Franken shares travels with fans

Born and raised in Spain, Tasha Franken started modeling when she was 15 years old. Working in an industry that focused on her looks was difficult, she said.

The model was told that not only was her skin tone too dark, but that she needed to lose weight. After battling an eating disorder, Franken focused on becoming the healthiest version of herself possible. She developed an online app where she shares her love of staying fit with Pilates (www.tashafran ken.tv). Currently based out of Los Angeles, the avid traveler shares her adventures on Instagram @tashafranken. jobs at the beginning. But the worst part was not being able to go home and see my family in Spain for over two years.

To adapt to your environment. I always try to eat like a local and try new things that are unique to each place, which I wouldn’t necessarily do elsewhere.

I am very particular and like to keep my routine while traveling, so I always bring noise-canceling headphones, my skincare products, jump rope and ankle weights, sunglasses, vitamins and healthy snacks.

I would love to do another safari trip. I went with my parents when I was younger and it was the best experience I ever had.

Vrbo’s refund policies vary. You have to click on the property page to see the exact terms and conditions for your rental. Generally, they can range from a lenient policy that offers a 100% refund if you cancel at least 14 days before check-in, to a strict no-refund policy. On this point there’s no debate: You were past your refund period.

Your paper trail — the correspondence between you and the owner — is problematic.

If you read it a certain way, it looks as if some kind of refund is due. And you say that Vrbo promised you a refund. But the rental manager also says no refund is due. That’s confusing.

So what’s going on? To find out, you would have had to contact Vrbo directly. I don’t see any correspondence with Vrbo in your paper trail. But you can easily reach out to the company online. I list the names, numbers and email addresses of the Vrbo executives on my consumer advocacy site at www.elliott.org/companycontacts/vrbo-customerservice-contacts.

I checked with Vrbo. It doesn’t have any record of offering you a refund. But when I inquired about your case, it refunded the $88 service charge.

That still leaves $663 in charges, which you say Vrbo promised it would refund you. A Vrbo representative told me that you were not eligible for a refund.

“However, the guest did purchase trip insurance through CSA/Generali Global Assistance, which partners with Vrbo to offer travel protection for bookings,” the representative told me. “This policy may provide coverage for involuntary termination of employment, so we recommend that she follow up with CSA/Generali on his claim.”

You did that, but unfortunately, you were not eligible to file an insurance claim because your husband lost his job within 10 days of purchasing the policy. The insurance says it has to be at least two weeks before you can file a claim.

I relayed that information to Vrbo, and it offered to advocate for the insurance company to honor your claim. You received a full refund.

Christopher Elliott is the chief advocacy officer of Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that helps consumers resolve their problems. Elliott’s latest book is “How To Be The World’s Smartest Traveler” (National Geographic). Contact him at elliott.org/ help or chris@elliott.org.

Tasha Franken tries to eat like a local and sample things that are unique to each place when traveling.