Privacy Policy

Rick Steves' Europe, Inc.

PRIVACY POLICY

Last Updated: November 2, 2020

This Privacy Policy explains how information about you is collected, used and disclosed by Rick Steves' Europe, Inc. ("Rick Steves," hereafter referred to as "us," "our," "we"). This Privacy Policy applies to information we collect when you use our websites (ricksteves.com, etc.), mobile applications and other online products and services (collectively, the "Services") or when you otherwise interact with us.

We may change this Privacy Policy from time to time. If we make changes, we will notify you by revising the date at the top of the policy and, in some cases, we may provide you with additional notice (such as adding a statement to our homepage or sending you a notification). We encourage you to review the Privacy Policy whenever you access the Services or otherwise interact with us to stay informed about our information practices and the ways you can help protect your privacy.

Collection of Information

Information You Provide to Us

We collect information you provide directly to us. For example, we collect information when you create an account, participate in any interactive features of the Services, fill out a form, participate in a contest or promotion, make a purchase, register for a tour, communicate with us via third-party social media sites, post on our forum, privately communicate messages between account holders, request customer support or otherwise communicate with us. The types of information we may collect include your name, email address, postal address, phone number, fax number, credit card information, passport number, certain medical information, the URL of contest submissions and any other information you choose to provide.

Information We Collect Automatically When You Use the Services

When you access or use our Services, we automatically collect information about you, including:

  • Log Information: We collect log information about your use of the Services, including the type of browser you use, access times, pages viewed, your IP address and the page you visited before navigating to our Services.
  • Device Information: We collect information about the computer or mobile device you use to access our Services, including the hardware model, operating system and version, unique device identifiers and mobile network information.
  • Information Collected by Cookies and Other Tracking Technologies: We use various technologies to collect information, including cookies and web beacons. Cookies are small data files stored on your hard drive or in device memory that help us improve our Services and your experience, see which areas and features of our Services are popular and count visits. Web beacons are electronic images that may be used in our Services or emails and help deliver cookies, count visits and understand usage and campaign effectiveness. For more information about cookies, and how to disable them, please see "Your Choices" below.
Information We Collect From Other Sources

We may also obtain information from other sources and combine that with information we collect through our Services. For example, we may collect information about you from third-parties, including but not limited to social media websites and publicly available sources. 

Use of Information

We may use information about you for various purposes, including to:

  • Provide, maintain and improve our Services;
  • Provide and deliver the products and services you request, process transactions and send you related information, including confirmations and invoices;
  • Send you technical notices, updates, security alerts, support and administrative messages;
  • Respond to your comments, questions, requests and provide customer service;
  • Communicate with you about products, services, offers, promotions, rewards, events offered by Rick Steves and other matters, including but not limited to provide news and information we think will be of interest to you;
  • Monitor and analyze trends, usage and activities in connection with our Services;
  • Detect, investigate and prevent spam, fraudulent transactions, other illegal activities and protect the rights and property of Rick Steves and others;
  • Personalize and improve the Services and provide advertisements, content or features that match user profiles or interests;
  • Facilitate contests, sweepstakes, promotions and process and deliver entries and rewards including, but not limited to, name, email, postal address, phone number and URL of contest submission;
  • Link or combine with information we get from others to help understand your needs and provide you with better service; and
  • Carry out any other purpose described to you at the time the information was collected.

Sharing of Information

We may share information about you as follows or as otherwise described in this Privacy Policy:

  • With vendors, consultants and other service providers who need access to such information to carry out work on our behalf;
  • Contest applicants and winners are shared with the public on a case by case basis;
  • We may share your first and last name if you submit a question in a public event setting, conducted either in person or virtually.
  • In response to a request for information if we believe disclosure is in accordance with, or required by, any applicable law, regulation or legal process;
  • If we believe your actions are inconsistent with our user agreements or policies, or to protect the rights, property and safety of Rick Steves or others;
  • In connection with, or during negotiations of, any merger, sale of company assets, financing or acquisition of all or a portion of our business by another company;
  • Between and among Rick Steves and our current and future parents, affiliates, subsidiaries and other companies under common control and ownership; and
  • With your consent or at your direction.

We may also share aggregated or de-identified information, which cannot reasonably be used to identify you.

Social Sharing Features

The Services may offer social sharing features and other integrated tools (such as the Facebook "Like" button), which let you share actions you take on our Services with other media, and vice versa. Your use of such features enables the sharing of information with your friends or the public, depending on the settings you establish with the entity that provides the social sharing feature. For more information about the purpose and scope of data collection and processing in connection with social sharing features, please visit the privacy policies of the entities that provide these features.

Advertising and Analytics Services Provided by Others

We may allow others to provide analytics services and serve advertisements on our behalf across the Internet and in applications. These entities may use cookies, web beacons, device identifiers and other technologies to collect information about your use of the Services and other websites and applications, including, but not limited to, your IP address, web browser, mobile network information, pages viewed, time spent on pages or in apps, links clicked and conversion information. This information may be used by Rick Steves and others to, among other things, analyze and track data, determine the popularity of certain content, deliver advertising and content targeted to your interests on our Services and other websites and better understand your online activity. For more information about interest-based ads, or to opt out of having your web browsing information used for behavioral advertising purposes, please visit www.aboutads.info/choices. Your device may also include a feature ("Limit Ad Tracking" on iOS or "Opt Out of Interest-Based Ads" on Android) that allows you to opt out of having certain information collected through apps used for behavioral advertising purposes.

For example, we may use Remarketing with Google, Facebook, or other remarketing tools to advertise online. This enables third-party vendors, including Google, to show our ads on sites across the Internet. Such third-party vendors may use first-party cookies (such as the Google Analytics cookie) and third-party cookies (such as the DoubleClick cookie) together to inform, optimize, and serve ads based on your past visits to our Sites. For information on how you can opt out of Google's use of cookies for interest-based ads please visit Google's Ads Settings. Other advertising vendors we may use include, without limitation, Yahoo!, MSN, Facebook, Twitter.

Transfer of Information to the US and Other Countries

Rick Steves is based in the United States and the information we collect is governed by US law. By accessing or using the Services or otherwise providing information to us, you consent to the processing, transfer and storage of information in and to the US and other countries, where you may not have the same rights and protections as you do under local law.

Your Choices

Account Information

You may update, correct or delete information about you at any time by logging into your online account or emailing us at [email protected]. If you wish to deactivate/close your account, please email us at [email protected], but note that we may retain certain information as required by law or for legitimate business purposes. We may also retain cached or archived copies of information about you for a certain period of time.

Cookies

Most web browsers are set to accept cookies by default. If you prefer, you can usually choose to set your browser to remove or reject browser cookies. Please note that if you choose to remove or reject cookies, this could affect the availability and functionality of our Services.

Promotional Communications

You may opt out of receiving promotional communications from Rick Steves by following the instructions in those communications or by visiting our subscriptions page at www.ricksteves.com/publications/manage-email-subscriptions. If you opt out, we may still send you non-promotional emails, such as those about your account or our ongoing business relations.

Mobile Push Notifications/Alerts

With your consent, we may send promotional and non-promotional push notifications or alerts to your mobile device. You can deactivate these messages at any time by changing the notification settings on your mobile device.

Your California Privacy Rights

California law permits residents of California to request certain details about how their information is shared with third parties for direct marketing purposes. If you are a California resident and would like to make such a request, please contact us at [email protected].

Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us via [email protected], at Rick Steves' Europe, Inc., 130 Fourth Avenue North, Edmonds, WA 98020, or by calling +1 425-771-8303.

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