Privacy Policy — Buzztrip

Introduction

This Privacy Policy explains how Buzztrip ("the app") collects, uses, stores, shares, and protects your personal information when you use our website at buzztrip.app and related services. By creating an account or using Buzztrip, you agree to the practices described in this policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the app.

Who We Are

Buzztrip is a group trip planning app created by Queen Bee Travel Buds, a travel agency based in Summerville, South Carolina. When we say "we," "us," or "our" in this policy, we mean Queen Bee Travel Buds. We are the data controller responsible for your personal information.

What We Collect

When you create an account and use Buzztrip, we may collect:

Account info: Name, email address, phone number, and profile photo.
Trip info: Group names, destinations, dates and times, budgets, votes, date choices, itineraries, stays, packing and grocery lists, trip ideas and links you save, and shared costs you enter in Split the Honey.
Messages: Text messages, voice notes, and reactions you send in group and private chats within the app.
Uploads: Documents (e.g. travel documents), photos, stay photos, and itineraries you scan or upload to your trip.
Location (only when you choose): If you tap Share My Location or send an I'm here pin, we collect your device's location at that moment. Share My Location runs only for the time you pick (2, 4, or 8 hours), only while the app is open, and you can stop it anytime. We never track your location in the background.
Safety & group info: Back Safe check-ins, requests to join a Hive (and whether the leader approved them), and emergency alerts you send.
Security info: Failed sign-in attempts, used to pause sign-in after too many wrong passwords.
Usage data: Pages you visit, features you use, and basic device/browser info to keep the app running smoothly.

How We Use Your Data

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

To create and manage your account and keep you signed in securely.
To run the app's core features: groups, destination and date voting, group chat, cost tracking and splitting, countdowns, itineraries, packing and grocery lists, the Hive Map, location sharing, safety check-ins, document and photo storage.
To send activity reminders (for example, an email about two hours before a planned stop).
To send you email notifications you've opted into (new members joining, votes, payment reminders, chat activity, and emergency alerts).
To respond to your questions and provide customer support.
To improve the app, understand how features are used, and fix bugs.
To connect you with a travel professional at Queen Bee Travel Buds if you request help.
To protect the security of the app and prevent fraud or abuse.

Helper Bee (AI Features)

Some features use an artificial intelligence (AI) service to do the work for you. Only the information needed for that task is sent, and only when you use the feature:

Scan Itinerary: the photo or PDF you scan, plus your trip dates.
Destination Spotlight tips: the destination name and travel month.

AI results are not saved unless you choose to save them to your trip. We do not use your content for advertising, and we do not sell it.

Cookies & Similar Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies that are necessary for the app to function — for example, to keep you securely logged in during your session and to remember your preferences. We do not use cookies to sell your data or build advertising profiles. You can control or delete cookies through your browser settings, though some features may not work properly if you disable them.

We Do Not Sell Your Data

We will never sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties. Period.

Third-Party Services

We use a small number of trusted services to run Buzztrip:

Cloud hosting & storage: Your data and uploaded files are stored securely on cloud infrastructure.
Email notifications: We use a notification service to send trip-related emails.
Analytics: Basic, anonymized usage analytics to improve the experience.
AI service: Powers Helper Bee features (see above).
Maps & places: OpenStreetMap and its address lookup service turn trip addresses (and shared location points) into map pins and place names. Wikipedia provides destination photos and descriptions, and Open-Meteo provides weather forecasts. We send these services place names or map points only, never your name or email.

These providers only access data necessary to provide their service and are bound by their own privacy policies and data protection obligations. We do not authorize them to use your information for their own marketing.

Links to other sites: Buzztrip includes buttons that open other companies' sites or apps, such as Uber, Google Maps, Walmart, Uber Eats, Instacart, Amazon, and Viator. When you tap one, you leave Buzztrip and that company's own privacy policy applies. Some of these are affiliate links: Buzztrip may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

How We Share Information

We share your personal information only in these limited situations:

With members of your trip group: Your name, profile photo, and the trip content you add (votes, messages, voice notes, itinerary items, shared costs, ideas, uploaded photos and documents) are visible to other members of the same group so you can plan together. If you share your location, members of that Hive can see it on the Hive Map until your sharing ends or you stop it. The Hive leader can see who has checked in as Back Safe.
With service providers: The trusted hosting, storage, email, AI, and map providers described above, only as needed to operate the app.
For legal reasons: If required by law, subpoena, or to protect the safety, rights, or property of our users or others.
With your consent: Any other sharing will only happen if you ask us to or agree to it.

We do not share your information with advertisers, and we do not sell it (see below).

Data Retention

We keep your personal information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide you the app. When you delete your account, we remove your personal data and uploaded files, except where we are required to keep certain records to comply with legal obligations or resolve disputes. Backups are cycled out on a regular schedule.

Data Security

Your passwords are hashed (never stored in plain text). Sign-in pauses for 15 minutes after 5 wrong passwords. New members must be approved by the Hive leader before they can see a trip. Files are stored in secure cloud storage with access controls. We use HTTPS for all data in transit. Shared locations expire automatically.

Your Rights

You can:

Access your data from your profile page.
Update your profile information at any time.
Delete your account and all associated data instantly yourself from your Profile page, or see our Account Deletion page for other options.
Opt out of non-essential email notifications at any time from your profile settings or by using the unsubscribe link in our emails.
Contact us at [email protected] with any questions or requests about your data.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us using the details below. We will respond within a reasonable time and in line with applicable law.

Marketing Communications

We only send you emails related to your trips and the notifications you have opted into. If we ever send occasional news from Queen Bee Travel Buds, every message will include a way to unsubscribe, and opting out will never affect your ability to use the app.

International Users

Buzztrip is operated from the United States and our servers are located in the United States. If you access the app from outside the U.S., you understand that your information will be processed and stored in the United States, where data protection laws may differ from those in your country.

Children's Privacy

Buzztrip is not intended for children under 13. We do not knowingly collect information from anyone under 13. If you believe a child has created an account, please contact us and we will promptly delete it.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy from time to time. If we make significant changes, we'll notify users via email or a notice in the app.

Contact

Queen Bee Travel Buds
700 Nexton Square Drive, Summerville, SC 29483
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (407) 777-5886