Privacy Policy

1. Who we are

MyTripMatcher is operated by MyTripMatcher. For any privacy-related questions, contact us at contact@mytripmatcher.com.

2. What data we collect

We collect personal data only when you actively give it to us. Specifically:

• Contact form: when you send us a message, we store your name, email address, the subject and the message text so we can reply. We use this data only to respond to you and do not share it with third parties.

• Email your trip matches: if you ask us to email your trip results, we store your email address, a summary of the trip search it relates to, and whether the email was sent. We use it to send you those results and to keep a record of the request, and we never send you marketing emails. If you accept marketing cookies, we also share your address with Meta in hashed form (scrambled before it is sent) so we can measure how well our ads work. Decline marketing cookies, or change your choice under 'Cookie settings', and this does not happen.

• Trip preferences: the choices you make in the matching wizard are stored locally in your browser so you can return to your last search. They are not sent to a server unless you explicitly request matches.

• Analytics: we use a privacy-friendly, cookieless tool that counts aggregate page views and visitor numbers. It sets no cookies, does not identify individual users and collects no personal data. It runs on every visit and needs no consent.

• Google Analytics 4, only if you agree: if you accept analytics cookies, we also use Google Analytics 4 (loaded through Google Tag Manager) to understand how the site is used — which pages are viewed, which steps of the trip wizard are completed, and which suggestions are clicked — so we can improve it. It stores a randomly generated identifier in your browser and processes your approximate location (derived from your IP address), device and browser type. It does not receive your name or email address. If you decline, it is not loaded at all, and you can change your mind at any time via 'Cookie settings' at the bottom of any page.

• Meta Pixel, only if you agree: if you accept marketing cookies, we use the Meta Pixel (loaded through Google Tag Manager) to measure how well our Facebook and Instagram ads work and to show ads to people who have visited the site. It stores identifiers in your browser and tells Meta (Meta Platforms Ireland Limited) which of the actions above you completed. If you decline marketing cookies, it is not loaded at all. Accepting analytics does not switch it on: marketing is a separate choice.

3. Cookies and local storage

We use the browser's localStorage to remember your language choice, your cookie decision, and your most recent trip search. None of this information is shared with us or with third parties. We also use strictly-necessary session cookies that are required to keep the site working correctly — these do not track you and cannot be switched off.

Analytics cookies are only placed if you accept them. When you do, Google Analytics places cookies (names beginning with '_ga') that recognise your browser across visits so we can distinguish new from returning visitors.

Marketing cookies are a separate choice and are only placed if you accept them. When you do, the Meta Pixel places cookies (names beginning with '_fb') that let Meta recognise your browser, so we can measure our ads and show them to people who have already visited the site. You can accept analytics without accepting marketing. Until you choose, no analytics or advertising cookies are set at all: our tags start in a 'denied' state and stay there unless you choose otherwise.

You can change or withdraw your decision at any time via the 'Cookie settings' link at the bottom of any page. Withdrawing consent stops any further analytics or marketing cookies from being set; you can also delete existing cookies in your browser settings.

4. Outbound links and third-party services

MyTripMatcher links to third-party booking partners (Booking.com, Kiwi.com, and others). When you click an outbound link, the partner's own privacy policy applies — we do not control how they collect or use your data on their sites.

We rely on third-party service providers to host and operate the site. They are bound by data-processing agreements to process data only on our instructions and not for their own purposes.

If you accept analytics cookies, Google (Google Ireland Limited) processes analytics data on our behalf via Google Analytics 4 and Google Tag Manager. This may involve transferring data outside the European Economic Area, including to the United States; such transfers rely on the safeguards Google provides, including the EU Standard Contractual Clauses. We have IP-address anonymisation in effect and we do not use the Google Analytics data for advertising personalisation.

If you accept marketing cookies, Meta (Meta Platforms Ireland Limited) receives data about your visit through the Meta Pixel and, if you asked us to email your matches, your email address in hashed form. For this advertising activity we and Meta act as joint controllers under Meta's controller addendum. This may involve transferring data outside the European Economic Area, including to the United States; such transfers rely on the safeguards Meta provides, including the EU Standard Contractual Clauses. If you decline marketing cookies, none of this happens.

5. Your rights

Under EU and the Netherlands data protection law you have the right to request access to your personal data, correction of inaccurate data, deletion, restriction of processing, and data portability. To exercise any of these rights, email contact@mytripmatcher.com. We will respond within one month.

6. Data retention

Contact form messages are kept for as long as they are useful for an active conversation, then deleted. Admin accounts are kept while the user is actively involved with MyTripMatcher.

Email addresses submitted to receive your trip matches are kept for our records and deleted on request.

Google Analytics data, collected only with your consent, is retained for 14 months and then deleted automatically. Data collected by the Meta Pixel, also only with your consent, is retained by Meta according to its own retention periods, which we do not control. Your cookie decision itself is stored in your browser until you change it or clear your browser data.

7. Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The 'last updated' date at the bottom of this page reflects the most recent change. Material changes will be highlighted on the site.