Cookie Policy
Draft – pending legal review. Last updated: September 2026.
Cookie Policy for Astera Apart Hotel
This policy explains how Astera Apart Hotel uses cookies and similar digital storage technologies on our website, https://astera.mk. It provides information about what these technologies are, why we use them, and your rights to control our use of them.
1. Introduction and Who We Are
This website is operated by Astera Apart Hotel. We are your host for a comfortable stay in one of our 24 modern studios in Skopje.
Our contact and company details are as follows:
• Operator: Astera Apart Hotel
• Legal Name: [Company legal name]
• Address: Prespanska 39, 1000 Skopje, North Macedonia
• Company Registration No.: [Registration no.]
• Tax No.: [Tax no.]
For any questions about this policy or your data, you can contact us at:
• Email: info@astera.mk
• Telephone: +389 2 60 90 666
• Reception Mobile: +389 78 454 357
This policy should be read together with our main Privacy Policy, which provides more detailed information on how we process personal data.
2. What Are Cookies and Other Digital Storage?
Cookies and other storage technologies are small text files or pieces of code that are placed on your computer, tablet, or mobile phone when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work, or work more efficiently, as well as to provide information to the website owners.
We use two main types of storage:
• Local Storage and Session Storage: These allow the website to store data in your browser. Session storage is cleared when you close your browser tab, while local storage persists until you clear it manually. We use these for essential website functions, such as remembering your consent choices.
• Cookies: These are small data files stored on your device. They can be set by us (first-party cookies) or by other companies whose services we use (third-party cookies).
Cookies can also be:
• Session cookies: These are temporary and are deleted once you close your browser.
• Persistent cookies: These remain on your device for a set period or until you delete them. They are used to remember your preferences for future visits.
3. Legal Basis for Using Cookies
We comply with the Law on Personal Data Protection of North Macedonia, which is aligned with the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). For visitors from the European Union, the GDPR applies directly.
Our use of these technologies is based on:
• Essential Storage: For storage that is strictly necessary for the website to function correctly and securely, we rely on our legitimate interest. You cannot opt out of these.
• Non-Essential Storage: For all other types of storage, such as for analytics and performance, we will only place them on your device with your explicit prior consent, which you can grant or deny via our cookie consent banner.
The supervisory authority for data protection in North Macedonia is the Agency for Personal Data Protection (AZLP) in Skopje.
4. How We Use Cookies and Storage Technologies
We categorize the storage we use into two groups:
• Essential Storage (Always Active)
These technologies are vital for the basic operation and security of our website. They do not store any personally identifiable information and are always active. Their use includes:
• - Storing your consent preference for non-essential cookies.
• - Ensuring the visual theme and layout of the site works correctly.
• - Protecting our online forms from spam and abuse using security services like Cloudflare Turnstile.
• Analytics and Performance Storage (With Your Consent)
These technologies help us understand how visitors interact with our website. They collect information in an aggregated and largely anonymous way to help us improve user experience, count visitors, and see which pages are most popular. We only use these with your explicit consent. If you do not give consent, your browsing experience will not be affected, but you will not contribute to our site improvement statistics.
5. Third-Party Services and Their Use of Storage
Our website integrates services from third-party providers. These services may set their own cookies and are governed by their own privacy policies.
• Online Bookings (Clock PMS+)
Our booking process is handled by our trusted partner, Clock PMS+. When you click a "Book Now" or similar button, you are redirected from our website to the Clock PMS+ booking engine. Clock PMS+ uses its own cookies and storage to manage your booking session. Please be aware that you are providing your information directly to them, and their cookie and privacy policies apply. We NEVER collect or store sensitive personal data like credit card numbers or government ID details on our own website.
• Interactive Maps (Google Maps)
We embed a Google Map on our contact page to help you find us. To protect your privacy, this map is not loaded automatically. It will only load, connect to Google's servers, and potentially set cookies after you explicitly click on it to interact. By interacting with the map, your data (such as your IP address and browser information) is sent to Google and is subject to Google's Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
• Guest Reviews (Google Places API)
We display recent guest reviews from our Google Business Profile using the Google Places API. This service helps provide authentic feedback to potential guests. When this content is loaded, your browser communicates with Google's servers, which may involve data exchange as described in Google's Privacy Policy.
• Spam Prevention (Cloudflare Turnstile)
Our enquiry form is protected by Cloudflare Turnstile. This is a privacy-respecting security service that confirms a visitor is human without requiring them to solve a puzzle. It is an essential service to prevent spam and ensure the integrity of our contact channel. It may place essential cookies required for its function.
• Website Content (Sanity CMS)
Our website's content is managed using Sanity, a headless Content Management System (CMS). Sanity itself does not set cookies on the visitor-facing website. It is a tool used by our team to update text and images.
• Staff Login (Google)
Our website has a secure backend area for employees only. Access is managed via Google Sign-In. This functionality is completely separate from general website visitors and does not affect your browsing experience or data.
6. Your Choices: Managing Consent and Settings
You have full control over the non-essential cookies used on our website.
• Giving and Withdrawing Consent
When you first visit our site, a consent banner will appear, asking for your permission to use analytics cookies. You can accept or reject them. You can change your mind at any time by clicking the "Manage Cookie Settings" link in the footer of our website. Withdrawing consent is as easy as giving it.
• Browser Settings
Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can set your browser to block all cookies, accept only certain types, or alert you when a website wants to set a cookie. You can also delete any cookies that are already on your device.
Please note that if you block our essential cookies, parts of our website may not function correctly. For instructions on how to manage cookies, please refer to your browser's help documentation.
7. Detailed List of Cookies and Storage
Here is a list of the primary storage technologies you may encounter on our site.
• Essential Storage
• - Storage Name: `astera_consent_status` (or similar)
• - Provider: astera.mk (First-party)
• - Purpose: Stores your choice (accept or reject) regarding analytics cookies. This is so we don't ask you on every visit.
• - Duration: 1 year
• - Storage Name: `theme_preference` (or similar)
• - Provider: astera.mk (First-party)
• - Purpose: Remembers your preferred website theme (e.g., light or dark mode), if applicable.
• - Duration: Session or 1 year
• - Service: Cloudflare Turnstile
• - Provider: Cloudflare, Inc.
• - Purpose: Provides security checks on forms to distinguish human users from bots, preventing spam. These are managed cookies essential for security.
• - Duration: Session
• Analytics Storage (Subject to Your Consent)
• - Service: Google Analytics
• - Cookies: `_ga`, `_ga_*`, `_gid`
• - Provider: Google LLC
• - Purpose: To collect anonymous statistics about website usage, such as page views, visitor duration, and traffic sources. This helps us understand user behavior and improve the website.
• - Duration: `_ga` (2 years), `_gid` (24 hours)
• Third-Party Storage (Loaded via our Site)
• - Service: Google Maps (on interaction)
• - Provider: Google LLC
• - Purpose: To display an interactive map. Sets cookies like `NID` and `CONSENT` to store preferences and information when you view the map. These are only set after you click on the map.
• - Duration: Varies (e.g., up to 6 months)
8. Data Stored From Website Forms
When you use the enquiry form on our website, we collect the information you provide (name, email, phone number, message). This data is transmitted securely and stored in a secured database on our server to allow us to respond to your request. This data is processed according to our Privacy Policy, which details the purpose, legal basis, retention periods, and your rights concerning this information.
9. Your Data Protection Rights
Under applicable data protection laws, you have rights including the right to access, correct, delete, or restrict the processing of your personal data. For a full description of your rights and how to exercise them, please refer to our main Privacy Policy. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Agency for Personal Data Protection (AZLP) in Skopje.
10. Policy Updates and Contact Information
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in technology, legislation, or our data use practices. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated revision date.
For any questions, please contact our data controller:
• [Company legal name]
• Prespanska 39, 1000 Skopje, North Macedonia
• info@astera.mk