Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

StayInHonnavar (“we”, “us”, “our”) is a family-run business offering homestays and backwater boating in Honnavar, Uttara Kannada, Karnataka, operated by [your registered / proprietor name]. This Privacy Policy applies to our website at stayinhonnavar.com and to the enquiries and bookings you make with us.

By using our website or contacting us, you agree to the practices described in this policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the site or share your information with us.

2. Information we collect

Information you give us

When you reach out through WhatsApp, phone, email or the enquiry form on our website, we collect the details you choose to share, which may include:

• Your name and how to contact you (phone / WhatsApp number, email address).
• Trip details such as your check-in and check-out dates, number of guests, and any preferences or questions in your message.
• Booking information needed to arrange and confirm your stay or boat ride.

Information collected automatically

Like most websites, when you visit ours our hosting provider and any analytics tools we use may automatically record limited technical information — such as your approximate location, IP address, browser and device type, the pages you view and the site you came from. This is collected using cookies and similar technologies (see Section 5).

We do not collect payment card details on this website. Any payment is arranged directly with us (for example on arrival or via a method we agree with you).

3. How we use your information

We use the information you share with us to:

• Respond to your enquiries and answer your questions.
• Arrange, confirm and manage your homestay or boating booking.
• Share useful information about your stay, directions and our services.
• Improve our website, our offerings and the experience we provide.
• Keep basic records and meet legal, tax or accounting obligations.

We do not sell or rent your personal information to anyone, and we do not send marketing messages unless you have asked us to.

4. WhatsApp & third-party services

Because much of our communication and booking happens over WhatsApp, please note:

• WhatsApp / Meta: when you message us on WhatsApp, your chat is also handled by WhatsApp (owned by Meta) under its own privacy policy. We only use your messages to assist with your enquiry and booking.
• Google Maps: our “Find us” map is embedded from Google Maps, and Google may collect data about your interaction with it under Google's privacy policy.
• Website hosting: our site is run by a third-party hosting provider that processes basic server and security data on our behalf.
• Analytics: we may use website-analytics tools (such as Google Analytics, if enabled) to understand how visitors use our site, in aggregate.

These third parties are responsible for their own handling of data. We encourage you to review their privacy policies.

5. Cookies & tracking

Cookies are small files stored on your device that help a website work and remember preferences. Our website and the plugins it uses may set:

• Essential cookies that are needed for the site to function and stay secure.
• Analytics cookies that help us understand site usage, if analytics is enabled.

You can control or delete cookies through your browser settings at any time. Blocking some cookies may affect how parts of the site work.

6. How we share information

We treat your information with care and share it only when needed to run our business or meet our obligations. We may share information with:

• Service providers who help us operate (for example our hosting provider), strictly to provide those services.
• Authorities or advisors where we are required to by law, or to establish, exercise or defend legal rights.
• Others, with your consent, where you have asked us to.

We never sell your personal information.

7. Data retention

We keep your information only for as long as we reasonably need it — to answer your enquiry, provide and complete your booking, and meet any legal, tax or accounting requirements. After that, we delete it or remove details that identify you.

8. Data security

We take reasonable steps to protect the information you share with us against loss, misuse and unauthorised access. However, no website or method of transmission over the internet is completely secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security. Please share only what is necessary when contacting us.

9. Your rights & choices

You have choices about your personal information. Depending on the laws that apply to you — including India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 — you may have the right to:

• Ask what personal information we hold about you and request a copy.
• Ask us to correct or update information that is wrong or incomplete.
• Ask us to delete your information, where we are not required to keep it.
• Withdraw consent you previously gave, at any time.

To make any of these requests, simply contact us using the details in Section 13. We may need to verify your identity before acting on a request.

10. Children's privacy

Our website and services are intended for adults arranging travel. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18. If you believe a child has shared information with us, please contact us and we will delete it.

11. Third-party links

Our website may contain links to other websites (for example maps or partner sites). We are not responsible for the content or privacy practices of those sites. We encourage you to read their privacy policies before sharing any information.

12. Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for legal reasons. When we do, we will revise the “Last updated” date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this page occasionally. Continued use of our website after changes means you accept the updated policy.

13. Contact us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your information, please get in touch: