A1A to Orbit (a1atoorbit.com) participates in affiliate programs. This is the plain-English explanation of how it works and what it means for you, in compliance with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission's Endorsement Guides (16 CFR Part 255).
What this means.
When you click a link on this site that points to a hotel booking, cruise booking, retail product, tour, or other service, you may be redirected through an affiliate link. If you make a purchase or booking after clicking that link, the merchant pays us a small commission at no additional cost to you. The price you pay is the same as if you'd gone to the merchant's site directly.
Who we earn from.
As of publication, A1A to Orbit participates in (or is approved with) the following affiliate programs:
- Amazon Associates — gear recommendations (binoculars, sunscreen, coolers, hearing protection)
- Booking.com (via Travelpayouts) — hotel bookings on the Stays page
- Hotels.com (via Commission Junction) — alternate hotel bookings
- VRBO (via Commission Junction) — vacation rental bookings
- Viator — Kennedy Space Center tickets and tour packages
- PODS (pending) — moving container quotes for the relocation guide
Cruise lines (Disney, Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, Princess) link directly without affiliate compensation as of publication; we link to them because they're the right answer, not because we're paid.
How we route links.
Every outbound link on this site goes through our /go/<slug> redirector before reaching the merchant. This serves three purposes: (1) we can swap an affiliate program in one place when partnerships change without editing 100 article pages; (2) we can track which recommendations actually help readers; (3) you always see the full destination URL after the redirect so you know exactly where you're going.
What this does not mean.
Affiliate compensation does not influence which restaurants we recommend, which hotels we rate highest, or which cruise lines we say to pick for families versus couples. We name specific places (Dixie Crossroads, Hilton Cocoa Beach, Disney Cruise Line) because they're the right answer for the question on the page, not because of commission rates. When we have a financial relationship that conflicts with editorial judgment — for example if a hotel paid for a sponsored placement — we'd label it clearly. We don't currently accept sponsored placements.
What you can do.
If you find this site useful, the highest-impact way to support the work is to book hotels and cruises through our links. The commission is built into the merchant's marketing budget — you pay the same either way, and a few dollars come our way. That's how this site stays free.
If you'd rather not use affiliate links, every /go/ URL on the site shows you the destination after redirect. You can copy that URL, strip the affiliate tracking parameters, and book directly with the merchant. We won't know.
Questions.
If anything on this page is unclear, or if you spot a link we forgot to disclose as affiliated, email hello@a1atoorbit.com and we'll fix it.