Privacy Policy

Privacy policy summary

City Break Explorer is a travel information website. This policy explains what personal information is used when you browse the site, choose your cookie settings or contact us by email.

In summary, the site uses limited technical information needed for security and delivery, stores your privacy choices on your device, uses Google Analytics only if you accept analytics, and loads CJ Affiliate tracking on pages with marked Booking.com links only if you separately accept affiliate tracking. City Break Explorer does not sell personal information.

Who we are

City Break Explorer is the trading name of Graham Spink. Graham Spink, trading as City Break Explorer, is the controller responsible for the personal information described in this policy. The website address is https://citybreakexplorer.com.

For privacy questions or requests, email admin@citybreakexplorer.com.

Information we collect

The information involved depends on how you use the website.

Why we use information and our lawful bases

Email messages

The website currently provides email links rather than an online contact form. If you email City Break Explorer, we use the information you provide to understand and respond to your message and to keep an appropriate record where needed.

Please do not send sensitive personal information unless it is genuinely necessary. Routine correspondence is normally deleted within 24 months, although it may be kept longer where required for legal, security or administrative reasons.

Cookies and local storage

We save your privacy choices on your device so you do not have to choose again on every visit. This uses local storage, lasts for up to six months and is used only to remember whether you accepted or rejected analytics and affiliate tracking.

Analytics is optional. If you accept it, Google Analytics uses cookies to distinguish browsers and produce website-usage statistics. These cookies are configured to last for no more than 13 months and are not set by City Break Explorer before you give consent.

Affiliate tracking is also optional. If you accept it and visit a page containing a marked Booking.com affiliate link, the site loads the CJ Affiliate script so a page impression, a click and any qualifying booking can be attributed to City Break Explorer. The script is not loaded on pages without a marked affiliate link.

If you reject an optional purpose, the related script is not loaded. Marked Booking.com links still open normally without CJ tracking when affiliate tracking is off. If you later withdraw consent, the site stops loading that script on future page loads and attempts to remove Google Analytics cookies where relevant. Cookies already placed on a third-party domain must be managed through that third party or your browser settings. You can change either choice at any time using Cookie settings in the footer.

Google Analytics and affiliate tracking

With your consent, City Break Explorer uses Google Analytics to understand which guides are visited, how visitors find the site and how its pages are used. Advertising personalisation and Google signals are disabled in the website configuration.

Google may process analytics information in the United Kingdom, European Economic Area, United States and other locations. Google describes its handling of information and applicable transfer safeguards in its Privacy Policy. Analytics reports may be retained for longer where they contain only aggregated information that no longer identifies an individual visitor.

With your separate affiliate-tracking consent, City Break Explorer uses CJ Affiliate’s Deep Link Automation on pages containing a marked Booking.com affiliate link. CJ states that its services may process pseudonymised browser and device information, cookie identifiers, clicks, impressions, timestamps, IP addresses, referring and current page URLs, and transaction information to attribute qualifying bookings and report commission. Read the CJ Affiliate services privacy policy for details, including its retention and international-transfer information.

Affiliate links

City Break Explorer is testing a limited number of clearly marked Booking.com affiliate links through CJ Affiliate. Relevant links and the content directly connected to them are identified as advertising before you interact with them. Existing links to official hotel websites remain direct and non-affiliate unless a link is specifically marked otherwise.

If you make a qualifying booking after using a marked Booking.com link, City Break Explorer may receive a commission from Booking.com through CJ Affiliate. This does not add a separate fee to your booking. Booking.com controls its prices, availability, booking conditions, cancellations and customer service.

CJ affiliate tracking is loaded only if you accept the separate Affiliate tracking choice. If you reject it, the marked link still takes you directly to Booking.com, but City Break Explorer does not load the CJ script and cannot use that visit for CJ commission tracking. Booking.com may process information when you arrive on its website under its own Privacy Notice.

Sharing, retention and security

We do not sell personal information. Information may be handled by providers that support website hosting, security and email and—only after the relevant consent—Google Analytics, CJ Affiliate and Booking.com. We may also disclose information if required by law or where reasonably necessary to establish, exercise or defend legal rights.

Technical logs are kept for the period reasonably required by the hosting or security provider. Privacy-choice information is kept on your device for six months, analytics cookies for up to 13 months, and routine email correspondence normally for up to 24 months. CJ states that it may retain pseudonymised personal data for up to six years; Booking.com applies the retention periods described in its own privacy notice. We use reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect the information within our control.

International processing

Some service providers may process information outside the United Kingdom. Google describes processing in the United Kingdom, European Economic Area, United States and other locations. CJ states that its servers are in the United States and that processors may operate in the United States, India and elsewhere. Booking.com may also process information internationally. The relevant providers describe their transfer safeguards in the privacy information linked above.

Your rights

Depending on the circumstances, UK data-protection law may give you rights to access, correct or delete personal information, restrict or object to processing, receive certain information in a portable format, and withdraw consent. Withdrawing consent does not affect processing that was lawful before withdrawal.

To make a request, email admin@citybreakexplorer.com. We may need to verify your identity. You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office, although we would appreciate the opportunity to address your concern first.

External links

City Break Explorer links to independent websites, including hotels, attractions, booking services, transport providers, tourism organisations and information sources. When you follow an external link, the destination website may use its own cookies or similar technology and its own privacy policy applies.

City Break Explorer does not control those external websites. Check their privacy and cookie information before providing personal information or making a booking.

Children’s privacy

City Break Explorer provides general travel information and is not directed at children. We do not knowingly request personal information from children. Please contact us if you believe a child has provided personal information to the site.

Changes to this privacy policy

We will update this policy when the website’s data use changes, including if affiliate tracking expands to additional partners or purposes or if the site adds advertising technology, a newsletter or new interactive services. The latest revision date appears near the top of the page.

Contact us about privacy

If you have any questions about this privacy policy or how City Break Explorer handles personal information, please contact us by email at admin@citybreakexplorer.com.