Privacy Policy

1. Who we are

GuestEscape operates an online marketplace that connects travelers (“Guests”) with property owners and managers (“Hosts”) who list short-term rentals. We facilitate discovery, booking, payments, and communication, but Hosts — not GuestEscape — own and are responsible for the properties they list.

2. Information we collect

We collect the following categories of information:

• Account information — your name, email address, password, and role (Guest, Host, or Admin).
• Host & listing information — property details, addresses, photos, pricing, availability, and payout details.
• Booking information — dates, number of guests, and the messages and details related to a reservation.
• Payment information — processed by our payment provider, Stripe. We do not store full card numbers on our servers.
• Communications — messages you send through the Platform and to our support team.
• Usage & device data — IP address, browser type, pages viewed, and similar analytics collected automatically, including via cookies.

3. How we use your information

• To create and manage your account and provide the Platform.
• To process bookings, payments, payouts, refunds, and host subscriptions.
• To share necessary details between Guests and Hosts so a stay can happen (e.g., booking dates and check-in information).
• To send transactional messages such as booking confirmations, cancellations, and password resets.
• To keep the Platform secure, prevent fraud, and enforce our Terms of Service.
• To improve our services and, where permitted, send you updates you can opt out of.

4. How we share your information

We share information only as needed to operate the Platform:

• Between Guests and Hosts — to facilitate and manage bookings.
• Service providers — including Stripe (payments and payouts), Cloudinary (image hosting), Postmark (email delivery), and our database and hosting providers, who process data on our behalf under contract.
• Legal & safety — when required by law, or to protect the rights, safety, and property of GuestEscape, our users, or the public.
• Business transfers — in connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets.

We do not sell your personal information.

5. Payments

Payments are handled by Stripe. When you pay for or receive payouts from a booking, your payment details are collected and processed directly by Stripe under its own privacy policy. Hosts receive payouts through Stripe Connect. We receive limited transaction data (such as amounts and status) but not your full card details.

6. Cookies

We use cookies and similar technologies to keep you signed in, remember your preferences, and understand how the Platform is used. You can control cookies through your browser settings, though some features may not work without them. Some of our analytics are cookieless and record only aggregate, anonymous usage (such as page views and referring sites), with no personal profile.

7. Data retention

We keep your information for as long as your account is active and as needed to provide the Platform, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements. You can request deletion of your account at any time.

8. Your rights

Depending on where you live, you may have the right to access, correct, delete, or export your personal information, and to object to or restrict certain processing. To exercise these rights, contact us using the details below. We will respond within the timeframes required by applicable law.

9. Security

We use administrative, technical, and physical safeguards — including encryption in transit and hashed passwords — to protect your information. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security.

10. Children

The Platform is not directed to individuals under 18, and we do not knowingly collect information from them.

11. International users

Your information may be processed in countries other than your own, which may have different data protection laws. Where required, we use appropriate safeguards for such transfers.

12. Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will post the updated version here with a new “Last updated” date and, where appropriate, notify you.

13. Contact us

Questions about this policy or your data? Email us at privacy@guestescape.com.