Privacy & Cookies Policy
Last updated: July 2026
scottmonaco.travel is operated by Scott Monaco from Sweden. This policy explains what data is collected when you visit this site, how it is used, and your rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and other applicable privacy laws.
What Data Is Collected
Analytics. This site uses Google Analytics 4 (GA4) to understand how visitors use the site — which pages are visited, how long visitors stay, and how they arrive. GA4 collects anonymized data including device type, browser, approximate geographic location, and pages viewed. IP addresses are anonymized before processing. No personally identifiable information is collected through analytics.
Cookies. This site uses cookies — small text files stored on your device — for the following purposes:
Essential cookies are required for the site to function. These are set by WordPress.com and cannot be disabled.
Analytics cookies are set by Google Analytics to distinguish unique visitors and track session activity. These cookies include _ga and ga[container-id], which expire after 2 years and 24 hours respectively.
Third-party cookies may be set when you interact with embedded content or external links. This site links to Substack for newsletter content, and to affiliate partners including Amazon and Expedia. These third parties operate under their own privacy policies.
Newsletter. The newsletter Nothing to Declare is published on Substack at read.scottmonaco.travel. If you subscribe, your email address is collected and managed by Substack under their privacy policy. Scott Monaco may retain a backup copy of subscriber email addresses for platform continuity purposes, stored securely and not shared with third parties.
Contact and correspondence. If you contact Scott Monaco directly by email, the information you provide is used solely to respond to your inquiry. This correspondence is not shared with third parties.
How Data Is Used
Data collected through this site is used to understand readership and improve the content and usability of scottmonaco.travel. Specifically:
Analytics data helps identify which destinations, stories, and travel topics are most useful to readers, and informs decisions about future content and coverage areas.
No data collected through this site is sold to third parties. No data is used for targeted advertising. scottmonaco.travel does not display ads.
Affiliate Links
Some pages on this site contain affiliate links, including Amazon and Expedia. If you click an affiliate link and make a purchase, Scott Monaco may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. These affiliate partners may set their own cookies and collect data according to their own privacy policies. Affiliate relationships do not influence editorial content or recommendations.
Your Rights Under GDPR
If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), the United Kingdom, or Switzerland, you have the following rights regarding your personal data:
Right of access. You may request a copy of any personal data held about you.
Right to erasure. You may request deletion of your personal data.
Right to rectification. You may request correction of inaccurate personal data.
Right to restriction. You may request that processing of your data be restricted.
Right to data portability. You may request your data in a machine-readable format.
Right to object. You may object to the processing of your personal data.
To exercise any of these rights, contact Scott Monaco at the email address listed on the About page. Requests will be responded to within 30 days.
Managing Cookies
You can control cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to block or delete cookies. Note that disabling essential cookies may affect site functionality.
To opt out of Google Analytics tracking across all websites, you can install the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.
Data Retention
Analytics data is retained in Google Analytics for 14 months, after which it is automatically deleted. Contact correspondence is retained only as long as necessary to address your inquiry.
Changes to This Policy
This policy may be updated to reflect changes in data practices or legal requirements. The “last updated” date at the top of this page will be revised accordingly.
Contact
For questions about this privacy policy or your personal data, contact Scott Monaco at the email address listed on the About page of this site.