Privacy Policy

Who we are

Waylume Travel LLC ("Waylume Travel", "we", "us") is an independent travel advisory practice operated by Eric Tomchik. This policy explains what information this website collects, how it is used, and the choices you have.

Information we collect

Trip inquiries. When you complete the discovery quiz or reach out through any contact channel, we collect the details you provide — such as your name, email address, mobile number, travel preferences, approximate dates, and what you'd like this trip to accomplish. Providing a mobile number instead of an email is fine; email is optional.

Client accounts. If you create an account for the client portal, we store your email address, display name, and profile details you add yourself (such as a photo, username, or short bio).

Community content. Articles, discussions, comments, and direct messages you write in the community are stored so they can be displayed to you and, where intended, to other members.

Basic usage data. Like most websites, our platform records standard technical information (such as pages viewed) to keep the service running and improve it.

How we use your information

We use the information above for one purpose: to plan and deliver travel experiences for you. That includes responding to inquiries, designing itineraries, passing booking details to the travel suppliers you choose, and — only if you opt in — sending occasional travel news and inspiration.

We never sell your personal information.

Sharing your information

We share your details only with the suppliers needed to arrange your trip (for example, a hotel, cruise line, or tour operator), and only to the extent required to secure your booking and any perks or upgrades. Payment is always handled through the supplier's own secure checkout — we never take or store your card details.

Some books and products we recommend are linked to outside retailers as affiliate links. If you click one and make a purchase, that retailer's own privacy policy applies.

Service providers. We also rely on a small number of vendors to run this practice, and they process information on our behalf: Base44 (website and database hosting), Google Analytics (site analytics), Meta (advertising measurement), our email delivery provider (inquiry notifications and, if you opt in, the journal), FlightAware/AeroAPI (flight status lookups you request), Cal.com (call scheduling), and Fora Travel, our host agency, where a booking is placed through them. Each is bound to use your information only to provide that service.

Cookies, analytics and advertising

Essential cookies. We use the cookies needed to keep you signed in and remember your preferences. These cannot be turned off without breaking the site.

Your choice comes first. Analytics and advertising cookies are switched off when you arrive. Nothing is requested from Google or Meta, and neither tool is loaded, until you accept in the banner shown on your first visit. If you decline, or simply ignore the banner, they are never loaded at all. You can change your mind at any time with the "Cookie choices" link in the footer.

Google Analytics 4. We use Google Analytics to understand how visitors find and move through this site — pages viewed, approximate location, device and referral source. It sets cookies and shares that usage data with Google. You can opt out for every site you visit with Google's browser add-on at tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.

Meta Pixel. We use the Meta (Facebook) Pixel to measure whether our social posts and advertising reach people who go on to enquire, and to show Waylume Travel advertising to relevant audiences. This is an advertising and measurement technology, and it shares your visit with Meta. You can control what Meta shows you in the ad preferences of your Facebook or Instagram account.

Neither tool receives the details you type into an inquiry — your name, email, phone number and trip notes stay with us.

Browser controls. You can block or delete cookies in your browser settings. If your browser sends a Global Privacy Control or "Do Not Track" signal, we treat that as a decline automatically and never ask you — analytics and advertising stay off without you doing anything else. Blocking analytics and advertising cookies will not affect your ability to use this site or work with us.

How long we keep information

Inquiry and trip details are kept while we are actively planning your travel and for 36 months afterward, so we can pick up where we left off on your next trip. Inquiries that never become a trip are deleted after 24 months.

Community content and direct messages are kept until you delete them or ask us to. Dormant accounts with no sign-in for 36 months are deleted, after an email warning.

Technical records are kept only briefly: hashed IP addresses used for spam and rate limiting for 12 months, and flight-status lookups for 30 days.

Where we are required to keep a booking or tax record for longer, we keep only that record.

Data deletion

You can delete your own community posts, comments, and profile details at any time from your client portal.

To request deletion of everything else we hold about you — including inquiry details and account data — email advisor@waylumetravel.com from the address on file (or include the mobile number you left). We will confirm your identity and delete your personal data within 30 days, except where we are required to retain a record for tax or legal purposes.

Contact

Questions about this policy or your data: email advisor@waylumetravel.com or call (228) 344-5724.