Methodology
How we decide what to recommend, how we rank options, and how we keep recommendations honest.
Our Editorial Philosophy
Our guides are built for travelers who need to make decisions, not for readers who want inspiration. We optimize for clarity, accuracy, and actionable detail — timing windows, realistic pacing, what to avoid, and what's genuinely worth the detour.
How We Rank Options
When we rank experiences, neighborhoods, or operators within a guide, we use the following criteria — in this order of priority:
- 1
Usefulness for the Reader's Decision
Does this option help the traveler decide? Vague 'nice to visit' picks are cut.
- 2
Reliability & Accuracy
Does the provider operate consistently? Are the details we've documented verifiable?
- 3
On-the-Ground Verification
Has our team or a trusted local contributor verified this personally or via recent traveler reports?
- 4
Value for Traveler Budget
Does the experience match its price point? We flag both overpriced tourist traps and underpriced hidden wins.
- 5
Authenticity vs. Polish Tradeoff
We explain the tradeoff explicitly — some travelers want polished, some want raw. Neither is wrong.
What We Don't Rank By
Understanding what we explicitly exclude matters for trust.
- ✗Affiliate commission rates — high-commission providers get no ranking boost
- ✗PR pitches and media requests from operators
- ✗Social media popularity or influencer endorsements
- ✗Paid placement of any kind
Where Our Data Comes From
Our recommendations synthesize multiple signal types. We prioritize signals in this order:
1. Direct experience
Our team's personal visits, notes, and photos
2. Local contributors
Region-based writers with lived experience in the destination
3. Primary operator data
Official schedules, menus, pricing, and capacity information
4. Government tourism boards
Official travel advisories, visa rules, and event calendars
5. Reputable published journalism
Named authors at established publications with editorial standards
Handling Uncertainty
When we can't verify a detail, we say so. Phrases like 'reportedly', 'according to [source]', or 'unverified as of [date]' appear in our guides deliberately. We'd rather be honest about uncertainty than pretend to know what we don't.
Read our editorial policy for how this process is executed on every guide.