Terms & Conditions

Last Updated: August 15, 2026

Hi! I’m Lauren! I put this page together to be as transparent as possible about how this site, laurenbelz.com, works, what I collect (very little), and how I make money. By using this site, you’re agreeing to what’s outlined below.

Disclaimer: Before You Book

Hotel recommendations, itineraries, restaurant picks, and travel tips are based on my personal experience and research. It’s meant to inspire and inform, not replace your own judgment.

Travel is unpredictable. Prices change, hotels and restaurants close or change, and even visa requirements change. Please do your own research and verify details before booking anything. I can’t be held responsible for decisions made based on content found here, or for any travel experiences that don’t go as planned.

Privacy Policy

I take your privacy seriously, and I keep things simple.

When you subscribe to my newsletter or fill out a contact form, I collect your name and email address — that’s it. I use that information only to send you content you’ve opted into and to respond to your messages. Your information is never sold, and it’s only shared with the platforms I use to run this site (like my email provider, Flodesk).

Like most websites, laurenbelz.com also collects basic technical data automatically — things like what browser you’re using or which pages you visit — through cookies and analytics tools like Google Analytics. This helps me understand what’s working on the site so I can make it better for you.

You can turn off cookies in your browser settings at any time, though some parts of the site may not work perfectly if you do.

If you’re based in the EU or UK: Under GDPR, you have the right to access, correct, or delete any personal data I hold about you, and to withdraw your consent at any time. Just reach out, and I’ll take care of it promptly. If you’re a California resident, you have similar rights under the CCPA, including the right to know what I’ve collected and to request deletion.

For anything privacy-related, email me at lauren@laurenbelz.com, and I’ll respond as quickly as I can!

Editorial Policy

I write everything on laurenbelz.com. No agencies, no ghostwriters, no guest posts traded for links. I write about places I’d send a friend to, restaurants I’d book a table at, and things I’d actually spend my own money on. Sometimes that means a place is wonderful and wasn’t for me, and I’ll say so, because it might be exactly right for you. If something truly disappointed me, I’ll tell you that, too. But I’d rather spend my words on what’s worth your trip than talk you out of any one hotel or restaurant.

Firsthand Experience vs. Researched

Some of what you’ll read on my site comes from staying somewhere, sitting in the restaurant, or walking the streets of a destination at seven in the morning. Some of it comes from deep research into places I haven’t touched yet but would book for myself tomorrow. Both belong here: the experienced and the lusted after.

Photography

Most of the images on this site are mine. Where I’m writing about a place I haven’t visited, I use photography provided by the property or brand or its press team. When photos come from someone else, they’re credited.

You’ll also see embedded Instagram posts throughout the site. Sometimes these posts show a hotel room better than a press kit ever could; sometimes it’s a photographer or traveler whose image is one that caught my eye. Embedding keeps the credit and the link with the person who made and/or posted the photo.

Partnerships & Editorial Independence

I work with hotels, tourism boards, and brands I already believe in, and when a piece is paid, you’ll know. What doesn’t change is the opinion. I write about a partner the same way I’d write about anything else — because if I don’t love my personal experience enough, or I haven’t researched it deeply enough to decide if I’d book it myself, it doesn’t end up here at all.

Corrections

Hotels and restaurants close. Prices change. Chefs leave. If something on the site is wrong or out-of-date, email me at lauren@laurenbelz.com. I’d be happy to update it! My posts have a “last updated” date, so you’ll know when it was last touched!

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

The recommendations, the point of view, and the reason why something is worth (or not worth) your trip? Those are always, and forever will be, mine.

That said, I run laurenbelz.com on my own. I use AI tools the way a larger publication uses a research assistant or a copy editor: to catch what I’ve missed, to pressure-test my structure, to handle the not-so-exciting parts of running a blog and business alone. AI doesn’t decide what gets covered here. It doesn’t decide what I recommend, and it will never replace me, the human behind the blog.

One place that AI does touch this site directly is my affiliate links (see “Affiliate Disclosure” below). I use a tool that handles the mechanics of monetization for me: converting hotel mentions into trackable links, and adding recommendation blocks with hotels, tours, and activities related to whatever you’re reading about. Those blocks aren’t always synonymous with my picks, and I don’t always have personal experience with or knowledge of all of them. Think of them as a wider set of options than one person could ever cover, sitting alongside the ones I’ve hand-picked. If I’m recommending something, I say so in the writing itself.

Worth knowing: In 2026, some AI companies began embedding “invisible watermarks” in text, images, and other content that pass through their tools. This includes text that a person wrote themselves and simply ran through AI for proofreading or editing. If a detection tool ever flags something on my site, that’s what it’s picking up. AI is a tool that I use to refine my work, not a robot author that I outsource to. Frankly, I like telling stories and giving personal recommendations far too much to let someone (or something) do it for me.

Affiliate Disclosure

Some links on laurenbelz.com are affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you click through and make a booking or purchase (at no extra cost to you). I partner with brands and platforms like Booking.com, Expedia, Viator, and ShopMy, among others, and some links and recommendation blocks are generated automatically (see “Artificial Intelligence (AI)” above). Affiliate relationships never change how I feel or write about something. My opinions are my own, and I’m grateful for every click, booking, or purchase that helps keep this site going!

Content & Image Usage

Everything on this site (unless otherwise stated) — the writing, the photos, the content — belongs to me. Please don’t copy, republish, or use it commercially without asking first. If you’d like to share something, I’m usually happy to say yes — just reach out and credit laurenbelz.com with a link back.

Accessibility

I am committed to making this website accessible to all visitors, including those with disabilities. I am continually working to improve the user experience and apply recognized accessibility standards wherever possible. If you experience difficulty accessing any part of this site, please email lauren@laurenbelz.com, and I will gladly work to provide the information you need in an accessible format. Accessibility is an ongoing effort, and feedback is always welcome.