Privacy Policy

1. Privacy Notice

Your privacy is important to us. Here, you will learn how we at Birdie Tours collect and use your data, with the goal of providing you with the best booking experience and memorable day trip adventures.

2. Data Controller

BIRDIE TOURS

Central Europe (Bratislava/Vienna Region)

Phone: +421 907 216 638

Web: www.birdie-tours.com

Email: info@birdie-tours.com

For further information about our company, please refer to the imprint on our website.

No data protection officer has been appointed, as this is not required by law for our company size and operations.

3. General Information on Data Processing - Data Minimization

3.1 General Information

In our privacy notices, we inform you about the key aspects of data processing in the context of our activities as a provider of authentic day trips across Central and Eastern Europe, specifically:

  • Organizing thoughtfully designed day trip experiences
  • Providing premium transportation services
  • Expert local guide services
  • Client and customer management
  • Public relations and marketing for our own purposes
  • Image processing during tours and events
  • Functionalities of our website
  • Our newsletter communications
  • Customer satisfaction surveys and feedback collection

3.2 Data Minimization

We only collect and process the personal data that is required to fulfill our contractual, legal and service-related obligations. In accordance with Article 5(1)(c) GDPR, we adhere to the principle of data minimization. This means that:

  • Only data that is absolutely necessary for the respective purpose is collected
  • Data that is no longer required is deleted or anonymized immediately - naturally in compliance with the statutory retention periods
  • Additional data will only be collected with your express consent if this is necessary

By regularly reviewing the stored data, we ensure that the scope of processing is always appropriate and in accordance with legal requirements.

4. Purposes of Processing Operations

4.1 We carry out the following processing operations that are relevant to you as:

  • A customer booking day trips
  • A tour participant
  • A marketing contact, newsletter subscriber, or website visitor
  • A supplier and contractor

These operations include:

  • Day trip booking management and processing
  • Customer service and tour coordination
  • Premium vehicle transportation arrangements
  • Expert guide assignment and coordination
  • Contact forms on the website (for responding to inquiries)
  • Customer support services
  • Contact database management (from public sources or business cards)
  • Public relations (to showcase our authentic travel experiences)
  • Marketing, including customer surveys (to inform customers, prospects, and attract new customers) with your consent
  • Information on tours and experiences via electronic mail to existing contacts, based on our legitimate interest in providing information about our authentic day trip offerings
  • Newsletters (to support and inform existing customers about new destinations and experiences)

4.2 Service Information Collection

To provide you with better service and create “lifetime memories,” we collect information from you. This information allows us to identify you directly or indirectly. When you make a booking on our website, we request personal data such as:

  • First and last name
  • Email address
  • Phone number
  • Billing address
  • Hotel pickup location (if applicable)
  • Payment information such as credit card details
  • Special requirements or preferences for your day trip experience

We use this information for booking confirmation, tour coordination, pickup arrangements, billing and transaction processing. If there are any issues with your booking or tour, we use this information to contact you. We also use the information to ensure you have the memorable experience we promise.

4.3 Legal Basis for Processing

As the data controller, we process the data you provide during the contract agreement for the duration of the contractual relationship to fulfill the contract or initiate it, and to carry out pre-contractual measures, such as inquiries about our day trip services (Article 6(1)(b) GDPR). Beyond this, we retain the data as long as required by applicable tax and fiscal laws (Article 6(1)(c) GDPR). The tax-related retention period is typically 7 years in accordance with local regulations.

5. Categories of Recipients

5.1 Data Sharing

In the course of processing, we transmit data to the following categories of recipients, either acting on our behalf or when the transfer is necessary to fulfill contractual or legal obligations:

  • Local Partners: Expert local guides and tourism service providers who assist in delivering authentic experiences
  • Transportation Partners: Premium vehicle providers and drivers who ensure safe and luxurious transportation
  • Business Partners: Third parties involved in business transactions (e.g., tax advisors, auditors, insurers, legal professionals)
  • Payment Processors: Banks, credit card companies, and payment service providers (PayPal, Stripe, VISA, Mastercard, etc.)
  • IT Service Providers: Data processors for website functionality, booking systems, email services, and customer support platforms
  • Authorities: If legally required or requested by authorized entities
  • Website: Public information as displayed on our website and booking platforms

5.2 Legal Disclosure Requirements

In certain situations, we are legally required to disclose your data. This may occur in response to legal requests from authorities, particularly related to national security or law enforcement, in order to protect the rights, property, or safety of Birdie Tours, our guides, or others.

5.3 International Transfers

As we operate day trips across Central and Eastern Europe, some data processing may involve transfers within the EU/EEA region. There is no intention to transfer data to recipients outside the EU/EEA unless necessary for payment processing or other essential services, in which case adequate safeguards will be implemented.

6. Public Forums and Reviews

We may feature customer reviews and testimonials on our website and social media channels. Any information you provide in reviews or public communications can be read, collected, and used by others. If you would like us to remove this information, please contact us through our website. However, it may not always be possible to delete all public information, and if so, we will inform you of the reason.

7. How Your Data Is Protected

We implement various security measures to protect your data appropriately. When you provide us with personal information through our booking system, we encrypt the data transmission. However, no method of data transmission over the Internet is 100% secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security, even though we use all commercially reasonable means to ensure data security.

Our premium vehicles and professional guides are also trained to respect customer privacy during tours and maintain confidentiality of personal information shared during the travel experience.

8. Opt-Out Options

We offer you the option to opt-out of the use of your personal data for marketing purposes. You cannot opt-out of transactional emails related to your bookings and tours. Additionally, you have the option to disable push notifications in your device settings and can control location-based services through your device preferences.

9. Newsletter

9.1 Newsletter Subscription

Our newsletter sharing authentic travel insights and new destination offerings can only be received if:

  • You have a functioning email address, and
  • You have registered for the newsletter or are an existing customer

A confirmation email will be sent using the double opt-in process to verify your subscription.

9.2 Newsletter Content

When sending our newsletter, we process personal data including:

  • Email address
  • Name and contact details
  • Usage statistics and website interaction data
  • Click tracking on newsletter elements

Purpose: To share information about new authentic day trip experiences, travel insights, and optimize our communications.

9.3 Newsletter Tracking

Our newsletters contain tracking pixels that help us analyze the success of our communications and better tailor content about authentic Central and Eastern European experiences to your interests.

9.4 Legal Basis

Your consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR). You can withdraw consent at any time using the unsubscribe link in each newsletter or by contacting us directly.

9.5 Storage Duration

We store newsletter data for 3 years after the last contact or until you unsubscribe.

10. Your Rights as a Data Subject

10.1 Your Rights

As a data subject, you have the right to:

  • Access your personal data
  • Rectification of inaccurate data
  • Erasure of your data
  • Restriction of processing
  • Data portability
  • Object to processing based on legitimate interests

10.2 Exercising Your Rights

To exercise your rights, please contact us through our website at www.birdie-tours.com or via the contact methods provided on our site. It would be helpful if you could provide necessary information to clearly identify you when making a request.

10.3 Complaints

If you believe that the processing of your personal data violates data protection law, you can file a complaint with the relevant Data Protection Authority in your jurisdiction.

11. Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your privacy or the security of our website, feel free to contact us through the contact information provided on our website at www.birdie-tours.com.

This privacy policy reflects our commitment to providing you with authentic, memorable day trip experiences while protecting your personal information. As we always ask our guests at the end of a beautiful day: “Are you happy?” - we want you to feel equally happy about how we handle your data.