Meridian Explorer ("we", "us") is an independent travel publication at meridianexplorer.com. This policy explains what personal data we collect, why, and the choices you have. It applies to this website and our newsletter. Last updated: 24 July 2026.

Contact for anything privacy-related: info@meridianexplorer.com.

What we collect

  • Newsletter email address — only if you subscribe. Used solely to send the newsletter.
  • Consent choices — the preferences you set in the cookie/consent banner.
  • Usage and analytics data — pages viewed, approximate location (country/city level), device and browser type, and how you arrived at the site, collected via cookies and similar technologies (see below).
  • Technical logs — our servers briefly process IP addresses for security and abuse prevention (for example, rate-limiting the newsletter signup form).

We do not require an account, and we never sell your personal data.

When you first visit from a region where consent is required (such as the EU/EEA and UK), you will see a consent banner provided by Google’s certified Privacy & messaging platform (IAB TCF-compliant). Advertising and analytics tags load only according to the choices you make there. You can change or withdraw your consent at any time via the "Privacy and cookie settings" option in the consent banner.

Advertising (Google AdSense)

We show ads served by Google AdSense to fund our journalism. Depending on your consent, Google and its certified partners may use cookies or device identifiers to show personalised ads, or non-personalised ads based on context. Learn more in how Google uses data from partner sites, and manage ad personalisation at Google Ads Settings. You can also opt out of third-party ad cookies at aboutads.info/choices.

Analytics

We use Google Analytics 4 (loaded via Google Tag Manager) to understand which guides people read so we can make better ones. Analytics runs only with your consent where required. Data is aggregated; we do not use it to identify you personally. You can additionally opt out with the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on.

Some links to travel services (flights, hotels, tours and similar) are affiliate links via Travelpayouts. If you click one, the partner may set a cookie to attribute a booking; we then earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We receive aggregate reports only — never your identity. This never influences what we cover or recommend.

Newsletter

If you subscribe, we store your email address securely with our database provider (Supabase) and use it only to send the newsletter. Every email includes an unsubscribe link, and you can also ask us to delete your address at any time by writing to info@meridianexplorer.com.

  • Consent — personalised advertising, analytics cookies, and the newsletter.
  • Legitimate interests — site security, abuse prevention, basic non-identifying measurement, and serving contextual (non-personalised) ads.
  • Legal obligation — where we must keep records required by law.

Your rights

If you are in the EU/EEA, UK, or another region with data-protection laws, you can ask us to access, correct, delete, or export your personal data, object to or restrict processing, and withdraw consent at any time (without affecting prior processing). Email info@meridianexplorer.com and we will respond within 30 days. You may also lodge a complaint with your local supervisory authority — in Spain, the AEPD.

Who we share data with

  • Google — advertising (AdSense), consent management, analytics (GA4), and tag management (GTM).
  • Supabase — database hosting, including newsletter subscribers.
  • Vercel — website hosting and content delivery.
  • Travelpayouts — affiliate booking attribution (only if you click an affiliate link).

These providers process data on our behalf or as independent controllers under their own policies. Some are based outside the EU; transfers rely on safeguards such as the EU–US Data Privacy Framework or Standard Contractual Clauses.

Retention

Newsletter addresses are kept until you unsubscribe or ask us to delete them. Security logs are kept briefly. Analytics data is retained per Google Analytics settings and then aggregated or deleted.

Children

This site is a general-audience travel publication and is not directed at children under 16. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children.

Changes to this policy

If we change how we handle personal data, we will update this page and revise the "Last updated" date above. Significant changes will be flagged on the site.