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Beach trends survey: Where to find nude sunbathers, Speedo acceptance up

By WTOP Staff

WASHINGTON — This year’s biggest beach trend could be the Speedo.

At least that’s according to travel website, Expedia’s survey that found there is a growing acceptance toward men’s brief-style swimsuits around the world.

The 2014 Expedia Flip Flop Report examines behavior and preferences with beachgoers in North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Australia/New Zealand.

“The beach is the world’s most popular travel destination by a considerable margin,” Vice President and General Manager of Expedia.com John Morrey said in a news release. “So every year we ask travelers all over the world to tell us their likes and dislikes as they relate to beach behavior. In response, we can offer travelers the recommendations that best suit their preferences. Expedia will help you get to the perfect beach, but when it comes to behavior on the sand, you’re on your own.”

The survey found 74 percent of worldwide respondents consider Speedo-style briefs to be acceptable beach attire. Last year, 65 percent of respondents said Speedos were OK to sport.

There are some differences in Speedo acceptance between countries. In the survey, 95 percent of Brazilians approved, 94 percent of Australians, 91 percent of Germans and 91 percent of Spaniards. On the other end of the spectrum, 40 percent of Norwegians approved, 57 percent of Americans and 60 percent of Japanese.

Beach Nudity

While Speedos may seem skimpy, two countries tied for the likelihood of sunbathing naked. Twenty-eight percent of Germans and Austrians in the survey said they have spent a day at the beach in the buff.

This was Germany’s third year at the top of the nude beach-going trend. Worldwide, beach nudity is more common among men with 18 percent saying they participate. Just 6 percent of women sunbathe sans swimsuits, the survey found.

Women going topless at the beach is more popular in European countries with Austrians (49 percent), Spaniards (42 percent) and Germans (39 percent) most likely to participate.

Around the world, 12 percent of people say they go to the beach nude and 20 percent of women say they have sunbathed topless.

Worries Near the Waves

Beach time can be relaxing, but the survey found many people have concerns while the sand is between their toes.

Forty-four percent of the participants worldwide said they have anxiety about shark attacks. The most fear came from Brazil where 84 percent of respondents said they are worried about attacks from sharks.

Beachgoers don’t let it affect them too much, according to the survey — 50 percent said they are afraid to swim because of sharks, but 35 percent of the group will get in the water anyway.

Theft is another worry for beachgoers. Sixty-eight percent of the participants say they are “very” or “somewhat” anxious about having wallets, bags and other possessions stolen on the beach.

The report was commissioned by Expedia and conducted online by Northstar, a global research and consulting firm. The study was conducted among 11,165 adults 18 years of age and older, across 24 countries on five continents.

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Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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