Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect

Account information. When you create a free Boutels membership, we collect your email address. If you choose to sign in with Google, we also receive basic profile information (your name and email) from Google.

Your saved data. Content you create in your account — favorites, “Going” and “Visited” trip status, private notes, and your Trip Planner list. Your notes and status are private to you.

Media you share. Photos and notes you explicitly choose to share with the community, which are then displayed publicly on the site.

Location. If you tap “Locate Me” on the map, we ask your browser for your device’s location, used only to center the map on your area — we do not track your location in the background. Separately, when you use the search box we record an approximate location (your general city and state, derived from your IP address by our hosting provider) to understand where interest is coming from. This is coarse and never your exact position.

Search activity. The towns and property names you search for, so we can understand demand and decide where to grow the directory.

Usage & analytics. Standard, largely anonymized data about how visitors use the site (pages viewed, browser type, referring site), collected through Google Analytics and Cloudflare Web Analytics.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use your data to create and manage your account; sync your favorites, trips, and notes across your devices; display the media you choose to share; understand what and where people search so we can improve and expand the directory; improve the performance and design of the map and site; and send you optional updates (the Boutels Monthly email, if you opt in) along with essential account and sign-in emails.

3. How We Share Information

We do not sell your personal data. We share information only with trusted service providers that help us operate Boutels, and only as needed:

Supabase — account authentication and secure database storage for your saved data.

Resend — delivery of sign-in (magic link) and newsletter emails.

Cloudinary — hosting the photos you upload.

Cloudflare — website hosting, security, and privacy-first (cookieless) analytics, including the approximate location described above.

Google — Google Analytics, Google Sign-In, and Google Sheets / Apps Script, where form submissions and search activity are recorded.

MapLibre, OpenFreeMap, and komoot’s Photon — displaying the interactive map and powering location search.

These providers process data on our behalf and are obligated to protect it. We may also disclose information if required by law, or to protect the rights and safety of Boutels and our users.

4. Analytics & Cookies

Google Analytics uses cookies to measure how the site is used. You can opt out on any device with Google’s Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on. Cloudflare Web Analytics is cookieless and does not track you across other websites.

5. Data Security

We use standard security measures to protect your information from unauthorized access, alteration, or disclosure. However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

6. Your Choices & Rights

Account deletion. You can request deletion of your account and all associated data (favorites, notes, trips, and shared media) at any time by contacting us.

Location. You can revoke the map’s access to your location at any time through your browser or device settings.

Email. You can unsubscribe from the Boutels Monthly email at any time.

7. Children’s Privacy

Boutels is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from them. If you believe a child has provided us information, please contact us and we will remove it.

8. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy as Boutels grows and adds features. We will note any significant changes by updating the “Last updated” date above and posting the revised policy on this page.

9. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or your data, contact us at [email protected].