Privacy Policy
Last updated: May 12, 2026
Introduction
Balkan Guide ("we," "our," or "us") operates the website www.balkanguide.net (the "Site"). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our Site.
Information We Collect
Personal Data
We may collect personally identifiable information such as your name and email address when you voluntarily submit it through our email subscription form or contact forms.
Automatically Collected Data
When you visit our Site, certain information is automatically collected, including:
- Analytics Data: We use Google Analytics (GA4) and Microsoft Clarity to understand how visitors use our Site. This includes pages visited, time spent, clicks, scroll behavior, and session recordings. This data is anonymized where possible.
- Device Information: Browser type, operating system, device type, and screen resolution.
- Location Data: Approximate geographic location based on IP address (country/city level only).
How We Use Your Information
We use the collected data for the following purposes:
- To operate and improve our website and content
- To send periodic emails if you subscribe to our mailing list (you can unsubscribe at any time)
- To analyze traffic patterns and user behavior to improve user experience
- To detect and prevent technical issues and security threats
Third-Party Services
We use the following third-party services that may collect information about you:
- Google Analytics (GA4): Tracks page views, user behavior, and demographics. Google Privacy Policy
- Microsoft Clarity: Records session replays and heatmaps to understand how users interact with our Site. Microsoft Privacy Statement
- Mailchimp: Manages our email subscription list. Intuit Privacy Statement
- Cloudflare: Provides CDN and security services. Cloudflare Privacy Policy
- Booking.com: Affiliate links for hotel bookings. Booking.com Privacy Policy
- CJ Affiliate (Commission Junction): Affiliate links for flights, car rentals, vacation rentals, and airport transfers. CJ Privacy Policy
Cookies
Our Site uses cookies and similar tracking technologies. These are small data files stored on your device. We use cookies for:
- Analytics and performance tracking (Google Analytics, Microsoft Clarity)
- Session management
You can control cookie settings through your browser preferences. Blocking cookies may affect some features of our Site.
Data Retention
We retain analytics data for 26 months (Google Analytics default) and email subscription data until you unsubscribe. Session recording data in Clarity is retained for 13 months. You can request deletion of your data at any time by contacting us.
Your Rights
Depending on your location, you may have the following rights regarding your personal data:
- Access: Request a copy of the data we hold about you
- Correction: Request correction of inaccurate data
- Deletion: Request deletion of your data
- Opt-out: Unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time
- Cookies: Disable cookies via your browser settings
To exercise any of these rights, contact us at the email address below.
Children's Privacy
Our Site is not intended for children under 16. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children.
Affiliate Disclosure
Balkan Guide participates in the CJ Affiliate (formerly Commission Junction) program, as well as direct affiliate partnerships. When you click on an affiliate link on our Site and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps us maintain and improve our content.
We are committed to transparency. Below is a full list of our current affiliate partners and programs:
| Partner | Type | Program | CJ ID |
|---|---|---|---|
| Booking.com | Hotels / Flights | Direct | — |
| Air Serbia | Flights | CJ Affiliate | 5289333 |
| EconomyBookings | Car Rental | CJ Affiliate | 6385999 |
| Vrbo | Vacation Rentals | CJ Affiliate | 2691607 |
| Welcome Pickups | Airport Transfers | CJ Affiliate | 7070733 |
| Amazon Associates | Travel Gear & Essentials | Direct | balkanguidene-20 |
We only recommend products and services we believe will provide value to our readers. Affiliate relationships do not influence our editorial content or destination guides.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last updated" date.
Contact
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us at:
Email: privacy@balkanguide.net