Hostel Buddies Privacy Policy
Last Updated on June 24, 2007
Hostel Buddies does not send Spam or sell email addresses.
Information We Collect
Hostel Buddies.com collects user submitted information such as name, email address, and age to authenticate users and to send notifications to those users relating to the Hostel Buddies.com service. Hostel Buddies.com also collects other profile data including but not limited to: personal interests, gender, age, education, language and occupation in order to assist users in finding and communicating with each other.
Hostel Buddies.com also logs non-personally-identifiable information including IP address, profile information, aggregate user data, and browser type, from users and visitors to the site. This data is used to manage the website, track usage and improve the website services to better serve our users. This non-personally-identifiable information may be shared with third-parties to provide more relevant services and advertisements to members. User IP addresses are recorded for security and monitoring purposes.
Once you make a booking on Hostel Buddies.com this booking is stored in your account for you to access at all times. Personal booking details can only be viewed by you in your account, which is a secure area.
Your "Buddies" can see where you will be staying on your next trip if you have booked or entered it on your Hostel Buddies.com profile in addition to where you have previously stayed and which hostels you recommend.
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Use of Information
Hostel Buddies.com will display your personal information on your homepage according to the preferences you set in your account and use your username to personalize your experience. Hostel Buddies.com may use your email address to contact you from time to time and for security reasons to confirm that you are who you say you are.
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Controlling Who Shares Your Information
Hostel Buddies.com members have full control over who sees their personal profile page. The personal profile page may include upcoming trip itineraries, past itineraries, diary entries and reviews submitted to Hostel Buddies.com.
Each member has 3 options when choosing their "accessibility options":
1. Level 1 - Private Access
Keep your personal page private. Nobody within Hostel Buddies.com Website can see any of your trip itineraries, diary entries, booking details and reviews.
2. Level 2 - Buddy Access
Share your personal profile page with your travel "buddies", people you have specifically agreed to share information with. Your travel "buddies" will be able to see your itineraries, diary entries, booking details and reviews. This is the default setting when your account is first set up.
3. Level 3 - Public Access
Your personal page will be available to everyone within the Hostel Buddies.com Website. You can share your itineraries, diary entries, and reviews with other travelers and buddies. Your booking details will not be visible except to your "travel buddies".
You can block "buddies" at any time from accessing your information.
Your email address will only be used in the following circumstances
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When you log in to your account, you can log in using your email address and your password.
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When you are searching for a buddy you can search for them by email address, full name or username.
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When a member invites one of their friends, or someone they know, to be their travel buddy.
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When a member invites a friend to become a member of Hostel Buddies.com
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When we send notifications/ news to members
Except when inviting or adding "buddies", a member's email address will never be shared with or displayed to any other person.
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Reviewing and Changing Your Profile
Hostel Buddies.com users may modify or remove any of their personal information on their personal profile at any time.
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Use of Cookies
Hostel Buddies.com uses cookies to store visitors' preferences and to record session information, for purposes including ensuring that visitors are not repeatedly offered the same advertisements and to customize newsletter, advertising, and Web page content based on browser type and user profile information. We do not link the information we store in cookies to any personally identifiable information you submit while on our site. You may be able to configure your browser to accept or reject all or some cookies, or notify you when a cookie is set -- each browser is different, so check the "Help" menu of your browser to learn how to change your cookie preferences -- however, you must enable cookies from Hostel Buddies.com in order to use most functions on the site.
Please note that Hostel Buddies allows 3rd party advertisers that are presenting advertisements on some of our pages to set and access their cookies on your computer. Advertisers' use of cookies is subject to their own privacy policies, not the Hostel Buddies Privacy Policy.
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Links
Hostel Buddies.com contains links to sites. Hostel Buddies.com is not responsible for the privacy policies and/or practices on other sites. When linking to another site a user should read the privacy policy stated on that site. Our privacy policy only governs information collected on Hostel Buddies.com.
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Security
The security of your personal information depends on your protection of your account password. Please do not disclose your account password to unauthorized people. Hostel Buddies.com uses industry standard technology designed to help keep your personal information safe.
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Email Choice/Opt-out
Members who no longer wish to receive updates or notifications may choose not to by selecting 'Do not send me notification emails' in the user profile 'Account Settings'. Users who do not wish to receive Hostel Buddies.com newsletters may choose not to by selecting 'Do not send me Hostel Buddies newsletters' in the user profile 'Account Settings'. All notification emails and Hostel Buddies.com newsletters also include the above instructions for opting-out of those communications in the future.
Hostel Buddies.com does not spam its members.
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Third Party Advertising
Ads appearing on this Web site may be delivered to users by Hostel Buddies.com or one of our Web advertising partners. Our Web advertising partners may set cookies. These cookies allow the ad server to recognize your computer each time they send you an online advertisement. In this way, ad servers may compile information about where you, or others who are using your computer, saw their advertisements and determine which ads are clicked on. This information allows an ad network to deliver targeted advertisements that they believe will be of most interest to you. This privacy statement covers the use of cookies by Hostel Buddies.com and does not cover the use of cookies by any advertisers.
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Internet Awareness
Please be aware that whenever you voluntarily post personal information in public areas that this information can be accessed by all visitors and/or members of Hostel Buddies.com. Please exercise discretion in deciding what information you disclose.
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Sharing and Disclosure of Information
Except as otherwise described in this privacy statement, Hostel Buddies will not disclose personal information to any third party unless we believe that disclosure is necessary: (1) to conform to legal requirements or to respond to a subpoena, search warrant or other legal process received by Hostel Buddies.com, whether or not a response is required by applicable law; (2) to enforce the Hostel Buddies.com Terms of Use Agreement or to protect our rights; or (3) to protect the safety of members of the public and users of the service. Hostel Buddies reserves the right to transfer personal information to a successor in interest that acquires rights to that information as a result of the sale of Hostel Buddies or substantially all of its assets to that successor in interest.
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Changes in Privacy Policy
From time to time we may update this Privacy Policy and will post a notice of any significant changes on our website. You should visit this page periodically to review any such changes to the privacy policy.
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Contacting Hostel Buddies
If you have any questions about this privacy policy, Hostel Buddies’ privacy practices, or your dealings with Hostel Buddies, please contact us.
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