How we check hotels
We show what we know for certain, and say clearly what we haven't checked yet.
Where the data comes from
Guest ratings and review counts come from our booking partners and are refreshed regularly. So do the facilities a property lists, such as a pool, free parking or a private beach area.
Where a stay shows "Checked", we've confirmed the details with the property, on its official website, on the map or in person, on the date shown. Where details are marked "Not yet checked", we only show what we know for certain.
Where we haven't visited yet, our review is based on the property's own information, our map checks, facilities data and guest feedback.
The Stay Card
Every hotel and stay page starts with a Stay Card: beach, beach type, sunbeds, pool, all inclusive, parking, season, drive time from Tirana Airport and the true cost per day. An empty column in our data means unknown, never no.
Beach Truth
Once we've measured the walk to the beach, a coastal stay gets one label: On the sand (50 metres or less, no road in between), Short walk (50 to 300 metres) or Drive or shuttle (more than 300 metres, or a steep hill). Until then we write "close to the beach", which comes from the property's own facility list.
The All-Inclusive Check
We label a hotel Full AI, AI light or Not AI only after checking what its rate includes: local drinks, snacks, à la carte restaurants, sunbeds and the months the rate is offered.
Reality Check
Because guest ratings in Albania are high almost everywhere, we're building our own score from 0 to 10. It combines location (30%), the real cost of a day there (20%), guest ratings corrected for the Albanian average and the number of reviews (20%), practical details such as parking, season and card payment (15%), and our own inspection where we've visited (15%).
We'll show the Reality Check on a stay once enough of it has been checked.
What we never do
- Call a hotel beachfront when a road or 300 metres lie between it and the sand.
- Call a resort all inclusive without checking what's included.
- Copy descriptions, photos or reviews from booking sites.
- Claim a visit or an overnight stay that didn't happen.
- Rank a stay higher because the commission is higher.
Beach Truth labels
On the sand
50 metres or less, with no road between the property and the beach.
Short walk
50 to 300 metres. Most listings that call themselves "beachfront" end up here.
Drive or shuttle
More than 300 metres, or a steep hill between you and the sea.
The Distance Strip shows the walk from the property to the beach, including any road in between.
Example of a Distance Strip once a stay has been measured.