Privacy Policy
Effective date: October 29, 2026
Flashpacking Inc. ("Flashpacking," "we," "us") operates the TRecs mobile app (the "App"). This policy explains what information the App collects, why, who it's shared with, and the choices you have. If you have questions, contact us at admin@flashpackingguide.com.
Who we are
The App is owned and operated by Flashpacking Inc. You can reach us at admin@flashpackingguide.com.
Information we collect
Account information. When you create an account, we collect your email address, a password, and the username you choose. Password handling is managed by our authentication provider (Google Firebase Authentication) — your password is stored and verified by that service, and we never see or store your raw password.
Content you create. The App saves the travel recommendations and routes you add, and the ratings and notes you give places. This content is stored under your account so it's there when you return. If you block another user, the App also stores their username and when you blocked them, so it can keep their sends from reaching you.
Content you send and receive. When you send a rec or route to another user, a copy — including your username and any notes you included — is delivered to their account. Recs and routes other users send you are stored under your account in the same way.
Reports. If you report another user's content, we keep a record of the report: your account, the reported user's username and account, a copy of the reported content, where in the App it appeared, and when you reported it. We keep a copy of the content because reporting removes it from your account.
Location (optional). If you grant location permission, the App uses your device's precise location to show your position on the map and to plan routes that start or end where you are. Your location is used momentarily to answer that request and is never stored on our servers. If you don't grant permission, the App works normally without location features.
How we use your information
We use the information above to create and secure your account, save the recs, routes, and ratings you create, deliver the recs and routes you send, provide map and route features, and review reports and enforce our Terms of Use. We do not use your information for advertising, and we do not sell it.
Services we rely on
The App uses a small number of third-party services to function. These providers process data on our behalf to deliver the App's features:
Google Firebase (Authentication and Firestore) — creates and verifies your account and stores your account data and the content you create.
Mapbox — renders maps and calculates routes; when you use location features, it receives your device location momentarily to plan the route.
Sentry — receives a diagnostic report when the App crashes or hits an error, so we can find and fix problems. Reports include technical details such as device model, operating system version, app version, and what the App was doing when the error occurred. They aren't linked to your identity: we don't attach your account, name, email address, or IP address.
Links to other services
The App can open a place in Google Maps, or open a venue's website or a source about it in an in-app browser. When you follow one of these links, you're using that service directly, and its own privacy policy governs what it collects.
What we do not collect
To be clear about what the App does not do: it contains no advertising and no advertising identifiers, does not track you across other apps or websites, and includes no third-party analytics. This version of the App does not offer in-app purchases and does not collect any payment or financial information.
Data retention
Your account. Your account information and the content you create are retained until you delete your account (see below). Location is never stored, so there is nothing to retain.
Content you've sent. Recs and routes you send to other users become part of their accounts. Deleting your account doesn't remove those copies; they remain with the recipients, showing your username and any notes you included.
Reports. Reports are kept as moderation records, including after the reporting user or the reported user deletes their account.
Deleting your data
You can delete your account and all associated content at any time from within the App, on the Account screen. You can also request deletion by emailing admin@flashpackingguide.com. When you delete your account, we remove your account information and the recs, routes, ratings, and block list stored under it. Two things are not removed, as described under Data retention: copies of recs and routes you sent to other users, and reports.
Children's privacy
The App is intended for users 18 and older. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 18. If you believe a minor has provided us information, contact us and we will delete it.
Security
We store your data using Google Firebase, which provides industry-standard security protections. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, but we take reasonable measures to protect your information.
Your rights
Depending on where you live, you may have rights to access, correct, or delete the personal information we hold about you, including under laws such as the GDPR (Europe) or CCPA (California). To exercise any of these, contact us at admin@flashpackingguide.com.
Changes to this policy
We may update this policy from time to time. When we do, we'll revise the effective date at the top of this page.
Contact
Flashpacking Inc. admin@flashpackingguide.com