marriage), address, nationality, phone number and e-mail. Leave everything else blank.
    6. Print out the form and take it to the Brazilian consulate. Note: There is no application fee for requesting a CPF number. Again every consulate is different. In Chicago, no appointment, there is no application fee and the CPF number is given to you the same day the application is processed. It might help to already have a Brazilian Visa which includes a background check etc.
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I hope the information provided was helpful and/or resourceful in obtaining your CPF number.
P.S The Brazilian consulates are no longer issuing CPF ID cards just a sheet of paper with your CPF number. You need to have it memorized, stored in a safe place or you can get if from a CPF app via Receita Federal. 

Tourism is a major industry in the Dominican Republic. The Dominican Republic is located on an island and it is loaded with beach resorts, luxury hotels and homes. The DR is a very affordable vacation hot spot. The cost of living is low which makes it one of 2018's best places to retire.
​Would poverty and others economic hardships discourage you from living it up? 

Saving for vacation is a daunting task. There are so many unexpected daily expenses and life changing events that can influence your vacation saving goals. If you are finding it difficult to save money because of holidays, birthdays, retirement parties and social events with family and friends there is hope. Discount store ​Dollar Tree, with coupons can turn a budget tight vacation into a carefree vacation.

1. Portable disinfectant wipes or spray
2. Carry your own toilet paper
3. Flushable wipes
4. 3 ounce bottle of hand soap 
5. Portable hand sanitizer

Why?
Thailand is a beautiful country with a lot of modern amenities at hotels, restaurants, resorts, etc. What might be missing from the bathrooms are toilet paper and hand soap. I'm not sure hand soap is common in Thailand. When I asked locals at the convenient stores and shopping malls for hand soap most people were clueless to what I was referring too. Some people would just take me to the hand sanitizer. Please take note that I don't speak Thai, didn't have a translator or used a translator app on my smartphone. When I finally found hand soap I only saw a few brands. Regards to the toilet paper you might be required to buy some from a dispenser. If they don't have toilet paper don't be surprised to find a bidet shower spray on the toilets which comes in handy if you don't have any. The bidets on the toilets might explain why some places don't give complimentary toilet paper to the public. Doing some reaching online people gave a few explanations of why bidets are widely used in Asia. The two that stick out are, low water pressure (flushing) and narrow pipes (plumbing). I reached out to someone from Thailand to cleaner things up on why Thai people use them. The person stated that Thai people think it is cleaner compared to using toilet paper.