FAQ
Becoming a Member of The Travel Exchange
Q Why register?
A Although anyone can read travel journals and view photos on The Travel Exchange, registering will enhance your experience and help you earn rewards! Joining is free and allows you to:
- View profiles of and interact with members who share your travel interests
- Contribute stories and photos about your own travel experiences
- Earn GO Points redeemable for gift certificates
Stories
Q Who can post stories on the Travel Exchange?
A Anyone who has traveled with the Globus family of brands, including Globus, Cosmos, Monograms, and/or Avalon Waterways, can post stories and photos on the Travel Exchange.
Q How do I submit my story?
A Only registered Travel Exchange members can submit stories. After registering, log into The Travel Exchange and click "My Stories" on the left-hand side of the screen. Then hit "Write a New Story" and start writing!
Q How are stories reviewed and rated by Travel Exchange editors?
A All stories will be reviewed by Travel Exchange editors for content integrity and accuracy within 5-10 business days of submission. High-quality reviews, based on readability, detail, and usefulness to other travelers, will earn extra GO Points redeemable for rewards.
Q Can I edit my stories?
A Members can edit a story only before it has been reviewed and rated by editors. To edit a story, log into the site, click "My Stories," and your complete story list will appear. Click "Edit" next to the story you would like to edit, make your changes, and hit "Submit." After a story has been rated, it cannot be edited, but members can add photos to a story or delete photos from a story at any time.
Q Can I save my work before posting it?
AIf you are writing a longer story, we suggest saving it in a Word document first, and then cutting and pasting the text into the entry form.
Q Can I post my stories elsewhere?
A Please read our Terms & Conditions.
Q Do you share or sell my stories?
A We may occasionally share your stories with some of our partner sites, but your personal information will not be shared or sold.
Photos
Q How do I upload photos to my story?
A After logging in:
- Click "My Stories."
- Click "Add Photos" next to the appropriate story.
- Hit "Upload Photos."
- Click "Browse" to search for a photo on your computer (like creating an email attachment).
- Write a required title and optional description.
- Hit "Upload" at the bottom of the page.
Q Can I upload photos without attaching them to a story?
A Yes! You can upload up to 10 free-standing photos at a time.
- Click "Photos" under the "Your Stats" section.
- Hit "Upload Photos."
- Enter the required and optional trip information.
- Click "Browse" to search for a photo on your computer (like creating an email attachment).
- Write a required title and optional description.
- Hit "Upload" at the bottom of the page.
Q What are the best dimensions and resolution for sizing my photos?
A The best photo dimensions are approximately 400 pixels by 600 pixels. To keep the file size down, scan your photos at a lower resolution, as photos used for the Web do not need as high a resolution as images used in print. Seventy-two (72) dpi is optimal.
Q What is the best file size for my photos?
A We recommend that you keep your photo file size to approximately 10 to 50k per image. If you want to check the file size of your image, right-click on the photo to show its properties.
Q Is it acceptable to upload professional photos or photos from other websites?
A Only original photos taken by you should be uploaded onto The Travel Exchange. We will not accept professional photos (unless they're your own) or photos taken from other sources (e.g., websites, postcards, magazines, or brochures). Please see our Terms & Conditions to learn more about the legal ramifications of copyright infringement. Any photo determined to have been taken from another source will be promptly and permanently removed from The Travel Exchange.
GO Points
Q What are GO Points?
A Our Rewards program revolves around the accumulation of GO Points. For details on how to earn GO Points, please see our GO Points Guidelines. When you earn enough GO Points, you can redeem them for gift certificates at a number of online retailers.
Q How do I redeem GO Points for rewards?
A After logging in, click "Earn Rewards" and then "Virtual Gift Certificates." Each Travel Exchange gift certificate is pictured with the amount of GO Points required for redemption. When you have earned enough GO Points, click on your chosen reward. A redemption form and product information will appear. Complete the redemption form and click "Submit."
Q How often is my GO Points total updated?
A Editors read and rate every story. GO Points are awarded only after an editor has reviewed and rated your story, which usually takes up to two weeks after submission. Photos are reviewed separately from journal entries.
Searching for Travel Exchange Stories
Q How do I find stories?
A From the homepage, there are several ways to search for stories:
- To search stories, photos, members, or all content, simply type a keyword into the "Search" box at the top of the page and then choose the type of content you’d like to search from the dropdown.
- To perform a more in-depth search, use the "Advanced Search" option located next to the dropdown menu. Here, you'll find a variety of ways to narrow your results.
- To search for stories in specific destinations, use the homepage map to choose your location.
My Profile
Q How do I edit or add information to my profile?
A Log in or click "My Profile," and then click the "Edit Profile" link that appears in the top right-hand corner of your profile.
Q How can I change my email address, member name, or password?
A Log in or click "My Profile," and then click "Edit My Profile." There, you’ll see an "Edit Account Information" link. On the next page, change the desired registration information and then hit "Update" at the bottom of the page.
Q What if I've forgotten my password?
A Click the "Problems Logging In?" option on the log-in page. Enter the e-mail address you used to register, and we’ll e-mail you your password.
Q How do you protect my privacy?
A At The Travel Exchange, your privacy is extremely important to us. We invite you to read our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy for all the details.
Friends Network
Q What is my Friends Network, and how is it used?
A Adding people to your Friends Network makes it easy to create a personal web of Travel Exchange family and friends. Once you add friends, they will be listed under "Your Friends." You will receive an email anytime one of your friends submits a new story, and vice-versa.
Q How do I add people to my Friends Network?
A All Travel Exchange members have the option to add each other to their Friends Networks. To do so, click on the "Invite Friends" link. On the next page, you can invite up to 10 friends at a time by entering their member names, personalizing the subject and message if you wish, and hitting "Invite." You can also invite friends by going to their member profile and clicking the invite link on the left-hand side of the page. Once that member has accepted your invitation, he or she will automatically be added to your network.