Privacy Policy

Bound For Less Last updated: June 2026

Who We Are

This website is Bound For Less (boundforless.com), a budget travel blog run by James, based in the United Kingdom. For the purposes of UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, James is the data controller for this site.

If you have any questions about how your data is handled, you can contact me via the contact form on this website.

What Data We Collect

Data you give us directly

If you use the contact form on this site, I collect your name and email address. I use this only to reply to your message. I do not add you to any mailing list without your explicit consent.

If you sign up to the email newsletter, I collect your email address. You can unsubscribe at any time using the link in any email I send you.

Data collected automatically

Like most websites, this site collects some data automatically when you visit. This includes:

  • Your IP address
  • Browser type and version
  • Pages you visit on this site
  • Time and date of your visit
  • How long you spent on each page
  • Where you came from before landing on this site (referral source)

This data is collected via Google Analytics and is used solely to understand how people use this site so I can improve it. Google Analytics anonymises IP addresses. You can opt out of Google Analytics tracking using the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.

Cookies

This site uses cookies. A cookie is a small text file stored on your device when you visit a website. We use the following types:

Essential cookies — these are required for the website to function correctly. You cannot opt out of these.

Analytics cookies — set by Google Analytics to help us understand visitor behaviour. These are non-essential and can be declined.

Affiliate cookies — when you click an affiliate link on this site (such as to Amazon or Booking.com), those third-party services may set their own cookies to track referrals and process commissions. I do not control these cookies. Please refer to the relevant third party’s privacy policy for details.

You can manage your cookie preferences via your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to block or delete cookies. Be aware that blocking some cookies may affect how this website works.

How We Use Your Data

I use the data collected on this site to:

  • Respond to messages sent via the contact form
  • Send the email newsletter to subscribers who have opted in
  • Understand how visitors use this site and improve content accordingly
  • Monitor website performance and security

I do not use your data for automated decision-making or profiling.

Affiliate Links and Third Parties

This site contains affiliate links, primarily to Amazon Associates, Booking.com, and GetYourGuide. When you click one of these links and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

I do not share your personal data with affiliate partners. When you click through to a third-party site, that site’s own privacy policy applies.

Third-party services used on this site include:

Legal Basis for Processing

Under UK GDPR, I process your personal data on the following legal bases:

  • Legitimate interests — for analytics and website improvement
  • Consent — for newsletter subscriptions and non-essential cookies
  • Contractual necessity — where required to respond to your direct enquiries

How Long We Keep Your Data

  • Contact form enquiries: retained for up to 12 months, then deleted
  • Newsletter subscriber data: retained until you unsubscribe
  • Analytics data: retained for 26 months (Google Analytics default), then automatically deleted

Your Rights Under UK GDPR

You have the right to:

  • Access the personal data I hold about you
  • Rectify any inaccurate data
  • Erase your data (the “right to be forgotten”)
  • Restrict how I process your data
  • Object to processing based on legitimate interests
  • Data portability — receive your data in a portable format
  • Withdraw consent at any time where consent was the basis for processing

To exercise any of these rights, please contact me via the contact form. I will respond within 30 days.

If you are unhappy with how I have handled your data, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO):

Data Security

I take reasonable steps to protect your personal data. This website uses HTTPS encryption (SSL). Hosting is provided by Nixihost, and regular backups are stored securely via UpdraftPlus to Google Drive. I do not store payment information on this website.

No method of data transmission or storage is 100% secure. While I do my best to protect your information, I cannot guarantee absolute security.

Children’s Privacy

This website is not directed at children under 13. I do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If you believe a child has submitted personal data to this site, please contact me and I will delete it promptly.

Changes to This Policy

I may update this privacy policy from time to time. The date at the top of this page will always reflect the most recent version. I recommend checking back periodically if you are a regular visitor.

Contact

For any privacy-related questions or to exercise your data rights, please use the contact form on this website.

Bound For Less | boundforless.com | Based in the United Kingdom