Privacy Policy
Last updated: March 2026
1. Introduction
Blackout Hostel ("we", "us", "our", or "Company") operates the blackouthostel.com website and manages guest information carefully. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website and make a booking.
2. Information We Collect
Information You Provide:
- Name, email address, and phone number
- Home address and country of residence
- Payment information (credit/debit card details)
- Special requests and dietary preferences
- Government-issued ID (passport/driver's license number, scanned at check-in)
- Emergency contact information
Information We Collect Automatically:
- IP address and browser type
- Pages visited and time spent on site
- Cookies and tracking data
- Device information (type, operating system)
Information from Third Parties:
- Payment processors (Stripe, PayPal)
- Analytics services (Google Analytics) for website behavior
- Anti-fraud services to prevent unauthorized bookings and chargebacks
3. How We Use Your Information
We use collected information for the following purposes:
- Processing and confirming your booking
- Sending booking confirmations, check-in instructions, and receipts
- Contacting you regarding your reservation or any issues during your stay
- Improving our website and services
- Fraud prevention and security purposes
- Sending promotional emails (only if you opt-in to our newsletter)
- Complying with legal obligations
- Analyzing website usage to improve user experience and functionality
4. Cookies & Tracking Technologies
Our website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience. Cookies are small text files stored on your device that help us:
- Remember your login information
- Track website analytics and user behavior
- Personalize your experience
- Display targeted advertisements
You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect website functionality. We use Google Analytics to track anonymized usage patterns.
5. Third-Party Services
We use third-party services that may collect data:
- Stripe & PayPal: Payment processing. Your credit card information is never stored on our servers.
- Google Analytics: Website traffic analysis
- Email Services: SendGrid or Mailgun for sending confirmations and newsletters
- Fraud Prevention: Third-party fraud detection services
These services have their own privacy policies. We are not responsible for their data practices.
6. Data Retention
Booking Information: We retain booking details for 7 years for legal and accounting purposes.
Payment Information: Credit card details are never stored. We only retain transaction receipts and last 4 digits of cards for accounting.
Analytics Data: Website analytics are retained for 26 months before automatic deletion.
Account Information: If you have a registered account, we retain your data until you request deletion.
7. Your Rights (GDPR & Data Protection)
If you are located in the European Union or other regions with data protection laws, you have the following rights:
- Right to access your personal data
- Right to correct inaccurate information
- Right to request deletion of your data
- Right to data portability
- Right to opt-out of marketing communications
- Right to restrict processing of your data
To exercise these rights, contact us at info@blackouthostel.com.
8. Security Measures
We implement industry-standard security measures:
- SSL/TLS encryption for website data transmission
- Secure payment processing via PCI-compliant systems
- Access controls and authentication
- Regular security audits and updates
- Staff training on data privacy
While we strive to protect your data, no system is 100% secure. We encourage you to use strong passwords and never share your account credentials.
9. Children's Privacy
Our website and services are not intended for individuals under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal data from minors. If we discover such information, we will delete it immediately.
10. Policy Updates
We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last Updated" date. Continued use of our services constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
11. Contact Us
For privacy concerns or data requests, contact:
Email: info@blackouthostel.com
Phone: +506 1234 5678
Address: Playa Blackout, Guanacaste, Costa Rica