Introduction :
Hardik Travels (hereinafter referred to as “we”, “us”, or “our”) understands the importance of protecting the privacy and personal information of its users. We are committed to handling your data responsibly and maintaining the confidentiality of any information you share with us, as a responsible data controller and processor.
This Privacy Policy outlines how Hardik Travels and its subsidiaries or affiliates collect, use, store, and protect your personal information (“Personal Information”).
This Policy applies to any individual (“User”) who books, intends to book, or inquires about any travel-related product(s) or service(s) offered by Hardik Travels through any of our customer service platforms. These platforms include our website, mobile site, mobile application, as well as offline touchpoints such as call centers and physical offices (collectively referred to as “Sales Channels”).
For the purpose of this Privacy Policy, “you” or “your” refers to the User, and “Website” refers to all our online platforms including websites, mobile sites, and apps.
By accessing or using our Website or other Sales Channels, you agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, we request that you refrain from using our Website or other Sales Channels.
Please note, this Privacy Policy does not apply to any third-party websites, mobile sites, or applications, even if they are linked to our platforms. The privacy policies of such third parties may differ significantly from ours. We recommend that you carefully review the privacy policies of any third-party services you interact with.
This Privacy Policy forms an integral part of your agreement with Hardik Travels. Any terms used but not defined here shall carry the same meaning as assigned to them in the User Agreement.
Users Outside the Geographical Limits of India :
Please be informed that any personal data shared with Hardik Travels will primarily be processed in India, and may also be processed in other jurisdictions where third-party service providers engaged by us operate. By agreeing to this Privacy Policy, you are providing Hardik Travels with your explicit consent to collect, use, and process your personal information for the purposes outlined in this Policy. Please note that the data protection laws in India or the mentioned jurisdictions may differ from those in your country of residence.
If you have any concerns regarding the processing of your data or wish to withdraw your consent, you may do so by writing to us at: info@hardiktravels.com. However, please understand that if the processing of your data is necessary for us to deliver our services, we may be unable to complete or continue with your booking after your consent is withdrawn.
For example, if you book an international holiday package—especially as part of a fixed departure or group tour—certain personal details such as your contact information, gender, dietary preferences, room preferences (smoking/non-smoking), or medical conditions requiring specific accommodations may need to be shared with our local partners, hotels, or tour managers in the cities you visit. These partners may further process your data to provide you with suitable arrangements and ensure a smooth travel experience.
Please note that withdrawing your consent for data processing may:
-
Significantly limit our ability to offer you the necessary services, and we may have to cancel or deny your booking, or
-
Restrict our capacity to manage an existing booking, which may negatively impact your travel experience or result in the cancellation of your booking.
Type of Information We Collect and Its Legal Basis :
Hardik Travels collects certain personal information from its users to effectively provide the services requested and to fulfill our legal and contractual obligations, including those toward third parties, as defined in our User Agreement.
“Personal Information” refers to any data shared by the user and collected by us for the following purposes:
1. Registration on the Website or App
When you subscribe or register on our platform, we collect details such as:
-
Personal identity information: Name, gender, marital status, religion, date of birth, profile photo, etc.
-
Contact details: Email address, mailing address, phone number (mobile or landline), fax number, frequent flyer number.
-
Financial and billing details: Credit/debit card information, bank account details, payment history, income and lifestyle-related data (as voluntarily shared by you).
2. Additional Information We May Collect
We may also gather a range of other information and documents, including but not limited to:
-
Transactional history (excluding sensitive banking data): Your previous travel bookings, preferences, and other e-commerce activities on our platform.
-
Login details: Usernames, passwords, and any security-related credentials used on our services.
-
User-generated content: Data like image files, documents, or messages created by you or shared with us to be stored on our servers.
-
Third-party or public domain data: Information sourced from external platforms, such as your linked social media accounts (e.g., name, profile picture, email, friend list), depending on your privacy settings.
-
Details of other travelers: Information provided by you for people you are booking for. By doing so, you confirm that they have given consent to share their data with us for booking and service facilitation purposes.
-
Visa assistance information: Documents such as copies of passports, photographs, filled forms, financial statements, etc., as needed by embassies for visa processing.
-
PAN/Passport details for international bookings: Required under regulations like the RBI’s Liberalized Remittance Scheme (LRS). Such information will be used strictly for compliance and never shared without consent unless required by law enforcement, a court order, or legal obligations.
-
Contactless hotel check-in: ID documents like Aadhar card, driver’s license, voter ID, along with your self-declaration, date of birth, travel origin/destination, and place of residence—only when required by the hotel for check-in.
-
COVID-19 vaccination details: If necessary for your booking, we may request your vaccination status or certificate. This is only for specific services or for storing your certificate for future reference. We do not process sensitive details like beneficiary ID.
All collected information will be used solely for legitimate and specific purposes. Hardik Travels may share necessary details with end service providers (hotels, transport vendors, etc.) or relevant third parties to facilitate your booking.
We take your privacy seriously and redact any sensitive or confidential data (such as full PAN, Aadhar numbers, or financial document details) before sharing it for service-related purposes.
If you choose not to provide this information or request its deletion, we may be unable to fulfill your service request or process your booking.
Hardik Travels will never disclose your PAN card, vaccination certificate, passport, Aadhar details, or other sensitive information without your prior consent, unless required by a competent authority for legal reasons or a valid investigation.
How we use your personal information :
At Hardik Travels, we use the personal information collected from you for various essential purposes related to travel bookings, service enhancement, and legal compliance. Below is a summary of how your information may be used:
1. During the Booking Process
When you make a booking with us, we may use your personal details such as:
-
Name of cardholder
-
Encrypted credit/debit card number with expiry date
-
Bank account or wallet details (if shared)
-
Traveler names saved in your profile
This information helps us:
-
Complete your booking faster and more efficiently
-
Present your saved traveler list for quick selection
-
Ensure seamless payment processing
2. Service Communication and Transaction Updates
We use your personal information to:
-
Confirm your reservation with the respective airline, hotel, transport provider, etc.
-
Inform you about the status of your booking
-
Send booking confirmations via SMS, WhatsApp, email, or other communication channels
-
Notify you about any changes or updates related to your bookings
-
Allow customer support to reach out for assistance or follow-up
-
Send account verification messages or emails
-
Prevent unauthorized or fraudulent use of your account
3. Personalization and User Engagement
We may also use your information to:
-
Customize your experience on our website or app
-
Send reminders, special offers, or greetings on your birthday/anniversary
-
Request reviews and feedback to help improve our services
-
Send you relevant promotional messages, newsletters, or travel offers based on your preferences
4. Surveys
We conduct regular online and offline surveys to gather your opinions. Participation is voluntary. The insights collected are usually anonymized and used to:
-
Improve our website and services
-
Enhance features and create personalized offers
-
Develop new travel-related content and promotions
5. Marketing Promotions, Research, and Loyalty Programs
Hardik Travels occasionally runs marketing campaigns and promotional contests, which may include:
-
Collecting your contact details and preferences to notify you if you win
-
Sending exclusive discounts or offers on flights, hotels, car rentals, tour packages, etc.
-
Updating you on new services, deals, or travel tips via email or other channels
As a registered user, you may receive periodic updates and newsletters. You can opt out of these communications anytime by contacting us.
6. Enhancing Our Services
We may use your information to:
-
Respond to your queries submitted via email or contact forms
-
Store details to enhance future interactions and site functionality
-
Improve navigation and usability of our website or mobile app
7. Reward Programs
If you enroll in any of our loyalty or reward programs:
-
Your personal details may be used to track your progress and offer benefits
-
In case of winnings, your data may be shared with authorized third parties responsible for delivering the reward
-
You may opt out of these programs by contacting us
8. Fraud Prevention and Verification
To ensure secure transactions, we may:
-
Verify customer identity or credit information on a case-by-case basis
-
Use anonymized or aggregated data for fraud detection or credit assessment
We may also engage third-party service providers to perform specific tasks on our behalf, such as:
-
Payment gateway processing
-
Secure data hosting
-
Creditworthiness analysis for travel on credit
In all cases, your information is used strictly for legitimate purposes and handled with utmost confidentiality.
How long do we keep your personal information ?
Hardik Travels will retain your personal information on its servers for as long as reasonably necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy. This includes fulfilling bookings, complying with legal and regulatory obligations, resolving disputes, enforcing our agreements, and improving our services.
In certain cases, we may retain your personal data for extended periods, such as:
-
Where we are required to do so under applicable laws, including regulatory, tax, or accounting requirements.
-
Where retention is necessary for legitimate business interests, such as fraud prevention or legal compliance.
Once your personal information is no longer required for the purposes for which it was collected, we will ensure it is securely deleted or anonymized so it can no longer be linked back to you or used by our systems.
Account Deletion
If you wish to delete your account, you can initiate the process by visiting the following link: Click Here
Please note that certain information may still be retained where required by law or for legitimate business purposes, even after an account is deleted.
Cookies and Session Data :
Cookies
Hardik Travels uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience and personalize content and advertisements shown to you on our website. This practice is in line with industry standards and similar to how most reputable online businesses operate.
What are Cookies?
Cookies are small data files stored on your device by your browser. These files help us:
-
Provide a faster and more personalized experience on the website.
-
Automatically log you in by remembering your username (you’ll still need to enter your password).
-
Show you targeted advertisements and promotional offers based on your interests and browsing behavior.
Third-Party Cookies
We may also use cookies placed by third-party advertisers or ad networks. These cookies are used to:
-
Track the effectiveness of advertisements displayed on our website or elsewhere.
-
Use anonymous, aggregated data about your visits to deliver relevant ads and offers across websites.
-
Utilize pixel tags and other tracking technologies to measure ad performance.
Note: These third-party cookies do not collect any personal information and cannot identify you individually. All data collected is anonymous and used only for statistical analysis.
Managing Cookies
Most web browsers accept cookies by default, but you can modify your browser settings to block or delete them. However, please be aware that disabling cookies from Hardik Travels may affect your user experience and limit the functionality of some services.
We respect your right to control your online activity. You can allow cookies only from trusted websites while blocking others.
Automatic Logging of Session Data
Each time you visit the Hardik Travels website, session data is automatically recorded. This may include:
-
Your IP address
-
Browser type and version
-
Operating system
-
Date and time of your visit
-
Pages visited and actions taken during your session
We collect this information to:
-
Analyze browsing behavior and preferences
-
Monitor website performance
-
Troubleshoot technical issues
-
Improve our services and user experience
This session data is non-personally identifiable. However, it may allow us to identify your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and your general geographic location.
With Whom Your Personal Information is Shared :
1. Service Providers and Suppliers
Your personal information is shared with end service providers such as airlines, hotels, cab rental services, railways, bus operators, and other travel-related vendors necessary to fulfill your bookings. By making a booking through Hardik Travels, you authorize us to share your information with these providers.
Please note:
-
These service providers are only permitted to use your information for delivering their respective services.
-
Hardik Travels does not control or take responsibility for how these third-party providers may further use your information, as they operate as independent data controllers.
-
We recommend reviewing the individual privacy policies of the service providers you choose to engage with.
We do not sell or rent your personal information to unrelated third parties. However, we may share it with:
-
Trusted business partners, affiliates, or vendors who assist in providing referral programs, marketing benefits, and offers based on your travel history.
2. Group Companies
To enhance user experience and improve our services, we may share your personal data with affiliated or group companies under secure and controlled settings. This helps us:
-
Offer relevant travel and lifestyle services
-
Handle your queries or requests more efficiently
In the event of a merger, acquisition, or corporate restructuring, your personal data may be transferred to the acquiring or reorganized entity.
3. Business Partners and Third-Party Vendors
We may share selective, filtered personal information with:
-
Business partners offering products or services that may benefit Hardik Travels customers (e.g., co-branded credit cards, insurance services, and banking benefits).
-
Third-party vendors engaged by us for essential services such as payment processing, data storage, analytics, and platform management.
If you opt for services from such partners, their individual privacy policies will apply.
4. Aggregate and Anonymized Data
We use non-identifiable personal data in anonymized or aggregate form to:
-
Analyze customer behavior and preferences
-
Improve our services and website functionality
-
Share statistical data with advertisers, partners, and other stakeholders
This data does not identify individual users and may be commercially used by Hardik Travels without additional consent or compensation.
5. Market Research & Surveys
From time to time, we may engage third-party agencies for surveys or market research. The data shared with them:
-
Includes cookie or tracking data
-
Is protected under strict confidentiality agreements
-
Will only be used for the assigned project and in accordance with applicable data protection regulations
Disclosure of Information
Apart from the above scenarios, we may disclose your personal information if required:
-
By law, to comply with legal processes, court orders, or government inquiries
-
To enforce or protect the rights, assets, or safety of Hardik Travels, its employees, users, or affiliates
-
For internal audits, compliance checks, or security investigations
-
To prevent fraud, cybercrime, or other unlawful activity
Such disclosures may occur without prior notice to you. Hardik Travels is not liable for any loss or damage that may result from such legally mandated disclosures.
User generated content :
Hardik Travels encourages its users to share their experiences through reviews, ratings, questions, and answers. Customers may provide feedback regarding our services, post queries related to their trips, or respond to other users’ questions. We may also collaborate with third-party partners to collect your feedback after your journey via email, SMS, WhatsApp, or app notifications. While participation is entirely optional, you may still receive prompts to share your experiences. Reviews can be submitted in text or video format and may also be published on other travel-related platforms to assist future travelers.
The types of User Generated Content (UGC) we may collect include:
-
Reviews and Ratings
-
Questions and Answers
-
Poll Responses and Crowd-sourced Feedback
Each user who shares content will have a public profile visible to others, which may display:
-
Number of trips taken
-
Reviews submitted
-
Questions asked or answered
-
Photos or videos shared
How to Opt-Out of Promotionals Emails
Hardik Travels occasionally sends email updates about travel deals, seasonal offers, new services, and travel tips. If you prefer not to receive these promotional emails, simply click the “unsubscribe” link in the email or follow the instructions provided within the message.
Permission required for using our mobile application
To deliver a smooth and personalized travel booking experience, the Hardik Travels mobile app requires access to certain permissions on your device. Here’s a breakdown of what we request and why:
Android Permissions
-
Device & App History: To collect technical information about your device for performance optimization.
-
Camera: Enables you to upload profile photos, images for hotel reviews, or scan QR codes for payments.
-
Identity: Helps us auto-fill email addresses, enable easy logins, and provide personalized offers.
-
Location: Allows us to detect your current location to suggest nearby hotels, travel options, or exclusive local deals.
-
SMS: Used to auto-fill OTPs for a seamless booking experience.
-
Phone: Allows direct calling to hotels, customer service, or airlines through the app.
-
Contacts: Used to share trip details with friends, send invites or referrals, and make social travel recommendations.
-
Photos/Media/Files: Used to save maps and images for better performance in low network conditions.
-
Wi-Fi Connection Info: Optimizes your app experience by improving content loading and travel recommendations.
-
Device ID & Call Info: Used for secure user identification and booking processes.
-
Calendar: Allows automatic addition of travel bookings to your calendar.
-
Bluetooth: Enables features such as unlocking self-driven rental vehicles from third-party providers.
-
Video/Audio: Enables video reviews and voice-activated inputs for a richer feedback experience.
-
Phone Number, IMEI/IMSI, SIM Serial: Used to ensure secure login, fraud prevention, and UPI services.
iOS Permissions
-
Notifications: If enabled, we send alerts about deals, booking updates, cancellations, and travel reminders.
-
Contacts: Helps in sharing bookings, sending invites, and making personalized suggestions.
-
Location: Auto-detects your city or airport for faster bookings and helps provide localized recommendations.
How we protect your personal information :
Hardik Travels encourages its users to share their experiences through reviews, ratings, questions, and answers. Customers may provide feedback regarding our services, post queries related to their trips, or respond to other users’ questions. We may also collaborate with third-party partners to collect your feedback after your journey via email, SMS, WhatsApp, or app notifications. While participation is entirely optional, you may still receive prompts to share your experiences. Reviews can be submitted in text or video format and may also be published on other travel-related platforms to assist future travelers.
The types of User Generated Content (UGC) we may collect include:
-
Reviews and Ratings
-
Questions and Answers
-
Poll Responses and Crowd-sourced Feedback
Each user who shares content will have a public profile visible to others, which may display:
-
Number of trips taken
-
Reviews submitted
-
Questions asked or answered
-
Photos or videos shared
How to Opt-Out of Promotionals Emails
Hardik Travels occasionally sends email updates about travel deals, seasonal offers, new services, and travel tips. If you prefer not to receive these promotional emails, simply click the “unsubscribe” link in the email or follow the instructions provided within the message.
Permission required for using our mobile application
To deliver a smooth and personalized travel booking experience, the Hardik Travels mobile app requires access to certain permissions on your device. Here’s a breakdown of what we request and why:
Android Permissions
-
Device & App History: To collect technical information about your device for performance optimization.
-
Camera: Enables you to upload profile photos, images for hotel reviews, or scan QR codes for payments.
-
Identity: Helps us auto-fill email addresses, enable easy logins, and provide personalized offers.
-
Location: Allows us to detect your current location to suggest nearby hotels, travel options, or exclusive local deals.
-
SMS: Used to auto-fill OTPs for a seamless booking experience.
-
Phone: Allows direct calling to hotels, customer service, or airlines through the app.
-
Contacts: Used to share trip details with friends, send invites or referrals, and make social travel recommendations.
-
Photos/Media/Files: Used to save maps and images for better performance in low network conditions.
-
Wi-Fi Connection Info: Optimizes your app experience by improving content loading and travel recommendations.
-
Device ID & Call Info: Used for secure user identification and booking processes.
-
Calendar: Allows automatic addition of travel bookings to your calendar.
-
Bluetooth: Enables features such as unlocking self-driven rental vehicles from third-party providers.
-
Video/Audio: Enables video reviews and voice-activated inputs for a richer feedback experience.
-
Phone Number, IMEI/IMSI, SIM Serial: Used to ensure secure login, fraud prevention, and UPI services.
iOS Permissions
-
Notifications: If enabled, we send alerts about deals, booking updates, cancellations, and travel reminders.
-
Contacts: Helps in sharing bookings, sending invites, and making personalized suggestions.
-
Location: Auto-detects your city or airport for faster bookings and helps provide localized recommendations.
