Privacy Policy & Terms and Conditions
This page covers three things: how we handle your personal data, the terms for using this site and our services, and a few disclosures we think you should know about. Please read it before using penguintrampoline.com.
Table of contents
Who we are
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions
Disclosures
Who we are
Penguin Trampoline (penguintrampoline.com) is a travel blog and consultation service published by Elinor Zucchet, operating as a sole proprietorship registered in Texas, USA. We can be reached at info@penguintrampoline.com. "Penguin Trampoline" is the name we publish under; it isn't a separate registered legal entity, so for any official or legal purpose, the business behind it is Jake Pool.
For the purposes of data protection law, Jake Pool is the data controller responsible for the personal data described in this policy.
Because we are established in the United States, this policy is built around applicable US federal law, including the FTC Act, CAN-SPAM Act, and COPPA, along with US state privacy laws where applicable, including the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) for California residents.
Privacy policy
What this policy covers
This policy applies to any personal data we collect through penguintrampoline.com, including when you browse the site, sign up for our newsletter, leave a comment, contact us, or book a video travel consultation. It does not cover the practices of third-party sites you reach through links or affiliate partnerships on our site. We'd encourage you to read the privacy policy of any site you visit from ours.
What personal data we collect, and why
Browsing the site
Most visitors to penguintrampoline.com aren't personally identifiable to us, but a couple of tools we use do collect some data about your visit.
We use Google Analytics to understand how people use the site, including which pages you visit, how long you stay, what device and browser you're using, your approximate location based on IP address, and how you arrived at the site, for example through search or social media. Google Analytics works through cookies.
We also use Google Search Console to understand which search terms bring people to the site and how our pages perform in search results. This data is tied to Google's own systems rather than to individual visitors, and doesn't involve cookies on your device.
Squarespace, as our hosting platform, also processes some standard technical data (like server logs) as part of running the site. You can find more detail in Squarespace's own privacy documentation.
Newsletter sign-up
If you subscribe to our newsletter, we collect your name and email address through MailerLite, the platform we use to manage and send our emails. We use this to send you new posts, updates, and occasional offers. You can unsubscribe at any time using the link in any email we send, or by contacting us directly.
Comments
If our blog has commenting enabled and you leave a comment, we collect the name, email address, and any other information you choose to include in that comment, along with your IP address, mainly to help filter spam.
Contacting us
If you reach out through a contact form or by emailing us directly, we collect whatever information you provide (typically your name, email address, and the content of your message) so we can respond to you.
Video travel consultations
If you book a video travel consultation with us, we collect your name and email address, along with the travel details you share with us to prepare for the call, such as your destination, travel dates, preferences, and time zone. We do not collect sensitive identity documents like passport numbers as part of this process.
Consultations are scheduled using Google Calendar and conducted over Google Meet. Payment is handled through PayPal. We do not see or store your full payment card details; PayPal processes that information directly under its own privacy policy.
Affiliate links
Our site contains affiliate links to travel partners, including Booking.com, GetYourGuide, Viator, HeyMondo, Fahlo, Omio, Rentalcars, and Amazon. When you click one of these links, the partner may set a cookie or use another method to track that the click came from our site, so that we're credited if you make a purchase. We don't receive any personal information about you from this process beyond knowing that a referral occurred. Once you're on a partner's site, their own privacy policy applies.
Embedded content
Some posts may include embedded content, such as YouTube videos, Instagram posts, or maps. This content behaves as if you'd visited that third-party site directly, including any cookies or tracking that site uses, regardless of whether you have an account there.
Cookies
Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit our site. We currently use Google Analytics, which sets cookies, and we ask for your consent through a cookie banner at the bottom when you first arrive on the site. You can choose "Accept all" if you're comfortable with our use of cookies and similar technologies to improve your browsing experience, security, analytics, and personalization, or "Manage cookies" to customize your choices or decline them.
Cookies that aren't strictly necessary for the site to function, such as analytics or embedded video cookies, are only set after you've given consent, and you can withdraw that consent at any time. Cookies that are strictly necessary, like those needed for basic site functionality, don't require consent under EU law but are still disclosed here.
Our legal basis for processing your data
We collect and use personal data only for the purposes described in this policy. We do not sell your personal data to third parties. The primary reasons we collect data are:
To operate and improve the site (analytics, server logs)
To send newsletters and updates you've opted into
To deliver and manage paid consultations you've booked
To respond to messages or inquiries you send us
To comply with legal obligations, such as tax record-keeping
Data we collect, in summary
MailerLite
Data collected: Name, email address
How it's collected: Newsletter sign-up form
Why we collect it: To send newsletters and updates
Legal basis: Consent
Contact forms / email
Data collected: Name, email address, message content
How it's collected: Form submission or direct email
Why we collect it: To respond to inquiries
Legal basis: Consent / legitimate interest
Google Calendar & Google Meet
Data collected: Name, email address, travel dates, destination, preferences, time zone
How it's collected: Booking process for video consultations
Why we collect it: To schedule and deliver the consultation
Legal basis: Performance of a contract
PayPal
Data collected: Payment information (processed by PayPal, not stored by us)
How it's collected: Checkout for paid consultations
Why we collect it: To collect payment
Legal basis: Performance of a contract
Google Analytics
Data collected: Pages visited, time on site, device and browser type, approximate location, referral source
How it's collected: Cookie
Why we collect it: To understand site usage and improve content
Legal basis: Consent
Google Search Console
Data collected: Aggregated search query and traffic data, not tied to individual visitors
How it's collected: Automatic, site-level
Why we collect it: To understand search performance and improve content
Legal basis: Legitimate interest
Affiliate partners (Booking.com, GetYourGuide, Viator, Trip.com, HeyMondo, Fahlo, Omio, Rentalcars, Amazon)
Data collected: Referral/click data via cookies or tracking links
How it's collected: Clicking an affiliate link
Why we collect it: To track referrals and earn commission
Legal basis: Consent (for any non-essential cookie involved)
Squarespace
Data collected: Standard hosting and server log data
How it's collected: Automatic, as part of hosting the site
Why we collect it: To operate the website
Legal basis: Legitimate interest / necessity
Who we share your data with
We share data with the service providers listed above to the extent needed for them to do their job, for example MailerLite to send newsletters, Google to run our calendar and meeting tools, and PayPal to process payments. We don't sell your personal data to anyone, and we don't share it with third parties for their own marketing purposes.
International data transfers
Some of the tools we use, including Google's services, MailerLite, PayPal, and Squarespace, may store or process data on servers outside the United States. These providers operate under their own data protection practices and agreements. We recommend reviewing each provider's privacy documentation if you want details on how they handle your data internationally.
How long we keep your data
We keep newsletter subscriber data for as long as you remain subscribed, and delete it within a reasonable period after you unsubscribe. Consultation booking details are kept long enough to deliver the service and to meet French accounting and tax record-keeping obligations, after which we delete them. Comment data, if applicable, is generally kept indefinitely unless you ask us to remove it, mainly so we can recognize returning commenters.
Your data protection rights
Depending on where you live, you may have certain rights regarding your personal data.
If you are a California resident, the CCPA gives you the right to know what personal information we collect about you, the right to request deletion of your personal information, and the right to opt out of the sale of your personal information. We do not sell personal data, and we haven't done so at any point.
Residents of other US states with active privacy laws, including Colorado, Virginia, Connecticut, and Texas, may have similar rights under their respective laws.
To exercise any of these rights, contact us at info@penguintrampoline.com. We'll respond within 45 days.
Children's privacy
This site is not directed at children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal data from anyone under 13. This is consistent with our obligations under the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). If you believe we have inadvertently collected information from a child under 13, please contact us at info@penguintrampoline.com and we will delete it promptly.
To book a paid video consultation, you must be at least 18 years old, or have a parent or guardian enter into the agreement on your behalf.
Changes to this policy
We may update this policy from time to time, whether to reflect a new tool we start using or a change in the law. We'll post the updated version here with a new "last updated" date, and significant changes will be flagged clearly on the site.
Terms and conditions
By using penguintrampoline.com, you're agreeing to the terms below. If you don't agree with them, please don't use the site.
Who can use this site
The site is generally accessible to anyone 13 years of age or older. To book and pay for a video travel consultation, you must be at least 18, or have a parent or guardian act on your behalf, since this involves entering into a paid contract.
Use of content
Everything on this site, including text, photos, and graphics, belongs to Penguin Trampoline unless otherwise credited. You're welcome to read, share, and link to our content. You may not republish, sell, or otherwise reuse our content for commercial purposes without our written permission.
Video travel consultations
We offer paid one-on-one video travel consultations, booked via Google Calendar and conducted over Google Meet, with payment collected through PayPal. These consultations are general travel guidance based on our own research and experience. They are not a substitute for official advice on matters like visas, entry requirements, vaccinations, insurance, or border regulations, and we'd always recommend confirming those directly with the relevant embassy, consulate, or official source before you travel.
You may cancel or reschedule a consultation at no cost with at least 48 hours notice before the scheduled time. Cancellations made with less than 48 hours' notice aren't eligible for a refund, and we’ll do our best to accommodate the first rescheduling request.
Accuracy of information
We do our best to keep our content accurate and up to date, but prices, opening hours, regulations, and travel conditions change often, sometimes without notice. We don't guarantee that everything on the site is current, complete, or error-free, and we'd always recommend verifying important details, especially anything related to safety, cost, or entry requirements, directly with the relevant business or official source before you travel.
Affiliate links
Penguin Trampoline participates in several affiliate programs, including those run by Booking.com, GetYourGuide, Viator, HeyMondo, Fahlo, Omio, Rentalcars, and Amazon. This means we may earn a commission if you make a purchase through one of our links, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend services and products we've genuinely used or believe in, not based on commission size. Any booking or purchase you make through these links is a contract between you and that third party, not with us, and we're not responsible for their products, services, or customer support.
Limitation of liability
We provide this site and its content on an "as is" basis and don't make guarantees about its accuracy or fitness for any particular purpose. To the extent permitted by law, we won't be liable for indirect or consequential losses arising from your use of the site or its content. Nothing in these terms limits our liability where the law doesn't allow it, including liability for death, personal injury, or our own gross negligence or willful misconduct.
Governing law and disputes
These terms are governed by the laws of the State of Texas, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. We'd always rather resolve a disagreement directly, so please contact us first at info@penguintrampoline.com. If a dispute can't be resolved directly, it may be submitted to binding arbitration or small claims court in Texas, at our mutual discretion.
Changes to these terms
We may update these terms from time to time. The version posted on this page is always the current one, and continuing to use the site after an update means you accept the new terms.
If part of these terms doesn't hold up
If any part of these terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the rest of the terms remain in effect.
Disclosures
Affiliate disclosure
Penguin Trampoline contains affiliate links. This means we may earn a commission if you make a purchase through one of our links, at no extra cost to you. This is disclosed in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's guidelines on endorsements and testimonials (16 C.F.R. Part 255). We only recommend products and services we've genuinely used or believe in.
Sponsored content
From time to time, we collaborate with brands and tourism partners. Any required disclosure of these relationships is handled in accordance with applicable advertising standards.
AI use disclosure
We sometimes use AI tools as part of our writing process, including for first drafts and editing support. Every piece of content published on this site is reviewed, fact-checked, and edited by us before it goes live, and reflects our own firsthand experience and judgment.
Testimonials
Any testimonials or reader experiences we share reflect real feedback, but individual results and experiences can vary. They're shared as examples, not guarantees of what you'll experience.
Links to other sites
We link to other websites, including affiliate partners, throughout our content. We don't review or control the content of these sites and aren't responsible for their accuracy, privacy practices, or terms.
How to contact us
For any question about this policy, these terms, or your data, reach out to us at info@penguintrampoline.com.