Privacy, Terms & Cookies

The legal terms governing use of ExplWorld, how we handle personal data, and how cookies and similar technologies are used.

Last updated: 24 September 2026

Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy explains how ExplWorld collects, uses, stores and shares personal data when you use our website, create an account, subscribe to communications, contact us, use our tools or otherwise interact with ExplWorld.

Who is responsible for your data

The data controller is by veru s.r.o., trading as ExplWorld, company number 53736222, VAT number SK2121475048, registered at Lermontovova 911/3, 811 05 Bratislava, Slovakia.

Privacy and legal enquiries: legal@explworld.com.

Personal data we collect

Depending on how you use ExplWorld, we may process account and profile information, contact details, newsletter preferences, form submissions, technical information such as IP address, browser and device data, usage information, and information you voluntarily provide to our editorial or investigations teams.

If purchases, subscriptions, ExplWorld Verified applications, saved trips, reviews, photo submissions or other planned services are introduced, the data necessary to operate those services may also be processed.

Why we process data

to provide and secure ExplWorld accounts, content, tools and services;
to respond to editorial, commercial, legal and general enquiries;
to manage newsletters and communications;
to understand site performance and audience usage;
to prevent fraud, abuse and security incidents;
to comply with legal obligations and protect our legal rights;
to carry out journalistic activity where protected or permitted by applicable law.

Legal bases

Where the EU General Data Protection Regulation and Slovak data-protection law apply, we rely on one or more appropriate legal bases, including performance of a contract, compliance with legal obligations, legitimate interests, consent, and-where relevant-legal protections and exemptions applicable to journalism and freedom of expression.

Journalistic material and source information

Information supplied to ExplWorld for journalistic purposes may be handled differently from ordinary user or customer data where applicable law recognises protections for journalism, freedom of expression and source confidentiality. We take source protection seriously, but no communication method can be guaranteed to be completely risk-free.

Service providers

ExplWorld currently uses or integrates external services. These providers may process limited personal data on our behalf or as independent controllers, depending on the service and context.

ExplWorld may add or replace providers as its products develop. Planned technologies that are not yet active are not described here as current processing tools.

International transfers

Some providers may process personal data outside Slovakia or the European Economic Area. Where required by law, we use or rely on recognised transfer mechanisms and safeguards.

Retention

We retain personal data only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, including legal, accounting, security, contractual and editorial requirements. Retention periods vary according to the type of information and the reason it is held.

Your rights

Subject to applicable law, you may have rights of access, correction, deletion, restriction, portability, objection and withdrawal of consent. These rights may be limited where the law protects journalism, freedom of expression, legal claims, source confidentiality or other overriding interests.

Requests can be sent to legal@explworld.com. You may also have the right to complain to the competent data-protection authority.

Children

ExplWorld's accounts and interactive services are intended for users aged 16 or older. ExplWorld does not intentionally target children under 16.

Security

We use reasonable technical and organisational measures intended to protect personal data. No internet service can guarantee absolute security.

Changes

We may update this policy when our services, technology or legal obligations change. The date of the latest revision appears at the top of this page.

Terms of Use

The Terms of Use are published on their own page, explworld.com/terms. That page is the one version in force: it carries the wording every account accepts, its version and the date it took effect.

Cookie Policy

ExplWorld uses cookies and similar technologies to operate the website, remember consent choices, support account functionality and understand how the site is used.

Current categories

Category	How ExplWorld currently uses it	Consent approach
Strictly necessary	Core website functions, account/session functionality, security and storage of cookie-consent choices through ExplWorld's custom consent system.	Used where necessary to provide the service and where permitted without consent.
Analytics	Google Analytics is used to understand audience behaviour and site performance.	Activated only in accordance with the consent requirements that apply to the visitor.
Advertising measurement	Meta Pixel measures the effectiveness of ExplWorld's advertising on Meta platforms (Facebook, Instagram). It is present on every page but, wherever consent is required, starts in a revoked state and stores nothing until the visitor accepts.	Revoked until the visitor accepts where consent is legally required; declining, or withdrawing later, switches measurement off.
Session replay and heatmaps	Microsoft Clarity records how pages are used - scrolling, clicks and navigation - to show where the site is confusing. It is loaded on every page but records nothing until consent is given.	Loaded in a denied state and activated only after the visitor accepts; declining, or withdrawing later, switches recording off.
Reader revenue	Subscribe with Google (Google Reader Revenue Manager) presents Google-hosted contribution and newsletter prompts on article pages.	Not loaded at all unless the visitor accepts; a decline means the service is never requested.
Audience measurement (cookieless)	Vercel Web Analytics is used to measure site performance and aggregate visits. It does not store cookies or persistent identifiers on your device.	Operates without storing cookies; used in accordance with applicable law.
Functional / communications	Services such as account infrastructure, newsletter delivery and related functionality may use technical storage or identifiers where necessary for the requested service.	Used according to purpose and applicable consent requirements.
Payments	Stripe may use cookies or similar technologies when payment features are used.	Used as required for payment functionality and in accordance with applicable law.

Analytics services

ExplWorld currently uses Google Analytics, Vercel Web Analytics and Microsoft Clarity. Google Analytics is used to understand audience behaviour and site performance. Vercel Web Analytics is used to measure site performance and aggregated visits and does not store cookies on your device. Microsoft Clarity provides session replay and heatmaps: it is present on every page but is started in a denied state and records nothing, sets no cookies and collects no session until the visitor accepts. Analytics technologies are used only according to the consent choices presented through our custom cookie-consent controls where consent is legally required.

Reader revenue

Article pages may present contribution and newsletter prompts through Subscribe with Google, part of Google Reader Revenue Manager. Unlike the analytics services above, this one is not loaded in a denied state: it is not requested from Google at all unless the visitor has accepted, so declining means the service is never contacted. It appears only on article pages, not on the homepage, the travel tools or the country guides.

Planned technologies

ExplWorld may introduce additional technologies in the future, including advertising or audience-measurement tools. A planned service is not treated as an active cookie or tracking technology until it is actually deployed. This policy will be updated when material technologies change.

Managing your choices

You can manage available cookie choices through ExplWorld's cookie-consent controls. Browser settings may also allow you to block or delete cookies, although doing so may affect some site functionality.

Cookie inventory

Because cookie names and durations can change as services are updated or configured, ExplWorld's consent interface is the current source for the active non-essential cookie and technology choices available on the production site. This policy describes only services confirmed as in use.

Legal & privacy contact

by veru s.r.o.
Lermontovova 911/3
811 05 Bratislava
Slovakia

Company number: 53736222
VAT number: SK2121475048

Privacy and legal enquiries: legal@explworld.com