Privacy Policy

Last updated: October 18, 2025

Who We Are

Road Trip Owl LLC ("Road Trip Owl," "we," "us," "our") operates roadtripowl.com and related content, emails, and social channels (the "Services").

---

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Information You Provide

When you interact with our Services, you may provide:

• Contact details such as name and email address
• Content you send us through messages, forms, or comments
• Purchase-related information if you buy from us (handled by payment processors; see 7. Payment Processing)

1.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you visit our Services, we automatically collect:

• Device and usage data including IP address, browser type, device type, operating system, timestamps, pages viewed, and referring URLs
• Approximate location derived from your IP address (city/region level)
• Cookies, pixels, and similar technologies (see our Cookie Policy for details)

1.3 Information from Third Parties

We receive information from:

• Analytics and advertising partners (e.g., Google) who provide aggregated or pseudonymous engagement data
• Affiliate networks and retailers (Amazon, Skimlinks, Partnerize/Expedia Group brands) who provide limited technical and transaction data to confirm referrals and calculate commissions

Note: We do not knowingly collect sensitive categories of information (e.g., health data, religious beliefs) and do not knowingly collect data from children under 18 (see 11. Minors).

---

2. How We Use Personal Information

We use your personal information to:

• Provide, operate, and improve the Services
• Communicate with you (customer support, updates, responses)
• Personalize content and measure performance
• Prevent fraud, secure the Services, and enforce our policies
• Comply with laws, regulations, and tax/accounting duties
• Fulfill any additional purposes we describe at the time of collection (with your consent)

---

3. Legal Bases for Processing (EEA/UK/Switzerland)

Where applicable, we rely on:

• Consent for non-essential cookies and advertising
• Legitimate interests for site security, analytics, and basic personalization (balanced against your rights)
• Contract to deliver content or purchases you request
• Legal obligations for tax/recordkeeping requirements

You can withdraw consent at any time where applicable.

---

4. Affiliate Links & Tracking

4.1 Affiliate Programs

We participate in affiliate marketing programs to earn commissions when you make purchases through our links. Our affiliate partners include:

• Amazon Associates – When you click our Amazon links and make a purchase, Amazon may place cookies and collect information to attribute the sale
• Skimlinks – Automatically converts product links into affiliate links and tracks purchases across multiple retailers
• Partnerize (Expedia Group brands) – We promote travel services from Expedia Group brands (e.g., Expedia.com, Hotels.com, Vrbo, Hotwire, Orbitz, Travelocity)

4.2 How Affiliate Tracking Works

When you click an affiliate link on our site and make a purchase, the retailer or its affiliate network may place or read cookies and collect limited information (e.g., IP address, device/browser identifiers, referring page, and order details) to attribute your purchase and calculate commissions.

For travel bookings, partners may also receive booking details (e.g., dates, destination, and booking amount) needed for attribution. Some affiliate networks may use cross-device tracking to link activity across your devices.

Cookie durations and specific methods vary by program and advertiser. See partner policies for current details:

• Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=GX7NJQ4ZB8MHFRNJ
• Skimlinks: https://skimlinks.com/privacy-policy
• Partnerize: https://partnerize.com/en/privacy-policy

4.3 FTC Disclosure

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. We also use affiliate links through Skimlinks and Partnerize (Expedia Group brands). If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

---

5. Advertising, Analytics, and Cookies

We use cookies and similar technologies for functionality, analytics, and advertising. Third parties (e.g., Google, YouTube, DoubleClick) may collect or receive information from your browser to provide measurement services and show you ads.

For detailed information about the cookies we use and your choices, see our Cookie Policy.

---

6. Sharing of Personal Information

6.1 Service Providers

We work with third-party service providers who process data on our behalf under contract, including:

• Web hosting and infrastructure
• Analytics and measurement
• Email delivery
• Security services
• Customer support
• Payment processing

6.2 Affiliate Networks and Retailers

When you click an affiliate link, we share or allow access to limited information needed for attribution and commission calculation (see 4. Affiliate Links & Tracking).

6.3 Legal and Business Disclosures

We may disclose information to:

• Comply with laws, regulations, legal process, or government requests
• Protect the rights, property, or safety of Road Trip Owl, our users, or others
• In connection with a business transaction such as a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets

6.4 Sale and Sharing

We do not sell personal information for monetary consideration. However, under certain U.S. state privacy laws, some advertising and analytics activities (including affiliate attribution) may be considered "sharing" for cross-context behavioral advertising purposes. See 12. Your Privacy Choices & Rights for opt-out options.

---

7. Payment Processing

If you purchase from us, payments are processed by Stripe and/or PayPal. We do not store full credit card numbers. Their processing is governed by:

• Stripe: https://stripe.com/privacy
• PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/us/legalhub/privacy-full

---

8. International Data Transfers

We are based in the United States. When data is transferred internationally, we use appropriate safeguards such as Standard Contractual Clauses and rely on our vendors' compliance mechanisms (e.g., SCCs or participation in valid transfer frameworks where applicable).

---

9. Data Retention

We retain data only as long as needed for the purposes described in this policy, then delete or anonymize it. Typical retention periods include:

• Analytics and usage logs: ~26 months (or per vendor defaults)
• Support communications: while your inquiry remains open, then per legal/operational needs
• Transaction records: up to 7 years for tax and accounting purposes
• Affiliate network data: third-party affiliate networks retain data per their own policies

---

10. Security

We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect your information, including TLS encryption in transit and access controls. However, no method of transmission or storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

---

11. Minors

The Services are not intended for individuals under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact inforoadtripowl@gmail.com and we will promptly delete it.

---

12. Your Privacy Choices & Rights

12.1 Cookie and Advertising Choices

You can manage your cookie preferences through:

• Our Cookie Consent controls (where displayed on our site)
• Your browser settings (most browsers allow you to refuse cookies)
• Mobile advertising settings on your device
• Industry opt-out tools:
  • NAI: http://optout.networkadvertising.org/
  • DAA: http://www.aboutads.info/choices
  • Google Ads: https://adssettings.google.com
  • Google Analytics: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout
  • Partnerize: https://partnerize.com/en/cookie-policy/

Global Privacy Control (GPC): We honor GPC signals from U.S. residents as a request to opt out of sale/sharing for that browser.

12.2 U.S. State Privacy Rights

If you are a resident of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Virginia, or another state with comprehensive privacy laws, you may have the right to:

• Know/Access what personal information we have collected about you
• Correct inaccurate information
• Delete your personal information
• Opt Out of sale/sharing/targeted advertising
• Appeal our decision on a privacy request

What we consider "sharing": While we do not sell personal information for money, certain advertising/analytics and affiliate attribution activities may be considered "sharing" under state laws.

How to exercise your rights:

• Send a Global Privacy Control (GPC) signal
• Email: inforoadtripowl@gmail.com
• Submit a request via: https://roadtripowl.com/about-us/

Appeals: If we decline your request, email us to appeal. We'll respond with our reasons and information about how to escalate to your state Attorney General if applicable.

Note: Your opt-out selection and any valid GPC signal will be applied to our advertising/analytics and affiliate attribution partners where those activities are considered "sale" or "sharing" under applicable state laws.

12.3 EEA, UK, Switzerland, and Canada Rights

If you are located in the European Economic Area, United Kingdom, Switzerland, or Canada, you may have rights to:

• Access your personal information
• Correct inaccurate information
• Request deletion
• Restrict or object to processing
• Data portability
• Withdraw consent where we rely on consent
• Lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority

To exercise these rights: email inforoadtripowl@gmail.com. We will verify requests as required by law and respond within statutory timeframes.

---

13. Third-Party Websites and Embeds

Our Services may contain links to third-party websites and embedded content (e.g., maps, videos, social media) that have their own privacy practices. We are not responsible for how third parties collect or use your information. Please review their privacy policies before interacting with their services.

---

14. Do Not Track (DNT) Signals

At this time, we do not respond to Do Not Track (DNT) browser signals. However, we do honor Global Privacy Control (GPC) signals for U.S. residents as described in 12.2.

---

15. Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. When we do, we will revise the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. For material changes, we will provide additional notice as required by law (e.g., posting a prominent notice on our website or emailing you).

---

16. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this privacy policy or our privacy practices, please contact us: