Privacy Policy

Last updated: October 2026

Steph’s Treks (“we,” “us,” “our”) is an independent travel advisory business owned by Stephanie Winterbauer and based in Clearwater, Florida. We operate as an independent contractor for our host agency, Archer Travel Service, Inc. This policy explains what personal information we collect through stephstreks.com and when you plan or book travel with us, how we use and share it, and the choices you have.

1. Information we collect

Information you give us. When you contact us, request a quote or book a trip, you may provide:

Contact details such as your name, email address, phone number and mailing address
Trip details such as destinations, dates, budget range, preferences and departure city
Traveler details that suppliers require, such as full legal names, dates of birth, gender, citizenship, passport details, known-traveler and loyalty program numbers, and emergency contacts
Information you choose to share so we can arrange your trip, such as dietary needs, accessibility or medical requirements, or the occasion you are celebrating
Payment details needed to make a reservation (see “Payment information” below)

Please share another traveler’s information only if you have their permission, or are their parent or legal guardian.

Information collected automatically. Like most websites, our site and its hosting provider automatically collect limited technical information, such as your IP address, browser and device type, pages visited, referring website and the date and time of your visit, using cookies and similar technologies. We use this to keep the site secure and to understand, in aggregate, how it is used.

Information from others. We receive booking confirmations, itineraries and related details from suppliers and from our host agency when we make reservations for you.

2. How we use your information

To respond to your inquiries and prepare quotes and proposals
To make, manage and support your reservations, including sharing required details with suppliers
To send booking documents, payment reminders, travel updates and important notices
To send occasional travel ideas or offers, only if you have asked to receive them; you can unsubscribe at any time
To operate, secure and improve our website
To keep business, tax and accounting records and to comply with legal and regulatory obligations, including Seller of Travel requirements

3. How we share your information

We do not sell your personal information, and we do not share it with third parties for their own marketing. We share it only as follows:

Travel suppliers (such as cruise lines, tour operators, hotels, airlines, transfer companies and insurers) as needed to book and deliver your travel. Their own privacy policies govern how they use it.
Our host agency, Archer Travel Service, Inc., which processes bookings, payments, commissions and compliance records for the travel we arrange.
Service providers that help us run our business, such as our website host (WordPress.com and its Jetpack tools, including contact forms and site statistics) and our email provider. They may use your information only to provide services to us.
Legal and safety reasons, when we believe disclosure is required by law, legal process or a government request, or is necessary to protect the rights, property or safety of our clients, our business or others.
Business transfer, if our business is sold or transferred, in which case your information would remain subject to the protections in this policy.
With your consent for any other purpose.

Travel often involves suppliers outside the United States, so information needed for your trip may be transferred to and processed in other countries whose privacy laws may differ from those where you live.

4. Payment information

Card payments are made directly to the supplier through its secure systems or processed through our host agency using a credit card authorization form. Please do not send full card numbers by regular email, text or social media message. We will never ask you to pay by wire transfer to a personal account, gift card, cryptocurrency or a personal payment app.

5. Cookies, analytics and booking links

Our website is hosted on WordPress.com, which uses cookies for essential site functions, security and aggregated visitor statistics. When you click a booking or affiliate link on our site, the supplier or affiliate network you visit may set its own cookies to record that you came from Steph’s Treks, so that we can be credited for a booking. Those cookies are controlled by that third party under its own privacy policy. You can block or delete cookies in your browser settings; some site features may not work as intended if you do.

6. Links to other websites

Our site links to supplier and other third-party websites. We are not responsible for their content or privacy practices, so please review the privacy policy of any site you visit.

7. How long we keep information

We keep personal information for as long as needed to plan and support your travel and to meet our legal, tax, accounting and host-agency recordkeeping obligations, then delete or securely dispose of it. Website statistics are kept in aggregate form.

8. How we protect information

We use reasonable administrative, technical and physical safeguards to protect personal information, such as limiting access and using secure, password-protected accounts. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security.

9. Your choices and rights

You may ask us to tell you what personal information we hold about you, to correct it or to delete it, and you may opt out of marketing emails at any time by using the unsubscribe link or contacting us. We may need to keep certain information where required by law or by a supplier or host-agency record requirement, or to complete a booking you have made. Depending on where you live, you may have additional privacy rights under your state’s law; contact us and we will respond as the law requires. We will not discriminate against you for exercising your privacy rights.

10. Children’s privacy

Our website is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information directly from them. We collect information about minors traveling with a family only from a parent or legal guardian, and only as needed to book their travel. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will delete it.

11. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. When we do, we will post the new version on this page and change the “Last updated” date above. Significant changes will be highlighted on our website.

12. Contact us

Questions or requests about your personal information? Contact Stephanie Winterbauer:

Steph’s Treks · Clearwater, Florida · 813-344-4013 · stephstreks@gmail.com