Legal and privacy
Last updated: October 2026
Pass The Passport is a personal travel and bucket list website run by Dan Salter in the United Kingdom. This page covers how you can use the site, what data it collects, the cookies it uses and how it makes money. If anything here isn't clear, email dan@passthepassport.life.
Privacy policy
I'm the data controller for this website. I keep data collection to a minimum and never sell your personal information.
What is collected
- Visit statistics. If you allow analytics cookies, Google Analytics records which pages you view, roughly where you are (country and city), the device and browser you use and how you found the site. Google shortens IP addresses before storing them, and I can't use this data to tell who you are. If you say no, Google receives only cookieless signals with no identifiers.
- Advertising. Some pages show ads from Google AdSense. If you allow advertising cookies, Google and its partners may use cookies to show ads based on your interests and to measure them. If you say no, any ads you see are non-personalised.
- Affiliate links. When you click a link to a partner such as Amazon, Booking.com or GetYourGuide, that company may set its own cookie so it can tell me a purchase came from this site. I never see your name, address or payment details, only that a sale happened.
- Emails. If you email me, I keep your email and address so I can reply. I don't add you to any mailing list without asking, and I delete messages I no longer need.
- Server logs. The site is hosted on Amazon Web Services. Like every web host, AWS keeps short-lived technical logs (IP address, page requested, time, browser type and the page you came from) to keep the site running and secure. I also use these logs to count visits and see which pages are popular. That uses no cookies, the figures are only ever totals, and the logs are deleted after 90 days.
YouTube
Pass The Passport uses YouTube API Services to upload my own travel videos to the Pass The Passport YouTube channel. The tool only signs in to my own channel; it doesn't collect, store or share any data about you or any other YouTube user. Videos watched on YouTube are covered by the YouTube Terms of Service and the Google Privacy Policy. Any Google account connected to an app can remove its access at any time on the Google security settings page.
TikTok
Pass The Passport uses TikTok's Login Kit and Content Posting API for one thing: sending my own travel videos to the drafts of the Pass The Passport TikTok account, where I review and post them myself. The tool only signs in to my own account. It reads that account's basic profile (name and avatar) to confirm it's connected, and it doesn't collect, store or share any data about you or any other TikTok user. Videos on TikTok are covered by the TikTok Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. A TikTok account can remove an app's access at any time in TikTok's Settings and privacy, under Security and permissions.
Accounts, comments and the newsletter
You can use My Passport without an account: your countries and bucket list are saved only in your own browser. If you create an account or comment, this is what I keep:
- Your account. Your email address (to send you a sign-in code, as there's no password), the display name you choose, and when you joined. Sign-in codes are stored scrambled and expire after 15 minutes.
- Your map and bucket list. The countries you tick and the years you went, the goals on your list, any goals you add yourself, and, if you import from Polarsteps, the name, dates, distance and countries of each trip. Your Polarsteps file is read on your own device and never uploaded; your photos, notes and exact locations are never sent to me.
- Comments. What you write, your display name and the page it's on. Your display name and comment are public once approved. Your email is never shown.
- The newsletter. Your email address, when and where you signed up, and when you confirmed. I only send it if you've confirmed by clicking the link in the first email (or ticked the box in your account), and every email has a one-click unsubscribe link.
- Counts. The site shows totals such as "120 people have this on their list". These are just numbers and can't be traced back to you.
I use this data only to run these features and to send the newsletter you asked for. I never sell it, share it with advertisers or use it to target ads. It's stored on Amazon Web Services in London (eu-west-2), encrypted, and emails are sent through Amazon SES. You can download everything I hold about you, or delete your account (which deletes your map, list and comments straight away), at any time from My Passport. Unconfirmed newsletter sign-ups are deleted after 7 days.
The travel helper (chat)
The "Ask about my travels" button opens an AI assistant that answers questions using the pages on this site. It isn't me, and it can get things wrong, so please check the pages it links to. What you type, along with the last few messages of your conversation, is sent to Amazon Web Services and answered by an AI model from Anthropic (Claude) running on Amazon Bedrock in the EU. Your questions aren't stored by me, aren't used to train the AI and aren't linked to you or your account. To stop one person using up the daily allowance, I keep a count of questions per visitor for 24 hours, using a scrambled code made from your IP address rather than the address itself. Your conversation is kept only in your browser tab and disappears when you close it. Please don't type personal details into it.
Why it's collected (lawful basis)
Analytics and advertising cookies are used only with your consent, which you can withdraw at any time. Emails and server logs are kept under legitimate interests: replying to you, keeping the site secure and counting visits. Accounts, your map and comments are kept to provide the service you've asked for (contract). The newsletter is sent only with your consent, which you can withdraw with the unsubscribe link in any email.
Who it's shared with
Google (Analytics and AdSense), Amazon Web Services (hosting, and the travel helper's AI on Amazon Bedrock) and the affiliate networks and partners listed below. Some of these companies process data outside the UK under standard data protection safeguards. Their own privacy policies apply: Google, how Google uses data from sites that use its services, AWS.
How long it's kept
Google Analytics data is kept for 14 months. Accounts, maps and comments are kept until you delete your account. Newsletter addresses are kept until you unsubscribe. Your cookie choice is kept in your browser until you change it or clear your browser data.
Your rights
Under UK GDPR you can ask to see, correct or delete the personal data I hold about you, object to how it's used or withdraw consent. Email dan@passthepassport.life. If you're unhappy with how I've handled your data, you can complain to the Information Commissioner's Office.
Cookie policy
Cookies are small files a website saves in your browser. When you first visit, a banner asks which ones you're happy with. Nothing beyond the essentials is set until you choose. You can change your mind at any time using , also in the footer of every page.
| Type | Set by | What it does | Needs your OK? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essential | This site | Remembers your cookie choice (stored in your browser as ptp_consent). | No |
| Essential | This site | Saves your own travel map and bucket list, and keeps you signed in if you have an account (stored in your browser as ptp_me_v1). Only set if you use My Passport. | No |
| Analytics | Google Analytics (_ga, _ga_*) | Counts visits and shows which pages are popular. Kept for up to 2 years. | Yes |
| Advertising | Google AdSense and partners | Shows ads, limits how often you see the same one and measures them. | Yes |
| Affiliate | Impact, Awin, CJ, Amazon and partner sites | Records that a booking or purchase came from a link on this site, so I earn a commission. | Yes |
The maps on this site are drawn by the site itself and set no cookies. The few embedded YouTube videos use YouTube's privacy-enhanced mode, which doesn't set cookies unless you play the video. You can also block or delete cookies in your browser settings; the ICO explains how.
Affiliate disclosure
Some links on this site are affiliate links. If you book or buy something through one, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps pay for hosting and keeps the site free. I only recommend things I've used or would use myself, and a commission never changes what I write.
Pass The Passport works with affiliate networks including Impact, Awin, CJ and GetYourGuide's partner programme. This also applies to links I share on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.
Pass The Passport is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Terms of use
Everything on this site is for general information and inspiration. I try to keep it accurate and up to date, but prices, visa rules, opening times and safety advice change, so check with official sources (such as the FCDO travel advice) before you travel. Adventure activities carry real risks; you take part at your own risk, and I'm not liable for any loss or injury arising from the use of this site.
By watching videos from this site on YouTube you agree to the YouTube Terms of Service.
Links to other websites are provided for convenience. I'm not responsible for their content or for any purchase you make from them. All opinions are my own and not those of any employer.
Copyright
Unless stated otherwise, all photos, text and other material on this site are © Dan Salter / Pass The Passport and may not be reused without written permission. Photos taken by others are credited where they appear. Want to use a photo? Just ask.