Privacy Policy

Last Updated: February 7, 2026

1. Introduction

Welcome to ShouldGo ("we," "our," or "us"). We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal data. This privacy policy explains how we collect, use, and safeguard your information when you visit our website.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide

  • Newsletter Subscriptions: Email address, subscription date, and optional name/language preference (stored in Google Sheets)
  • Contact Forms: Name, email, and message content (if you contact us)

2.2 Information Automatically Collected

  • Cookies: Browser cookies for language preferences, cookie consent, and analytics
  • Affiliate Tracking: Click events on booking links via Stay22
  • Analytics Data: Page views, visit duration, device type, geographic location (via Google Analytics)

3. Cookies & Tracking Technologies

3.1 Essential Cookies

  • cookie_consent: Stores your cookie consent choice (1 year)
  • lang_pref: Stores your language preference (1 year)

3.2 Analytics Cookies (Google Analytics)

We use Google Analytics to understand how visitors use our website. This helps us improve content and user experience.

  • Purpose: Analyze website traffic, user behavior, and content performance
  • Duration: Up to 2 years
  • Third Party: Google LLC
  • Data Collected: Page views, visit duration, device type, geographic location (city/country level), referral source
  • IP Anonymization: Enabled (last octet of IP address is masked)

Learn more: Google Privacy Policy

3.3 Affiliate Cookies (Stay22)

When you click on hotel booking links, Stay22 sets affiliate tracking cookies to track your booking for up to 30 days. This helps us earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

  • Purpose: Track bookings and attribute commissions
  • Duration: 30 days
  • Third Party: Stay22.com
  • Data Collected: Click events, booking confirmations (anonymized)

3.4 How to Control Cookies

You can control cookies through your browser settings:

  • Chrome: Settings → Privacy and Security → Cookies
  • Firefox: Options → Privacy & Security → Cookies
  • Safari: Preferences → Privacy → Cookies

Note: Disabling cookies may affect affiliate link functionality.

4. Newsletter Subscription

When you subscribe to our newsletter, we collect and store:

  • Email Address: Required for sending updates
  • Subscription Date: To track when you joined
  • Name (Optional): For personalization
  • Language Preference (Optional): To send content in your preferred language

4.1 Data Storage

Newsletter subscription data is stored in Google Sheets (Google Cloud Platform). Google's security and privacy policies apply to this data.

4.2 How We Use Your Email

  • Send new travel guides and destination articles
  • Share exclusive travel tips and deals
  • Notify you of major website updates

4.3 Email Frequency

We send newsletters 1-2 times per month (no spam, we promise!).

4.4 Unsubscribe

You can unsubscribe anytime by clicking the "Unsubscribe" link at the bottom of any newsletter email. Your data will be deleted within 30 days of unsubscribing.

4.5 Third-Party Sharing

We do NOT sell or share your email address with third parties. We may use email service providers (e.g., Mailchimp, SendGrid) to deliver newsletters, but they are contractually obligated to protect your data.

5. How We Use Your Information

  • Provide Services: Deliver travel guides and booking recommendations
  • Improve Experience: Remember language preferences and user settings
  • Affiliate Tracking: Track hotel bookings to earn commissions
  • Analytics: Understand how visitors use our site to improve content
  • Communications: Send newsletters (if you subscribe)

6. Third-Party Services

6.1 Analytics

  • Google Analytics: Website traffic analysis and user behavior tracking

6.2 Data Storage

  • Google Sheets: Newsletter subscription data storage (Google Cloud Platform)

6.3 Affiliate Partners

  • Stay22: Affiliate link conversion and tracking
  • Booking.com, Agoda, Expedia: Hotel booking platforms

6.4 Hosting & Infrastructure

  • Cloudflare Pages: Website hosting and CDN
  • Unsplash: Blog images

These third parties have their own privacy policies. We recommend reviewing them:

7. Data Retention

  • Cookies: Up to 1 year (consent & preferences), 30 days (affiliate tracking), or 2 years (analytics)
  • Newsletter Data: Until you unsubscribe (deleted within 30 days of unsubscribe request)
  • Google Analytics Data: Up to 26 months, then automatically deleted
  • Contact Form Data: Deleted after 90 days (unless you request deletion sooner)

8. Your Rights (GDPR & CCPA)

You have the right to:

  • Access: Request a copy of your personal data
  • Rectification: Correct inaccurate data
  • Deletion: Request deletion of your data
  • Opt-Out: Unsubscribe from newsletters or disable cookies
  • Data Portability: Receive your data in a machine-readable format

To exercise these rights, contact us at: [email protected]

9. International Data Transfers

Your data may be transferred and processed in countries outside your residence (e.g., United States for Google services). We work with service providers that comply with international data protection standards (GDPR, CCPA).

10. Children's Privacy

Our website is not directed to children under 16. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If you believe we have collected data from a child, please contact us immediately.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes by updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page.

12. Contact Us

If you have questions about this privacy policy, please contact us: