Privacy Policy
Last updated:
Map-o-World (mapoworld.com) is an independent travel publication. This policy explains what personal data we collect when you use the site, why we collect it, who we share it with, how long we keep it and the choices and rights you have. We keep data collection to the minimum needed to run a content website.
Who We Are
The data controller for mapoworld.com is Map-o-World, reachable at hello@mapoworld.com or through our contact form. Where this policy says "we", "us" or "our", it means Map-o-World.
What We Collect and Why
Information you give us
| What | When | Why (legal basis) | Kept for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Name, email address, subject, message | You send the contact form | To answer you and keep a record of the conversation (legitimate interest; contract where you ask us to do something) | Until the enquiry is closed, then up to 24 months |
| Email address, subscription date | You subscribe to the newsletter | To send you the newsletter you asked for (consent) | Until you unsubscribe; then removed within 30 days |
Information collected automatically
| What | How | Why (legal basis) | Kept for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Page viewed, time of visit, referring page, browser and device type, operating system, and a one-way SHA-256 hash of your IP address (we never store the raw IP address) | Our own server-side visit log on article pages | To count views and understand which guides are useful, and to detect abuse (legitimate interest) | Raw visit records are deleted after 12 months; anonymous aggregated statistics (daily totals) are kept indefinitely |
| Session identifier and CSRF token | Strictly necessary cookies set by our web framework | To keep forms secure (legitimate interest) | 2 hours |
| Analytics and advertising identifiers | Google Analytics 4 and Google AdSense cookies, only after you accept cookies | Audience measurement and funding the site through advertising (consent) | See the cookie table below |
We do not run user accounts, we do not sell personal data, and we do not carry out automated decision-making that has legal or similarly significant effects on you.
Cookies and Similar Technologies
When you first visit, a banner lets you accept or decline non-essential cookies. If you decline, Google Analytics and Google AdSense are not loaded at all. Your choice is stored in your browser's local storage (key cookie_consent) so we do not ask again; clear your site data or local storage to change it.
| Name | Set by | Purpose | Type | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
map-o-world-session | mapoworld.com | Keeps your browsing session (needed for the contact and newsletter forms) | Strictly necessary | 2 hours |
XSRF-TOKEN | mapoworld.com | Protects forms against cross-site request forgery | Strictly necessary | 2 hours |
cookie_consent, darkMode (local storage) | mapoworld.com | Remembers your cookie choice and colour theme | Preference (no personal data) | Until cleared |
_ga, _ga_* | Google Analytics | Distinguishes visitors and sessions for aggregated usage statistics | Analytics (consent) | Up to 2 years |
__gads, __gpi, IDE, NID and other Google advertising cookies | Google AdSense / DoubleClick | Ad delivery, frequency capping, fraud prevention and, if you have not opted out with Google, ad personalisation | Advertising (consent) | Up to 13 months |
Google explains its own cookies at How Google uses cookies and how it uses data from partner sites at policies.google.com/technologies/partner-sites. You can control personalised advertising in Google Ads Settings, install the Google Analytics opt-out add-on, or use industry opt-outs at optout.aboutads.info and youronlinechoices.eu.
Third Parties We Rely On
- Google LLC (Google Analytics 4, Google AdSense): Loaded only after you accept cookies. Google may process data on servers in the United States. Privacy policy: policies.google.com/privacy.
- Google Fonts: Our web fonts are served from Google's servers, which receive your IP address and browser details when the font files are requested. Covered by the Google privacy policy above.
- Hostinger International Ltd: Hosts the website and database. Privacy policy: hostinger.com/legal/privacy-policy.
- Unsplash Inc.: Some photographs are loaded directly from Unsplash's image servers, which receive your IP address when the image is fetched. Privacy policy: unsplash.com/privacy.
- Social sharing links: Share buttons on articles are plain links; nothing is sent to X, Facebook, LinkedIn, WhatsApp, Pinterest, Reddit or Telegram unless you click one.
We may also disclose data if the law requires it, to protect our rights, or to a successor if the site changes hands (you would be told).
International Transfers
The website and its database are hosted by Hostinger on servers located in India. If you visit from the EEA, UK or elsewhere, the data described above is therefore transferred to India. Google may additionally process analytics and advertising data in the United States and other countries; Google relies on the EU-US Data Privacy Framework and Standard Contractual Clauses for those transfers. Where consent is the legal basis (analytics and advertising cookies), accepting cookies also covers these transfers.
Your Rights and Choices
Depending on where you live (for example the EEA, United Kingdom, Switzerland, California or India), you may have the right to:
- Access the personal data we hold about you and receive a copy
- Correct inaccurate or incomplete data
- Delete your data ("right to be forgotten")
- Restrict or object to processing, including for direct marketing
- Data portability
- Withdraw consent at any time (this does not affect processing that already happened)
- Complain to your data protection authority
To exercise any right, email hello@mapoworld.com from the address concerned. We reply within 30 days and never charge for a first request.
Newsletter
To stop receiving the newsletter, email hello@mapoworld.com with the subject "Unsubscribe" and we will remove your address.
California residents (CCPA/CPRA)
We do not sell personal information. Personalised advertising through Google AdSense may count as "sharing" for cross-context behavioural advertising; you can opt out by declining cookies on our banner or via Google Ads Settings. You also have the rights to know, delete and correct described above, and we will not discriminate against you for exercising them.
Advertising and Affiliate Disclosure
The site is funded by display advertising served by Google AdSense. Some articles may contain affiliate links; if you buy something through such a link we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Affiliate links never influence which places we recommend, and pages containing them say so.
Security
All traffic is served over HTTPS. Access to the administration area and database is restricted to the site operator with authenticated accounts. IP addresses in our visit log are hashed with SHA-256 before storage. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security, but we will inform you and the relevant authority of a breach where the law requires it.
Children
The site is not directed at children under 16 and we do not knowingly collect personal data from them. If you believe a child has sent us data, contact us and we will delete it.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this policy as the site or the law changes. The date at the top shows the current version; material changes will be highlighted on this page. Continued use of the site after a change means you accept the updated policy.
Have Questions?
Email hello@mapoworld.com or use the contact form and we will get back to you.
Contact Us arrow_forward