Last Updated: August 22, 2026
Hi, I’m Shiva, the person behind Gathering Wonders (https://gatheringwonders.com/). Transparency matters to me, both as a traveler and as someone who wants you to trust what you read here. This page explains, in plain language, how this blog makes money and how that connects to the content you see.
If you have any questions after reading this, feel free to reach out anytime at contact@gatheringwonders.com.
1. What This Blog Covers
Gathering Wonders publishes a mix of informational and affiliate content, including destination guides, hotel reviews, travel gear recommendations, flight tips, budget travel advice, and more. Some of this content is purely informational and earns nothing from your visit. Other content includes affiliate links, ads, or occasionally sponsored material. This page breaks down exactly how each of those works.
2. What Are Affiliate Links?
Some of the links on this site are affiliate links. This means that if you click on one of these links and make a purchase or booking, I may earn a small commission from the company involved, at absolutely no additional cost to you. The price you pay stays exactly the same whether you use my link or go directly to the site yourself.
I’m currently a participant in the Amazon Associates Program, along with other legitimate affiliate networks and partner programs relevant to the travel niche, including those related to hotels, flights, tours, travel insurance, and travel gear.
These commissions help cover the real costs of running Gathering Wonders, things like hosting, research, travel for content creation, and the time it takes to put together honest, useful guides for you. In short: when you use an affiliate link on this site, you’re directly supporting the work that goes into it, without paying anything extra yourself.
3. What Kinds of Products & Services I Recommend
Through affiliate links, I may recommend and link to things like:
- Travel gear and luggage
- Hotels and accommodation
- Flights and booking platforms
- Tours and travel experiences
- Travel insurance providers
- Other products or services I believe are genuinely useful to travelers
4. My Promise: Honest Recommendations, Always
Here’s the part I care about most: I only recommend products, services, and companies that I genuinely believe are useful, valuable, or worth considering for travelers. Whether or not a link earns a commission has no bearing on whether I recommend it.
I write honest reviews regardless of affiliate relationships. If something didn’t work well for me, wasn’t worth the money, or simply isn’t something I’d personally use or suggest to a friend, I’ll tell you that too. Earning a commission is never a reason for me to recommend something I don’t actually believe in, and it never will be.
My goal is for Gathering Wonders to be a place you can trust, not a place that just pushes products for profit.
5. Sponsored Content & Paid Collaborations
From time to time, I may accept sponsored posts or paid collaborations with brands and companies relevant to travel, food, or lifestyle. When this happens, I disclose the sponsored nature of the content clearly, in line with the terms agreed upon with the client and in accordance with FTC guidelines. Sponsored content will always be identified as such, either within the post itself or through a clear disclosure statement at the top of the article.
Even with sponsored content, my opinions and recommendations remain my own. I choose to work only with brands and products I feel comfortable sharing with my readers.
6. Advertising on This Site
Gathering Wonders also displays advertisements from third-party advertising networks. These ads are separate from affiliate links and sponsored content, and their presence helps support the free content available on this blog. Ad placement does not influence the editorial content, reviews, or recommendations found on this site.
7. FTC Compliance
This disclosure is provided in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) 16 CFR Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising, which requires bloggers and online publishers to clearly disclose any material connections, such as affiliate relationships or sponsorships, between themselves and the brands or products they mention.
Wherever affiliate links, sponsored content, or paid partnerships appear on this site, they are disclosed to you, either through this page, in-post disclosures, or both.
8. Not Professional Advice
The content on Gathering Wonders, including travel tips, destination guides, product recommendations, and general information, is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only. It should not be considered professional travel, financial, legal, or medical advice.
Travel requirements, prices, availability, health guidelines, and regulations can change quickly and vary by destination. Please conduct your own research and consult relevant official sources or qualified professionals before making travel decisions, purchases, or bookings.
9. No Extra Cost to You
To be crystal clear: using an affiliate link on Gathering Wonders never costs you anything extra. Prices remain the same whether you click through my link or visit the retailer/service directly. Any commission earned comes from the company’s own marketing budget, not from your pocket.
10. Questions?
If you have any questions about this Affiliate Disclosure, how I choose what to recommend, or anything else related to how this blog operates, I’d genuinely love to hear from you.
Email: contact@gatheringwonders.com Website: https://gatheringwonders.com/
Thank you for trusting Gathering Wonders as part of your travel planning. Every click, read, and share genuinely helps keep this blog going, and I don’t take that for granted.
Happy travels, Shiva