【推荐1】It wasn’t until 1985 that an exploration led by Robert Ballard and Jean-Louis Michel discovered the Titanic’s final resting place. Shortly after, Ballard urged the U. S. Congress to declare the ruins to be a memorial. In July 1986, Ballard placed a plaque (牌匾) on the ship, asking that the site be left undisturbed in memory of the more than 1, 500 people who died there.

But that didn’t happen. More than a century after the ship’s sinking, interest in the Titanic is insatiable. Although most satisfy their curiosity by visiting the museums, exhibitions, and permanent collections around the world dedicated to the ruins, those able to pay for a ticket desire to see it for themselves.

The first official salvage (打捞) effort was undertaken by the Titanic Ventures Limited Partnership (TVLP) and L’Institut Francais de Recherche pour 1’Exploitation de la Mer in 1987, when around 1, 800 items of treasure were collected and conserved. In 1992, a federal court ruled TVLP was the first and exclusive salvager of the Titanic— though in following decades, the company pushed for more. The company has conducted eight explorations to the Titanic while giving rise to a small but pricey tourism market. Researchers, salvagers, and even filmmakers like James Cameron, who directed the 1997 blockbuster film Titanic, have made countless trips to the wreck. And for a pretty penny, tourists have been able to go too.

The Titanic was damaged significantly upon impact with the seabed, and slowly, iron-eating bacteria is consuming what remains. Less than a decade after it was found, rapid worsening was being noticed. In 2019, a dive confirmed huge portions of the ship were collapsing.

Today the surrounding site is littered with trash, including beer and soda bottles, chains, and cargo nets from salvage efforts. Visitors have also littered the area with plaques and memorials. In 2001, a couple was even married in a submersible resting on the Titanic’s bow.

【推荐2】Traveling to a new country you have little knowledge about can be a recipe for awkwardness. However, if you do your homework before you travel, you prepare yourself for the unknown, spend less, and enjoy more.

Traveling to areas where civil unrest (骚乱) or natural disasters are occurring can put you at risk, so research current events in your destination. Set an alert on Google Alerts for your destination at least two weeks before your trip. This will provide you with relevant news stories about your destination on a daily basis. You can also:

√ Check your government's travel advisory website.

√ Ask local residents via social media or online forums.

√ Contact the hotel's manager or the owner of the place where you are staying.

Before traveling, know the weather you’ll encounter there. Poor weather upsets travel plans every day. For international trips, that impact can be more far-reaching. Take this situation for instance. A thunderstorm delays your international flight. That delay causes you to miss your connecting flight to your destination city. Now, you won’t be able to arrive until a day later, which means all of your reservations, hotel, rental car, event tickets, etc., must be changed or cancelled. However, since these reservations are often non-refundable (不可退款的), you could be stuck paying for things you cannot use.

Luckily, a travel insurance plan can allow you to be compensated for covered expenses you are not able to use, protecting your wallet from the uncertainties of international travel.

Tourists are easy targets for thieves. Carrying originals of your important documents can allow them to get stolen or lost. Keep scanned versions of these documents handy: photocopy of your passport, proof of financial support for your trip, your plane tickets, details of the purpose of your trip, application fee and travel insurance.