How we compare islands and resorts
You want to know why we say what we say about a package.
We compare islands and packages with the same five habits every time: dated sources, honest labels, unknowns kept open, usable time and line-by-line inclusions. This page explains each one, so you can judge our work for yourself.
Where do our facts come from?
Every fact we use has a source and a date we checked it. We prefer official pages from operators, parks and authorities, then reputable news reports. Prices and schedules are read as of the check date, never as today’s price. See where our fees and fares come from.
What do “reported” and “confirmed” mean?
“Confirmed” means we found it on an official or operator page. “Reported” means a news article or secondary page said so and we could not reach the official source. Reported facts always come with a note to confirm before you pay. Read more in how we label facts.
What do we do with unknowns?
We never treat “unknown” as “no”. If we cannot find whether a resort offers a child discount or a boat transfer, we say it is not confirmed and give you the question to ask. See how we handle unverified information.
How do we count usable time?
A cheaper package is not always the better one if half of day one is spent in transit. We work out usable leisure time from the first boat to the last, with buffers for jetty queues. See comparing holidays by usable time.
How do we compare inclusions?
We lay packages out line by line: transfers, meals, activities, park fees and taxes. Each line is marked as included, extra or not confirmed. Our guide to comparing resort packages shows an example.
Which tools do the maths?
Our five tools run in your browser. They use the numbers you type and send nothing to us.
- Cost calculator for the whole trip.
- Shortlist matcher for choosing an island.
- Inclusion comparator for packages side by side.
- Jetty connection planner for timing.
- Packing checklist for the bag.
To see how we reach a suggestion, read how we decide what to recommend.