Last updated: September 24, 2026

Who operates this site

Sights of the City is a personal travel website operated by Stefan Merkl in California, United States. This policy explains how personal information is handled when you browse the site, follow affiliate links, or contact us.

For questions or privacy requests, use our Contact Us form. You do not need to create an account.

Our approach to your information

You can read our travel content without providing your name, creating an account, or giving us payment details. We do not take payments or make travel reservations on this site. We do not use contact messages to subscribe you to marketing, and we do not sell or rent visitor contact lists.

The site still relies on services that process information to deliver pages, maintain security, measure activity, or attribute affiliate referrals. Some processing is carried out on our behalf; other processing is governed by a provider’s own privacy policy.

Information you choose to send

Our Wix-hosted Contact Us form asks for your email address and message, with an optional name. We receive what you submit and use it to answer questions, handle corrections, or respond to privacy requests. Wix stores and processes submissions as part of providing the form service.

Please include only what is needed for your request. Do not send payment details, identity documents, medical information, or other sensitive personal information through the form.

Information processed when you browse

Hosting and other enabled services may process technical information such as IP address, browser and device details, approximate location derived from an IP address, referring page, pages viewed, timestamps, and link interactions. Cookies and similar technologies can store identifiers, remember preferences, and measure activity.

Wix provides site administration and reporting tools. Affiliate services can provide reports about clicks, referrals, and commissions. These reports do not mean that we receive your payment details from a booking provider.

Service providers and affiliate links

Wix: Wix hosts the website and contact form and provides infrastructure, security, and site-management services. Its processing may involve service providers in other countries. Read the Wix Privacy Policy.

Travelpayouts: Travelpayouts Drive is enabled on this site to support affiliate linking. Affiliate tools and referral links may process technical identifiers and link activity to attribute referrals. If you follow a booking link, the destination provider processes information under its own policy. Read Travelpayouts’ privacy and cookie information and the policy of the provider you visit.

We may earn a commission from qualifying bookings made through affiliate links. We do not receive the card details you give a booking provider. The provider is responsible for the reservation, payment, and information you provide on its website.

Google Analytics (planned): We plan to use Google Analytics to understand how visitors find and use the site and improve its content and performance. It is not yet configured as of the date above. When enabled, it may process cookie identifiers, device and browser details, pages viewed, interactions, and approximate location. See how Google uses information from partner sites and Google’s Privacy Policy. We will update this notice to reflect the active setup.

Cookies and your choices

Essential technologies support functions such as page delivery, security, and fraud prevention. Analytics and advertising technologies serve different purposes, including measuring visits or attributing referrals. Third-party services may recognize a browser across visits or websites.

You can use your browser settings to block or delete cookies and review the privacy controls offered by the providers linked above. Where a cookie-consent control is offered on the site, you can use it to review or change your preferences. Blocking cookies may affect some features and affiliate attribution.

A Do Not Track browser signal does not itself guarantee that all services stop tracking. We have not verified consistent support for that signal across our providers. This statement does not limit any opt-out rights that apply under law.

Why information is used

Information is used to deliver and secure the website, respond to messages, resolve problems, understand site activity, attribute affiliate referrals, and meet legal obligations. We do not use form submissions for unrelated marketing.

Where European data-protection law applies, the relevant basis depends on the activity: legitimate interests in responding to inquiries and operating a secure website, consent for processing that requires it, or compliance with a legal obligation. You may object to processing based on legitimate interests and withdraw consent where consent is the basis.

Sharing and international processing

Information may be available to Wix and providers that support the site and contact form, affiliate services involved in a referral, and authorities or advisers where disclosure is legally required or necessary to protect rights and security. We do not publish private contact messages.

Providers may process information outside your country. Wix describes its processing locations and international transfer safeguards in its privacy policy. Where European transfer requirements apply to processing for which we are responsible, applicable safeguards are required. Contact us for information about the safeguards relevant to your request.

Retention and security

We keep correspondence for as long as reasonably needed to answer and resolve a request, maintain a necessary record, or comply with legal obligations. Provider-held technical information and cookies have their own retention periods, subject to the service’s settings and policies. You can request deletion of information for which we are responsible.

We use the security features available through our service providers and limit access to site administration. No online service can guarantee complete security.

Privacy requests and your rights

Depending on the law that applies, you may request access, correction, deletion, or a copy of your personal information, object to or restrict processing, or withdraw consent. European visitors may also complain to their local data-protection authority. California residents may have additional rights, including rights concerning certain sales or sharing, where the relevant law applies. We will not discriminate against you for exercising applicable rights.

Use the Contact Us form and identify your message as a privacy request. Include enough information to locate the relevant correspondence or activity, without sending identity documents. If verification is necessary, we will request only what is reasonably needed. We will respond within the timeframe required by applicable law.

We will address information for which we are responsible. Where a provider independently controls other information, we may explain how to contact it directly; its own privacy procedures also apply.

Children and policy updates

This site is intended for a general travel audience and is not directed to children under 16. We do not knowingly seek their personal information. If you believe a child has sent information through our form, contact us so we can review and delete it as appropriate.

We may revise this policy when our practices or services change. The current version and its update date will remain on this page. Where required, material changes will be brought to your attention separately.