Last updated: June 3, 2026
This Cookie Policy explains how Best Vacation Deals uses cookies and similar tracking technologies, what each category does, and how you can control them. It supplements our Privacy Policy.
What are cookies?
Cookies are small text files placed on your device by websites you visit. They allow a site to remember information about your visit — like your preferences, language, or whether you’re logged in — which makes your next visit easier and the site more useful to you. Cookies set by the site you’re visiting are called “first-party cookies.” Cookies set by other domains (like analytics or affiliate networks) are called “third-party cookies.”
We also use related technologies that work like cookies — including web beacons, pixels, and local storage — and we refer to all of these together as “cookies” in this policy.
The four categories of cookies we use
1. Strictly necessary cookies
These cookies are required for the site to function. They handle things like session continuity, security checks, and remembering your cookie preferences. You cannot disable these through our consent banner because the site would not work without them.
2. Functional cookies
These remember your preferences — like dismissed banners, language selection, or saved deals — to make your experience smoother. They do not track you across other sites.
3. Analytics cookies
These help us understand how readers use the site so we can improve it. We use Google Analytics 4, which collects pseudonymized data about pages visited, time on page, traffic sources, and device type. We have IP anonymization enabled where required by law.
4. Marketing and affiliate cookies
When you click an outbound link to one of our travel partners (Booking.com, Viator, GetYourGuide, Hotellook, Agoda, DiscoverCars, Stay22, and others), an affiliate tracking cookie may be set so the partner can attribute the booking back to us. This is how we earn revenue. The partner may also set its own marketing cookies once you’re on their site — those are governed by their privacy and cookie policies.
Detailed cookie inventory
| Cookie name | Provider | Purpose | Category | Expiry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| bvd_session | Best Vacation Deals | Maintains session continuity | Strictly necessary | Session |
| bvd_consent | Best Vacation Deals | Stores your cookie consent choices | Strictly necessary | 12 months |
| bvd_prefs | Best Vacation Deals | Remembers display preferences and dismissed banners | Functional | 6 months |
| _ga | Google Analytics 4 | Distinguishes unique users | Analytics | 13 months |
| _ga_* | Google Analytics 4 | Stores session state for GA4 | Analytics | 13 months |
| __cf_bm | Cloudflare | Bot management and security | Strictly necessary | 30 minutes |
| cf_clearance | Cloudflare | Verifies that the visitor is human | Strictly necessary | 30 days |
| marker (TravelPayouts) | TravelPayouts / partners | Affiliate attribution for partner bookings | Marketing/affiliate | 30 days |
| aid (Booking.com) | Booking.com | Affiliate attribution | Marketing/affiliate | 30 days |
| pid (Viator) | Viator | Affiliate attribution | Marketing/affiliate | 30 days |
This list is updated periodically. Some cookies may not be set on every visit — it depends on which features and partner links you interact with.
How to control cookies
Our consent banner
The first time you visit, our consent banner lets you accept or reject non-essential cookies (functional, analytics, marketing/affiliate). You can change your choice at any time by clearing your browser storage for our site, which will retrigger the banner.
Browser settings
All major browsers let you block or delete cookies. Helpful links:
Opt out of Google Analytics
You can install the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on to prevent your data from being used by GA4.
Third-party cookies
Cookies set by our travel partners are governed by their own privacy policies. When you click through to a partner, we recommend reviewing their cookie and privacy disclosures.
Do Not Track and Global Privacy Control
We do not currently respond to browser “Do Not Track” signals because there is no agreed standard. We do honor Global Privacy Control (GPC) signals for California residents as required by CCPA/CPRA.
Changes to this policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time. When we do, we will update the “Last updated” date at the top. Material changes will be flagged on the site where appropriate.
Why we use cookies (and why we try to use few)
Cookies are one of the foundational technologies of the web. Used responsibly, they make sites faster, more personalized, and easier to use. Used badly, they create surveillance footprints that no one asked for. We aim for the first category. We only use cookies that genuinely contribute to running the site, understanding how readers use it in aggregate, or supporting our affiliate revenue model — which is the only thing keeping the editorial work free for readers.
We do not use cross-site tracking pixels for behavioral retargeting. We do not run ad-tech pixels from third-party advertisers on our site. We do not embed social media widgets that drop tracking cookies before you interact with them. If you have feedback about a cookie we set that you think is unnecessary, please tell us — we revisit the inventory regularly and remove anything that does not earn its keep.
Cookies on partner sites after you click
Once you click through to a partner site (Booking.com, Viator, Hotellook, etc.), you leave Best Vacation Deals entirely. From that moment, the partner’s cookie banner, privacy policy, and advertising practices apply. We have no control over the cookies a partner sets, how long they last, or who they may share data with. If cookie behavior on partner sites is a concern, we encourage you to review their disclosures before completing a booking.
Contact
For questions about this Cookie Policy, the cookies we set, or how to exercise any related rights, contact [email protected]. We respond within two business days.