1. Introduction

At SimpleStayChina, we are committed to protecting your privacy and personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, share, and protect your data when you use our platform and services. By using our services, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy and our Terms of Service.

2. Information We Collect

We collect information that you provide directly to us and information that is automatically collected when you use our services:

2.1 Information You Provide

Account Information: Name, email address, phone number, and account credentials when you create an account
Booking Information: Booking dates, guest details, special requests, and communication preferences
Identity Documents: Passport details and other identification documents required for police registration in China
Payment Information: Payment method details (payment information is securely processed by third-party payment processors - we do not store full credit card details)
Communication: Messages, inquiries, and feedback you send to us or accommodation providers through our platform

2.2 Automatically Collected Information

Usage Data: Pages you visit, time spent on pages, click patterns, and browsing activity on our platform
Device Information: IP address, browser type, device type, operating system, and device identifiers
Analytics Data: Page views, apartment listing views, referrer information (where you came from), and user agent strings for analytics and service improvement
Location Data: Approximate location based on IP address (used for analytics and not linked to your personal identity)
Cookies and Tracking: Information collected through cookies, web beacons, and similar tracking technologies (see Cookies section below)

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

Service Provision: To process and manage your bookings, facilitate payments, and communicate with you about your reservations
Legal Compliance: To assist with police registration requirements for foreigners in China, as required by Chinese law
Communication: To send booking confirmations, payment receipts, pre-arrival instructions, and respond to your inquiries
Platform Improvement: To analyze usage patterns, improve our services, enhance user experience, and develop new features
Marketing: To send promotional emails and updates about our services (only with your explicit consent - you can opt-out at any time)
Security: To detect, prevent, and address fraud, security threats, and other illegal activities
Analytics: To understand how visitors use our platform, which apartments are popular, and to generate statistical reports for business purposes
Account Management: To manage your account, verify your identity, and provide customer support

4. Information Sharing and Disclosure

We may share your information with the following parties:

4.1 Accommodation Providers

We share necessary booking information (name, contact details, booking dates, guest information) with property owners and accommodation providers to fulfill your reservation.

4.2 Payment Processors

We share payment information with third-party payment processors (such as Airwallex and other payment service providers) to process transactions securely. These processors are bound by their own privacy policies and security standards.

4.3 Legal Authorities

We may share your information with local authorities, including Chinese police, as required by law for police registration of foreign visitors. This includes passport details and booking information.

4.4 Service Providers

We may share information with trusted service providers who assist us in operating our platform, including:

Hosting and cloud service providers (e.g., Vercel, Supabase)
Analytics services (e.g., Vercel Analytics)
Email service providers
Customer support tools
Database and storage services

These service providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and use it only for the purposes we specify.

4.5 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required by law, court order, or government regulation, or if we believe disclosure is necessary to protect our rights, your safety, or the safety of others.

4.6 Business Transfers

In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred to the acquiring entity, subject to the same privacy protections.

5. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your personal information:

Encryption: We use SSL/TLS encryption for data transmission and encrypt sensitive data at rest
Secure Password Storage: Passwords are hashed using secure cryptographic algorithms
Access Controls: We limit access to personal information to authorized personnel who need it to perform their duties
Regular Security Audits: We conduct regular security assessments and updates
Secure Payment Processing: Payment information is handled by PCI-DSS compliant third-party processors - we do not store full credit card details

However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security. You use our services at your own risk.

6. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to:

Provide our services and fulfill bookings
Comply with legal obligations (including Chinese law requirements for foreign visitor records)
Resolve disputes and enforce agreements
Maintain accurate business records

When personal information is no longer needed, we will delete or anonymize it in accordance with our data retention policies, subject to applicable legal requirements.

Analytics Data: We may retain anonymized analytics data for longer periods to improve our services and for business intelligence purposes.

7. Your Rights

Depending on your location and applicable laws, you may have the following rights regarding your personal information:

Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
Deletion: Request deletion of your personal information (subject to legal requirements)
Portability: Request transfer of your data to another service provider (where technically feasible)
Opt-Out: Unsubscribe from marketing communications at any time
Objection: Object to certain processing of your information
Restriction: Request restriction of processing in certain circumstances

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at support@simplestaychina.com. We will respond to your request within a reasonable timeframe and in accordance with applicable laws.

Note: Some information may be retained if required by law (such as Chinese legal requirements for foreign visitor registration) or for legitimate business purposes.

8. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience on our platform:

8.1 Types of Cookies We Use

Essential Cookies: Required for the platform to function properly (authentication, session management)
Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how visitors use our platform (via Vercel Analytics and our custom analytics)
Preference Cookies: Remember your settings and preferences
Performance Cookies: Monitor platform performance and identify issues

8.2 Managing Cookies

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to:

View and delete cookies
Block cookies from specific sites
Block all cookies
Receive notifications when cookies are set

Please note that disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of our platform. Essential cookies are necessary for basic site functions and cannot be disabled.

9. Third-Party Services

Our platform integrates with third-party services that have their own privacy policies:

Payment Processors: Airwallex and other payment service providers process payment transactions
Analytics: Vercel Analytics provides usage analytics and performance monitoring
Hosting: Our platform is hosted on Vercel and uses Supabase for database services
Authentication: We use NextAuth for secure user authentication

We encourage you to review the privacy policies of these third-party services. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these external services.

10. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and stored in countries other than your country of residence. These countries may have data protection laws that differ from those in your country.

By using our services, you consent to the transfer of your information to countries such as China, the United States, and other jurisdictions where our service providers operate. We take appropriate safeguards to ensure your information receives adequate protection in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

11. Children's Privacy

Our services are intended for users who are at least 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18.

If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child under 18 without parental consent, we will take steps to delete that information promptly. If you believe we have collected information from a child under 18, please contact us immediately at support@simplestaychina.com.

12. Data Breach Notification

In the event of a data breach that compromises your personal information, we will:

Investigate the breach promptly
Notify affected users as required by applicable laws
Notify relevant authorities where required
Take steps to mitigate the breach and prevent future incidents

We will provide clear information about what happened, what information may have been affected, and what steps you can take to protect yourself.

13. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, services, or legal requirements. When we make changes, we will:

Update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page
Notify you of material changes via email or prominent notice on our platform
Provide you with an opportunity to review the updated policy

Your continued use of our services after any changes to this Privacy Policy constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy. We encourage you to review this page periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.

14. Your Consent

By using our platform and services, you consent to the collection, use, and sharing of your information as described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with any part of this policy, please do not use our services.

15. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

Email: support@simplestaychina.com
Contact Page: Visit our Contact Page

We are committed to addressing your privacy concerns and will respond to your inquiries in a timely manner.