How We Review Resorts
Every resort review on this site follows the same methodology. This page explains exactly how we research, score, and update our reviews — and what our ratings do and don’t mean.
Research-Based Reviews — and What That Means
We are transparent about how our reviews are made: they are research-based, not stay-based. We do not claim to have personally stayed at every property we review. Instead, each review is compiled from a consistent set of sources, cross-checked against each other:
- Official resort websites and press materials — room categories and sizes, restaurant lineups, what the all-inclusive package formally includes
- Booking.com — live pricing, room availability, and verified guest reviews
- TripAdvisor — large-sample traveler sentiment, recent complaint patterns, and photos from real stays
- Travel-agent reviews and independent travel bloggers — first-hand accounts that catch what marketing materials leave out
Where sources disagree — a resort claims “gourmet dining” while recent guests report buffet fatigue — we say so in the review. The disagreements are usually the most useful part.
The 1–10 Scoring Rubric
Each resort is rated on six factors: food quality, room quality, beach & pool experience, service, value for money, and overall experience. The overall score is a holistic editorial judgment across these factors — not a mechanical average — because a resort with a perfect beach and inedible food is not a 7.5.
| Score | What it means |
|---|---|
| 9.0–10 | Exceptional. Among the very best all-inclusive resorts in its destination — we’d recommend it without hesitation at its price point. |
| 8.0–8.9 | Excellent. Delivers strongly on what matters for its target traveler, with only minor weaknesses. |
| 7.0–7.9 | Good, with caveats. A solid choice if the specific weaknesses we name don’t matter to you. |
| 5.0–6.9 | Mixed. Meaningful problems — book only if the price is right and you’ve read the cons. |
| Below 5 | Not recommended. We explain why, and usually name a better alternative nearby. |
Every review also names each restaurant, documents room types with square footage where available, includes genuine cons alongside pros, and compares the resort to 2–3 direct competitors.
How We Handle Pricing
When a review says “from $X/night”, that means the lowest all-inclusive rate we found for two adults sharing a standard room in low season, at the time the review was written or last updated. All-inclusive pricing is volatile — rates swing with season, occupancy, and booking window. Always confirm the current price at booking. The “from” price is for comparing resorts against each other, not a quote.
When Reviews Get Updated
We re-review a resort when something material changes: a rebrand or change of operator, a major renovation, a closure or reopening, or a credible reader correction. Updated reviews show an “Updated” date in the byline. Between updates, details can drift — if you spot something outdated, tell us and we’ll fix it.
Who Writes the Reviews
Reviews are written by our editorial team, each covering the destinations they know best — see the team on our About page. Editorial standards, corrections, and independence are covered in our editorial policy.