Where Can I Stay? ("we", "us", "our") respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information.
This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store and protect information when you visit or use the Where Can I Stay? website and any related services, features or applications (collectively referred to as the "Service").
By using our Service, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy.
Where applicable, this Privacy Policy is intended to comply with the requirements of the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA) and other applicable data-protection legislation.
1. Information We Collect
Depending on how you use our Service, we may collect different types of information.
1.1 Personal Information
We may collect personal information that you voluntarily provide to us, including:
First name and surname;
Email address;
Telephone or mobile number;
Company or business name;
Information provided when contacting us;
Information submitted when making an enquiry;
Information provided when requesting or submitting an accommodation listing; and
Any other information that you voluntarily provide to us.
You are not required to provide personal information merely to browse the website. However, certain features or services may require information to be provided.
1.2 Accommodation and Business Information
If you submit an accommodation establishment, hunting farm, campsite, lodge, hotel, guesthouse or other tourism-related business for listing on our website, we may collect information relating to that establishment, including:
Business name;
Physical address and location;
Contact details;
Website and social-media links;
Photographs and other images;
Accommodation descriptions;
Facilities and activities;
Pricing or other information supplied by the business;
Booking or enquiry information; and
Other information necessary to create and maintain the listing.
Information submitted for a business listing may be displayed publicly on our website.
1.3 Usage Data
We may automatically collect certain information when you access or use our website.
This may include:
IP address;
Browser type and version;
Device type;
Operating system;
Pages visited;
Date and time of visits;
Time spent on pages;
Referring website;
General geographical information;
Search and interaction information; and
Other technical or diagnostic information.
We use this information primarily to operate, maintain, secure and improve our website.
2. Cookies and Tracking Technologies
We may use cookies and similar technologies to improve your experience and understand how visitors use our website.
Cookies are small files stored on your device by your web browser.
We may use cookies for purposes including:
Website functionality;
Remembering preferences;
Website security;
Analytics;
Understanding website traffic;
Improving website performance; and
Measuring the effectiveness of advertising and marketing.
You can control or disable cookies through your browser settings. However, disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of some parts of the website.
Where required by applicable law, we will obtain appropriate consent before using non-essential cookies or similar tracking technologies.
3. How We Use Your Information
We may use information collected through the Service for purposes including:
Providing and maintaining our website;
Creating and managing accommodation listings;
Responding to enquiries;
Communicating with users and listed businesses;
Providing customer support;
Processing listing requests;
Improving our website and services;
Understanding how visitors use our website;
Detecting and preventing fraud, abuse or security incidents;
Maintaining website security;
Sending service-related communications;
Sending marketing communications where permitted by law and, where required, with your consent;
Complying with legal and regulatory obligations; and
Protecting our rights and the rights of our users.
We will not use personal information for purposes that are incompatible with the purpose for which it was collected, unless permitted or required by law.
4. Legal Basis for Processing Personal Information
Where applicable, we process personal information on one or more of the following grounds:
Your consent;
Performance of a contract or taking steps at your request before entering into a contract;
Compliance with a legal obligation;
Protection of legitimate interests; or
Other grounds permitted by applicable law.
Where processing is based on consent, you may withdraw your consent, subject to any legal or contractual consequences of doing so.
5. Sharing of Information
We do not sell your personal information.
We may share information with third parties where reasonably necessary to operate and provide our Service.
These third parties may include:
Website hosting providers;
Website developers and technical service providers;
Email and communication providers;
Analytics providers;
Payment service providers, where applicable;
Advertising and marketing service providers;
Security and fraud-prevention providers; and
Other service providers assisting us in operating the website.
Where third parties process personal information on our behalf, we will take reasonable steps to ensure that appropriate confidentiality and security measures are in place.
Accommodation Listings
Information submitted by accommodation establishments or other businesses for the purpose of creating a public listing may be displayed on our website and may therefore be accessible to members of the public.
Users should therefore avoid submitting confidential or unnecessary personal information for public display.
6. Third-Party Websites and Booking Services
Our website may contain links to third-party websites, including accommodation websites, booking platforms, tourism organisations, social-media platforms and other external services.
If you click on a third-party link, you will leave our website and will be subject to that third party's terms and privacy policy.
We do not control and are not responsible for the privacy practices, security, content or policies of third-party websites.
We recommend that you review the privacy policy of any third-party website before providing personal information or making a booking.
Where Can I Stay? is primarily a discovery and information platform. Unless expressly stated otherwise, we are not the accommodation provider and do not control the services offered by third-party accommodation establishments.
7. International Transfers
Some of our service providers may be located outside South Africa.
As a result, personal information may in certain circumstances be transferred to or processed in another country.
Where personal information is transferred internationally, we will take reasonable steps to ensure that such transfer is carried out in accordance with applicable data-protection legislation and that appropriate safeguards are implemented.
8. Retention of Personal Information
We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, or for as long as required or permitted by law.
The period for which information is retained may depend on:
The purpose for which it was collected;
Our relationship with you;
Legal and regulatory requirements;
Accounting or record-keeping obligations;
Dispute resolution; and
Legitimate business requirements.
When personal information is no longer required, we will take reasonable steps to securely delete, destroy or anonymise it.
9. Security of Personal Information
We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal information against:
Loss;
Misuse;
Unauthorised access;
Unauthorised disclosure;
Alteration; and
Destruction.
However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage system is completely secure.
Although we take reasonable precautions to protect information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.
10. Your Rights
Subject to applicable law, you may have the right to:
Request access to personal information that we hold about you;
Request correction or updating of inaccurate information;
Request deletion of personal information where legally permitted;
Object to certain forms of processing;
Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent;
Object to receiving direct marketing communications; and
Lodge a complaint regarding the handling of your personal information.
Requests relating to personal information should be submitted using the contact details provided below.
We may need to verify your identity before processing certain requests.
11. Direct Marketing
Where permitted by applicable law, we may send you information about our services, website developments, accommodation opportunities, promotions or other relevant information.
You may unsubscribe from marketing communications at any time by using the unsubscribe facility included in the communication or by contacting us.
Service-related communications that are necessary for the operation of your account, listing or enquiry may still be sent where permitted by law.
12. Children's Privacy
Our website is not specifically directed at children.
We do not knowingly collect personal information from children where such collection is prohibited by applicable law.
If you believe that a child has provided us with personal information unlawfully, please contact us so that we can investigate and take appropriate action.
13. Legal Disclosure of Information
We may disclose personal information where reasonably necessary or legally required, including where disclosure is necessary to:
Comply with a legal obligation;
Respond to a lawful request from a competent authority;
Protect our rights or property;
Prevent or investigate fraud or unlawful activity;
Protect the safety of users or members of the public; or
Defend or establish legal claims.
14. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time.
Any updated version will be published on this page with an updated effective date.
Where required by law, we will provide appropriate notice of material changes.
We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically.
15. Contact Us
If you have any questions regarding this Privacy Policy, the processing of your personal information, or your rights under applicable data-protection legislation, please contact us:
Email: info@wherecanistay.online
Website: https://wherecanistay.online
POPIA Information Officer
Where required by applicable law, details of our Information Officer and/or designated privacy contact will be made available on our website.
Email: info@wherecanistay.online
Details about this directory
The submission email is used for administration and is not published unless you also enter it as the public listing contact email. Unpublished photos are stored outside the public web root and are accessible to authorised administrators. Photos of approved, paid and unexpired listings are served publicly. Unpaid submissions and their photos are scheduled for deletion after 30 days. We retain IP hashes for rate limiting, and payment references and identifiers for reconciliation and records. PayFast processes card details when that payment option is enabled; this site does not store card numbers.
For privacy requests, email info@wherecanistay.online.
Operator: [Operator legal name pending]
Address: [Business address pending]
Email: info@wherecanistay.online
Telephone: [Phone number pending]