Cookies policy

This Cookie Policy explains how Homes by Locals uses cookies and similar technologies on the website www.homesbylocals.hr and how website visitors can manage their cookie preferences. It is intended to complement the website's privacy information and is aligned with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR), the ePrivacy rules applicable to cookies, and relevant Croatian legal requirements on personal data protection and tourism-related recordkeeping.gov+1

1. Who is the controller

The website www.homesbylocals.hr is operated under the Homes by Locals brand for the promotion of premium villas and holiday homes in Istria and related guest communication and booking activities.gdpr

Where booking-related personal data is collected through the website, enquiry forms, newsletter sign-up, or follow-up communication, Homes by Locals and, where relevant for the booked accommodation, the relevant property owner may act as controller or joint participants in processing, depending on the purpose of the data use. Personal data is processed in accordance with GDPR and applicable Croatian laws in the field of tourism and data protection.

2. What cookies are

Cookies are small text files stored on a visitor's device when a website is visited. They help a website function properly, remember user choices, measure traffic, improve performance, and, where consent has been given, support marketing and embedded third-party services.

3. Types of cookies used

Homes by Locals may use the following categories of cookies and similar technologies on its website:

Strictly necessary cookies

These cookies are necessary for the website to operate correctly and securely. They may include cookies used for page navigation, security, session management, load balancing, form protection, or saving essential privacy settings. Because these cookies are required for the functioning of the website, they do not require consent under applicable cookie rules, but users should still be informed about them.gov

Functional cookies

These cookies remember choices made by the visitor, such as language settings, saved preferences, or interface customisation, in order to provide a more convenient browsing experience. Functional cookies should only be activated where required by law after the user has given consent.

Analytics cookies

These cookies help understand how visitors use the website, for example by measuring page visits, traffic sources, and user interactions. Analytics cookies are used to improve website content, booking journeys, and website performance. Where analytics cookies are not strictly necessary, they should only be placed after valid user consent has been obtained.support.google+1

Marketing cookies

These cookies may be used to track browsing behaviour across websites, measure campaign performance, or show personalised advertising and travel-related offers. Marketing cookies may also be set by third-party services integrated into the website. These cookies are only used where the visitor has given explicit consent.cookieconsent+1

4. Personal data collected through cookies

Depending on the tools enabled on the website, cookies and similar technologies may collect or generate information such as IP address, browser type, device identifiers, session identifiers, language preferences, pages visited, date and time of access, referring website, and interaction data. Some of this information can constitute personal data under GDPR when it can be linked, directly or indirectly, to an identifiable person.gov

If a visitor later submits a booking request, enquiry, or newsletter form, cookie-related technical data may be associated with the information voluntarily provided, such as name, contact details, stay dates, accommodation preferences, payment status, and other trip-related information described in the privacy notice.

5. Purposes and legal bases

Cookies and related data may be used for the following purposes:

To ensure the technical operation, security, and accessibility of the website; legal basis: legitimate interest and, where applicable, necessity for providing an information society service requested by the user.gov
To process and support booking enquiries, reservations, and communication before, during, and after a stay; legal basis: performance of a contract or steps prior to entering into a contract.
To maintain records, support mandatory tourism administration, and demonstrate compliance with legal obligations where website interactions are relevant to those obligations; legal basis: legal obligation under applicable Croatian legislation.
To analyse website usage and improve content, services, and user experience; legal basis: consent where non-essential cookies are used, or legitimate interest only where a particular tool qualifies as exempt under applicable law.
To send newsletters, special offers, or travel information and to measure engagement with those communications; legal basis: consent, which may be withdrawn at any time.

6. Third-party cookies

The website may use third-party services that place cookies or similar technologies, for example analytics providers, map tools, newsletter services, booking tools, embedded content providers, or advertising platforms, if such services are implemented on the website. Where those cookies are not strictly necessary, they must remain disabled until the visitor gives consent through the cookie banner or preference centre.gdpr+2

Where third parties receive data through cookies, only data necessary for the relevant purpose should be shared, such as with accommodation providers, local partners, service suppliers involved in booking execution, or public authorities when required by law.

7. International transfers

Personal data collected through cookies is generally processed within the European Economic Area. If a specific third-party provider transfers personal data outside the EEA, Homes by Locals should ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place in accordance with GDPR, such as an adequacy decision or standard contractual clauses.

8. Retention periods

Cookie data is kept only for as long as necessary for the purpose for which it was collected. Session cookies expire when the browser session ends, while persistent cookies remain for a defined period or until deleted by the user. Personal data linked to bookings, tourism compliance, accounting, complaints, or consent records may be stored for longer where required by applicable law or where necessary to establish, exercise, or defend legal claims.gov+1

When required by law, the website should display a cookie banner on the first visit that allows users to:

Accept all cookies.
Reject all non-essential cookies.
Choose cookie categories individually.
Reopen cookie settings and change preferences at any time.

Consent must be freely given, specific, informed, and unambiguous. Pre-ticked boxes or implied consent should not be used for non-essential cookies.support.google+1

Visitors can also manage cookies through browser settings. Blocking strictly necessary cookies may affect the proper functioning of the website.

10. Data subject rights

Where cookie-related information qualifies as personal data, visitors have the right to request access, rectification, erasure, restriction of processing, objection, data portability where applicable, and the right to withdraw consent at any time without affecting the lawfulness of processing based on consent before withdrawal.

Visitors also have the right to lodge a complaint with the competent supervisory authority for data protection, including the Croatian Personal Data Protection Agency (AZOP), if they believe their rights have been violated.

11. Contact

For questions about this Cookie Policy, cookie settings, or the processing of personal data, the website should provide a dedicated contact email or privacy contact point for Homes by Locals. If Homes by Locals appoints a data protection officer or formal privacy contact, those details should be inserted here.

12. Practical implementation note

Before publishing this Cookie Policy, the website owner should verify the actual cookies and third-party scripts currently in use on www.homesbylocals.hr and update this document so that it accurately lists each cookie name, provider, purpose, duration, and category. If requested, a detailed cookie table can be added as a schedule to this policy.

Click here to change your cookie settings.