Last updated: May 2, 2026
The short version, before you scroll: Okinawa Insider uses affiliate links. When you book or buy through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend things we’d recommend to a friend.
That’s it. The rest of this page is for the people who want details — and to satisfy the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requirements that bloggers be transparent about how they make money.
What is an affiliate link?
When you click a link on this site to a hotel booking platform, tour company, or product page, that link sometimes contains a tracking code. If you book or buy something within a certain time window after clicking, the company pays us a commission.
You pay exactly the same price whether you use our link or not. The commission comes out of the company’s marketing budget, not your wallet.
Programs we participate in
We participate (or are applying to participate) in the following affiliate programs:
Travel
- Booking.com Partner Programme — hotel and accommodation bookings
- Agoda Partner Programme — accommodation bookings (often better in Asia)
- Klook Affiliate Programme — tours, activities, and transport passes
- KKday Affiliate Programme — tours and experiences
- Skyscanner Affiliate Programme — flight comparison and bookings
- Times Car Rental — rental cars in Japan
Products and Services
- Amazon Associates US — products like reef-safe sunscreen, snorkel gear, GoPro accessories
- IIJmio / Ubigi eSIM — Japan SIM and travel eSIMs
Future programs
We’re always looking to expand partnerships that serve our readers better. When I review our affiliate roster each quarter, I focus on tools and services that actually solve problems for people planning trips to Okinawa—not just programs that pay well. Right now we’re in the process of applying to a few additional partners that align with that standard. This list will be updated as soon as new programs are approved.
How we choose what to recommend
Our policy, in order of priority:
- Have we used it personally, or do we know it well?
- Would we recommend it to a friend without the affiliate kickback?
- Is it the best option in its price range / category?
- Does it match what you (the reader) actually need, given the context of the post?
If a product or service fails any of these, it doesn’t go on the site — even if it pays a great commission. Last summer I turned down an affiliate partnership with a rental car company because their rates were consistently higher than competitors. It cost us potential revenue, but it meant our recommendations stayed honest.
We also sometimes recommend things that don’t have an affiliate program at all, when they’re genuinely the best option. Yes, that means we sometimes lose money on purpose. We think long-term.
How affiliate links are marked
In keeping with FTC guidance, we’re transparent about where money changes hands:
- Posts that contain affiliate links open with a short disclosure at the top, like:
This post contains affiliate links. If you book through our links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
- Each affiliate link is tagged with
rel="sponsored nofollow noopener"for SEO and security best practices. - Affiliate links typically open in a new tab so you don’t lose your place.
You don’t need to be a detective to spot them. We’d rather be obvious than sneaky.
What we don’t do
- We don’t accept payment to write positive reviews.
- We don’t accept “sponsored content” disguised as editorial.
- We don’t use deceptive practices like fake reviews or paid testimonials.
- We don’t push affiliate products in places where they don’t fit (looking at you, “Buy this snorkel mask!” in a typhoon safety article).
Why this matters to us
Travel writing is full of sites that rank high on Google because they game SEO and stuff in affiliate links — without ever visiting the place or testing the product. That’s bad for readers and bad for travel writing as a craft.
When I first started Okinawa Insider, I made a decision: I’d rather have 10 readers who trust my recommendations than 10,000 who suspect I’m selling them something. We want this to be the kind of place where the recommendations actually mean something, even if it takes longer to grow.
If we ever fail to live up to that, please call us out via the Contact page.
A note on prices and availability
Prices, availability, and offers change frequently. We do our best to keep posts up to date, but always confirm the price on the booking site before completing your purchase. We’re not responsible for price differences after the time of booking.
Your purchase, your decision
Affiliate links are a way for us to keep the site free for readers. They’re not a reason to buy something you wouldn’t otherwise buy. Always make travel and purchase decisions based on what’s right for you, your budget, and your trip — not because a blogger you read once recommended something.
Compliance
This disclosure aligns with:
- FTC 16 CFR Part 255 (United States) — disclosure of material connections in endorsements
- CMA Online Reviews and Endorsements Guidance (United Kingdom)
- ACCC Misleading & Deceptive Conduct rules (Australia)
- Japan Act on Specified Commercial Transactions (景品表示法）
Questions?
If you have questions about how we earn money, or want to report a recommendation that didn’t live up to our standards, please contact us. We read every message.
Thanks for trusting us. Now go start planning your trip.