The legal bit

Privacy policy

How I collect, use and look after your personal information. Last updated 1 November 2026.

Who is responsible for your data

Weekends and Away is a UK travel blog run by me, Kelly Hunt. I am the data controller for the personal information collected through this website. That means I decide how it is used and I am responsible for looking after it.

You can reach me about anything in this policy at kelly@weekendsandaway.com, or by post at Weekends and Away, Warrington, Cheshire, WA5 0HZ, United Kingdom.

What I collect and why

When you subscribe to the newsletter

I collect your email address, and your name if you give it on the contact form. I use it to send the monthly newsletter of travel guides, hotel finds and trip ideas. My lawful basis is your consent. Mailchimp will email you a link to confirm your subscription, and every newsletter has an unsubscribe link.

When you use the contact form

I collect your name, your email address, the topic you choose and your message, so I can read and reply to it. My lawful basis is my legitimate interest in answering enquiries about the blog, or taking steps towards an agreement if you are getting in touch about working together.

When you leave a comment

WordPress stores your name, email address, any website you enter, your comment, your IP address and your browser details. Your name, website and comment are shown publicly; your email address is not. I use this to publish comments and keep out spam, on the basis of my legitimate interest in running a blog people can join in with. Profile pictures beside comments come from a service called Gravatar, which receives a coded version of the commenter's email address and the IP address of anyone viewing them.

When you browse the site

The servers and security software that run this site process technical information such as your IP address, browser type and the pages you request. This is needed to deliver the site and protect it from attacks, which is my legitimate interest. I do not use this information to work out who you are.

Who else handles your data

I do not sell your personal information. I only share it with the services that help me run the site:

Mailchimp (Intuit Inc., USA) stores the newsletter list and sends the newsletter.

My website hosting provider stores the website, form entries and comments.

My email provider delivers form notifications to my inbox.

A website security service protects the site from attacks, which involves checking IP addresses.

Google Fonts delivers the site's fonts, so Google receives your IP address when a page loads.

GetYourGuide and other travel partners may receive information when their booking tools appear on a page or when you follow one of their links. Find out more in the cookie policy and affiliate disclosure.

If a post includes embedded content such as an Instagram post or Spotify player, that service can collect information about you as if you had visited it directly. I may also disclose information if the law requires it.

Transfers outside the UK

Some of these services are based in the USA or elsewhere outside the UK. Where that happens, the transfer relies on a recognised safeguard, such as the UK-US data bridge or standard contractual clauses.

How long I keep it

Newsletter: until you unsubscribe or ask me to remove you. Mailchimp may keep a record that you unsubscribed, so you are not emailed again.

Website form entries: deleted automatically after 12 months.

Enquiry emails: for as long as they are useful for the conversation, and no more than 12 months after it ends unless we go on to work together, when records are kept as long as the law requires.

Comments: for as long as the post is published, unless you ask me to remove yours.

Your rights

Under UK data protection law you have the right to:

ask for a copy of the personal information I hold about you

ask me to correct anything inaccurate or incomplete

ask me to delete your information

ask me to restrict how I use it, or object to my using it

ask me to transfer information you gave me to another organisation

withdraw your consent at any time, including by unsubscribing from the newsletter

There is no charge, and I will reply within one month. To make a request, email kelly@weekendsandaway.com.

Making a complaint

If you are unhappy with how I have handled your information, please tell me first so I can try to put it right. You can also complain to the Information Commissioner's Office at ico.org.uk or on 0303 123 1113.

Children

This blog is written for adults and is not aimed at children. I do not knowingly collect information from anyone under 13. If you think a child has given me their details, please let me know and I will delete them.

Keeping your data safe

The site uses an encrypted connection, security monitoring and restricted admin access. No website can promise complete security, but if a breach is likely to put you at risk I will tell you and the ICO as the law requires.

Changes to this policy

I will update this page when the way I handle information changes, and the date at the top will show when that last happened.