Someone once told me that the most precious ring gifts she could ever be gifted with are anniversary rings for her. I can still picture her looking at blank spaces with so many smiles on her face and little tears of joy giving a full detailed explanation of the overwhelming joy she felt when being gifted anniversary rings. She spoke of rekindled memories of her wedding day, it was such a lovely moment to behold.
You could also tell a story, you reading this, and you have yet to have the feeling that an anniversary ring brings along. It is an undeniable fact that over the years we sometimes need a reminder of that precious moment at the altar and while we share memories and exchange other gift items the gifts of rings give this undefined joy to couples that no other gift can. You can imagine the joy and smile a brand new ring on every anniversary would give to your partner. A brand new ring to mark every anniversary that passes by annually is a reminder of all the vows on the altar and the beautiful moments shared on your wedding day.
If enjoy traveling but despise packing. Without a doubt, pre-trip planning is something you should do:put together itineraries, researching the finest places to eat local cuisine, and scoping out the best spots to take pictures when in a new place. Packing your suitcase, on the other hand? That's when your enthusiasm completely disappears.
Use washing services more often and pack less.
Most of us are chronic over packers, which means we carry way too much clothing on every trip. To avoid overpacking, I suggest taking no more than seven days' worth of clothing. This will not only drive you to reevaluate what products are truly required, but it will also reduce the amount of excess weight you carry around. Also, let's be honest: you can (and should!) wear your clothes more than once on vacation, with the exception of your underwear. There are other options if you don't like the idea of hand-washing your clothes in your hotel room's sink while you're on vacation.
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Stay away from the heavy jewelry, toiletries, and technological devices at home
Less is more, as always. The hefty chains, face cleansers, and cameras should be left at home. Scarves and shawls, which are often made of lightweight, breathable materials that are easy to travel, are great options if you like to accessorize. Keep your favorite K-beauty products handy in travel-sized bottles, whether you're a fan of the brand or not (no need to bring the originalpackage it came in). Smartphones are now so good at taking photos that they can match the quality of a high-end DSLR camera. What if I'm wrong? This could also be an ideal time to hire a local photographer to capture those memorable vacation moments.
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Having to cancel a vacation is always a tough decision to make. Delaying a vacation because of unexpected occurrences (such as a global pandemic) is never a pleasant experience. To add to the difficulty, airline refunds sometimes take weeks or even months to appear in your bank account. Even if you purchased your trip through an OTA like Expedia, if you have yet to get a refund or credit from your airline, here is all you need to know about airline refunds and credit delays.
How do online travel agencies like Expedia and Orbitz make money?
Third-party websites like Expedia are used by travel suppliers (hotels, airlines, and car rental firms) to distribute and sell their products to millions of travelers throughout the world. For this purpose, they enter their inventory and pricing into the OTA's system. OTAs like Expedia can provide passengers a straightforward way to book their entire vacation by making their platforms available to a wide range of travel suppliers, delivering the largest selection of travel offers across flights, lodging, rental vehicles, and activities.
On Expedia, where does my money end up when I buy airline tickets?
Most online travel agents (OTAs) allow you to either purchase a single flight, hotel, or car; or a package that includes all three. A merchant or an agency model is typically used for this purpose.
If you're using a merchant model, your online travel agency will operate as your official point of contact for all of your travel-related purchases such as hotels, vacation rentals, airline tickets, vehicle rentals, and other extras. In this case, the OTA is responsible for collecting the money from customers. OTAs like Expedia's merchant model transactions are primarily tied to hotel reservations.
As an OTA, the OTA facilitates travel bookings and operates as an intermediary, transmitting reservations made by the traveler directly to the travel provider. Commissions or tickets fees are paid by travel suppliers and/or travelers to the OTA, which in turn gets them. Because the travel provider is charging the consumer, the supplier (like the airline, for example) will appear on your bank statement rather than Expedia.
In the event of an issue, would I receive a refund or credit from the OTA or the travel provider?
When it comes to booking terms and conditions, the supplier sets them, not an online travel agency (OTA). When it comes to things like return policies and fees, it's all up to the individual supplier. When there is a dispute or issue between the customer and the supplier, the OTA often employs huge customer support teams who advocate for the customer's best interests. These teams then go to work directly with the supplier to resolve the issue.
There were more than 3,000 different airline cancellation policies to deal with in the first months of the global epidemic; many of these rules required travellers to be awarded credits. By implementing a "one-click" cancellation function, Expedia was able to alleviate the stress and long hold times associated with bulk cancellations by making it easier for customers to cancel their reservations.
Refunds, credits, and other forms of payment normally appear in your account within a few days.
There are no delays in processing a customer's refund, voucher, credit etc. as soon as an OTA has approval from the airline or hotel to handle that request. Most airline partners are set up under the agency business model, which means that the supplier (the airline) is in charge of the refund procedure and the refund timeframe under this model. For a variety of reasons (including the sheer volume of requests), COVID caused significant delays in this regard, although in general, airlines handle refunds within a credit card billing cycle, although certain smaller or primarily overseas carriers may take longer. If there are no syncing issues between the airline and the OTA, the credit process normally takes roughly 12 hours.
How do online travel agents (OTAs) handle the unused flight vouchers that consumers receive?
Self-service solutions have been developed by Expedia so that customers can simply redeem their current flight credits without the need to call the customer service department. It is possible to examine and use any vouchers or credits in your account, as well as start a virtual agent chat, redeem credits, and access a customer support line all from the same page in your Expedia account.
As you wait on the ledge of a boat for the sharks to approach, play the Jaws theme song. Your pulse quickens as you catch a glimpse of the ominous silhouettes closing in. The water is just a few feet away from hundreds of sharp fangs. Do you think you're insane enough to jump in? Is there a better way of finding out?
In Cape Town, you can go cage diving with great white sharks just like the scientists on TV. Isla Mujeres, Mexico's Isla Mujeres Island, is a great place to swim with whale sharks. To swim with sharks in Belize or Fiji, you don't have to be a licensed diver or even have snorkelling experience. Sharks can be found and safely swum with by experienced tour leaders all around the world.
You can even help save sharks by swimming with them ethically. Many shark species are in danger of extinction as a result of overfishing and the practice of shark finning. Sharks are more valuable to tourists when they are alive than when they are cooked, and this can encourage the local community to take action to safeguard sharks. So, whether you're a thrill-seeker or a shark fanatic, here are the top sites in the world to go shark swimming.
You can even help save sharks by swimming with them ethically. Many shark species are in danger of extinction as a result of overfishing and the practice of shark finning. Sharks are more valuable to tourists when they are alive than when they are cooked, and this can encourage the local community to take action to safeguard sharks. So, whether you're a thrill-seeker or a shark fanatic, here are the top sites in the world to go shark swimming.
1) Oahu, Hawaii
Cage Diving with Sharks in Oahu
Feeling daring? Jump in the waters off the coast of Oahu and cage dive with some of Hawaii’s most dangerous sharks. Galapagos sharks, sandbar sharks, tiger sharks, and scalloped hammerhead sharks commonly inhabit the warm waters of Hawaii along with 36 other species (including great whites). From the safety of a metal cage, see some of these predators up close as they circle—sometimes just inches from the bars. Because the cage floats at the surface, there’s no need for scuba gear. With a snorkel and mask, you can pop down for a look whenever you like. As a bonus to swimming with sharks in Oahu, you may also see spinner dolphins, barracuda, flying fish, or humpback whales during your adventure. If you also want to see sea turtles or snorkel with manta rays, check out the best snorkeling in Hawaii.
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While video conversations allow us to stay in touch with friends and family across the country and across the world, they may also make us long for a change of environment.
Virtual vacations are available even if you aren't currently on the road. For your viewing pleasure, we've developed a selection of 15 Zoom backdrops. Make your next video conference or virtual happy hour special by selecting one of the images below.
Do you enjoy what you've seen so far? Use the right-click menu on any image to download it.
The airplane jackpot
No need to choose the aisle or window—or to fight over the armrest with your neighbours—when you get the whole row to yourself.
Aquatic adventure
Indulge your inner child. Even if your favorite aquarium is still out of reach, you can still feel like you’re swimming with sharks.
The best of Bali
Lush scenery. Beautiful temples. Friendly people. For a calming, inspiring vibe, look no further than this Bali background.
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