Privacy Policy and Cookies

Who We Are

Hop In Portugal is an independent blog that provides information about traveling and living in Portugal. We operate from Portugal and serve a global audience, with respect for European privacy regulations.

Hop In Portugal is committed to protecting your personal data and respecting your privacy. This policy explains how we collect, use, and safeguard your information when you use our website, in compliance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (General Data Protection Regulation – GDPR) and relevant Portuguese data protection laws, like Lei n.º 58/2019. 

It’s important to read this notice to you so you know how we collect and store your data, during and after your interaction with our website and the team of Hop In Portugal. By using our website, you agree to the following Privacy and Cookies Policy.

Information We Collect

We may collect two types of data:

a) Personal Data (provided voluntarily)

• Name and email address (e.g. for newsletter subscriptions or contact forms)
• Optional website or social profile (e.g. via blog comments)

We do not collect sensitive personal data or process information beyond what is necessary.

b) Non-Personal Data (automatically collected)

• IP address
• Browser type and version
• Device type and operating system
• Pages visited and time spent
• Referring pages or links

This information is collected via standard analytics tools and cookies.

Legal Basis for Processing Data

We collect and process your personal data under the following legal bases:

• Consent – When you subscribe to our newsletter or contact us directly.
• Legitimate Interest – To improve website performance and understand how users interact with our content.
• Legal Obligation – If we are required to retain data under applicable Portuguese or EU law.

You may withdraw consent at any time by contacting us or unsubscribing.

How We Use Your Information

We use your data for purposes including:

• Sending newsletters or updates (only with your explicit consent)
• Responding to messages or inquiries
• Improving website functionality and user experience
• Monitoring traffic and content performance via analytics
• Ensuring compliance with applicable laws

We do not sell or rent your data to third parties. However, we may analyze your data in analytic platforms: Google Analytics and Google Search Console. 

Cookies’ Policy

Like most websites, we use cookies to enhance your browsing experience.

What are cookies?

Cookies are small text files stored on your device when you visit a website. They help us:

• Remember user preferences
• Analyze site traffic
• Track affiliate links for partners (when applicable)
• Respond to messages or inquiries by remembering your contact details and previous interactions.

Types of Cookies We Use

• Essential Cookies – Required for basic functionality.
• Performance Cookies – Help us understand how users navigate the site.
• Third-Party Cookies – Set by trusted services like Google Analytics, or affiliate platforms. There may also be sponsored content with tracking pixels or display ads, with cookies to collect data regarding the audience. These third parties are responsible for their own cookies and compliance with data protection laws. We encourage you to review their privacy policies.

Managing Cookies

Upon your first visit, you’ll be asked to consent to cookies. You can:

• Change or withdraw consent via the cookie banner
• Disable cookies in your browser settings
• Delete stored cookies manually

Refusing cookies may affect some features but will not block core access to our content.

How We Store and Protect Your Data

We take appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal data against unauthorized access, loss, misuse, or alteration. These measures include:

• Encrypted data transmission via SSL (Secure Socket Layer)
• Restricted access to personal data, limited to authorized administrators only
• Secure storage of submitted data within our website’s database
• Regular updates of our website, plugins, and security systems
• Use of strong authentication measures for administrative access

While we take reasonable steps to protect your data, please note that no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is completely secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security.

How Long we retain your data

If you leave a comment on our website, the comment and its associated metadata (such as the date and IP address) are retained indefinitely. This helps us recognize and approve any follow-up comments automatically, rather than holding them for moderation each time.

If you choose to submit a form on our website or comment on one of our blog posts, we will retain the personal and non-personal data (mentioned above in the Information We Collect). That information is stored in our website database using WordPress plugins for record-keeping purposes.

We retain personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, to comply with legal obligations, or to resolve disputes.

Your Rights Under GDPR

You have the right to:

• Access the personal data we hold about you
• Request correction or deletion of your data
• Object to or restrict processing
• Withdraw consent at any time
• Lodge a complaint with Portugal’s data protection authority (Comissão Nacional de Proteção de Dados – CNPD)

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at:
info@hopinportugal.com

Third-Party Links & Services

Our website may contain links to third-party websites (e.g., booking platforms, local services). We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these external sites. We encourage you to review their policies individually.

Updates to This Policy

This policy may be updated occasionally to reflect legal changes or site functionality. Significant changes will be communicated on our site.

Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy & Cookies Policy, contact us at:
info@hopinportugal.com