Last Updated: 23 March 2024

Golden Sands Escape (“we”, “our”, “us”, or “the Company”) is committed to protecting the privacy and personal information of our guests, website visitors, property owners, business partners, and service providers.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, store, and protect your personal information when you use our website, make a booking, communicate with us, or use any of our vacation rental services.

This policy has been prepared in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 (POPIA) of South Africa and, where applicable, other relevant privacy legislation.

1. Responsible Party

Golden Sands Escape

Business Address

50 Beresford Road
Cape Town
Western Cape
South Africa

Email: info@goldensandsescape.com

Telephone: +27 (0) 69 728 1571

2. Scope

This Privacy Policy applies to:

Our website
Direct bookings
Online reservations
Telephone bookings
Email enquiries
Social media communications
Property management services
Guest services
Marketing communications
Business relationships with property owners and suppliers

3. Information We Collect

Depending on how you interact with us, we may collect:

Personal Identification Information

Full name
Date of birth
Nationality
Identification or passport number (where legally required)
Residential address

Contact Information

Email address
Telephone number
Postal address

Booking Information

Arrival and departure dates
Number of guests
Property booked
Booking preferences
Special requests
Travel information

Payment Information

Payments are processed through secure third-party payment providers.

We may receive:

Payment confirmation
Transaction ID
Billing address
Partial card details

We do not store complete debit or credit card information.

Guest Verification Information

Where required for security or legal purposes we may collect:

Passport details
National ID
Driver’s licence
Emergency contact information

Property Owner Information

For property owners we may collect:

Business information
Banking details
Tax information
Property documentation
Identification documents

Technical Information

When you use our website we may automatically collect:

IP address
Browser type
Device information
Operating system
Website usage
Referral source
Cookies
Analytics information

4. How We Collect Information

We collect personal information:

Directly from you
Through booking forms
Through our website
Via telephone
Via email
Through messaging platforms
Through social media
From booking partners
From travel agencies
Through payment providers
Through cookies and website analytics

5. Why We Collect Your Information

We process your information in order to:

Confirm reservations
Manage bookings
Process payments
Provide accommodation services
Verify guest identity
Meet legal obligations
Prevent fraud
Provide customer support
Respond to enquiries
Improve our services
Manage guest relationships
Send booking confirmations
Send invoices
Communicate before, during and after your stay
Manage maintenance requests
Protect our guests and properties
Send promotional communications where consent has been provided

6. Legal Basis for Processing

We process personal information where:

You have provided consent;
Processing is necessary to perform a contract with you;
Processing is required by law;
Processing protects your legitimate interests or ours;
Processing is necessary for the establishment or defence of legal claims.

7. Cookies

Our website may use cookies to:

Remember preferences
Improve website performance
Analyse visitor behaviour
Measure website traffic
Enhance user experience
Improve security

Cookies may include:

Essential cookies
Functional cookies
Analytics cookies
Performance cookies
Marketing cookies (where applicable)

You can disable cookies through your browser settings, although some website features may not function correctly.

8. Marketing Communications

If you opt in, we may send:

Promotional offers
Special discounts
Seasonal packages
Holiday promotions
Company news
Property updates

You may unsubscribe at any time by:

Clicking the unsubscribe link
Contacting us directly
Updating your preferences

9. Sharing Personal Information

We never sell your personal information.

We may share information with:

Property owners
Payment processors
Banks
Booking platforms
Cleaning contractors
Maintenance contractors
IT service providers
Website hosting providers
Marketing providers
Government authorities
Law enforcement agencies
Legal advisers
Insurance companies
Auditors

Only where necessary for legitimate business purposes or legal compliance.

10. International Data Transfers

Where personal information is transferred outside South Africa, we take reasonable steps to ensure appropriate safeguards are in place and that the recipient provides an adequate level of protection consistent with applicable law.

11. Data Security

Golden Sands Escape implements reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal information, including:

SSL encryption
Secure servers
Password protection
Firewall protection
Access controls
Staff confidentiality obligations
Secure payment processing
Regular software updates
Malware protection
Data backup procedures
Restricted employee access

Despite these safeguards, no internet transmission or storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

12. Retention of Information

We retain personal information only for as long as necessary to:

Fulfil bookings
Provide services
Meet accounting requirements
Resolve disputes
Comply with South African legislation
Meet tax obligations
Protect legal rights

When information is no longer required, it is securely deleted, destroyed, or anonymised.

13. Your Rights

Subject to applicable law, you have the right to:

Access your personal information
Request correction of inaccurate information
Request deletion where appropriate
Object to certain processing
Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent
Restrict processing where permitted
Request information regarding how your data is processed
Lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator

14. Children’s Privacy

Our services are not intended for children under the age of 18 without the involvement of a parent or legal guardian.

Where we knowingly collect information relating to minors for booking purposes, it will only be processed as necessary to provide accommodation services.

15. Third-Party Websites

Our website may contain links to third-party websites.

Golden Sands Escape is not responsible for the privacy practices or content of external websites. We encourage users to review the privacy policies of those websites before providing personal information.

16. Data Breaches

If we become aware of a data breach affecting your personal information, we will investigate promptly and, where required by law, notify affected individuals and the Information Regulator in accordance with POPIA.

17. Changes to this Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices, technology, or legal obligations.

The updated version will be published on our website with a revised “Last Updated” date.

18. Contact Us

For questions regarding this Privacy Policy or the processing of your personal information, please contact:

Golden Sands Escape