Methodology

Our Editorial Philosophy

Our itineraries and editorial guides are built for travelers making decisions, not for readers seeking inspiration. We optimize for clarity, accuracy, and actionable detail — timing windows, realistic pacing, what to skip, and what's genuinely worth the detour.

How We Rank Options

When ItiMaker suggests an experience, neighborhood, or stop within an itinerary, the ranking applies these criteria — in this order of priority:

1. 1

   Usefulness for the Reader's Decision

   Does this option help the traveler decide? Vague 'nice to visit' picks get cut.

2. 2

   Reliability & Accuracy

   Does the provider operate consistently? Are the details we've documented verifiable?

3. 3

   Fit for the Itinerary Logic

   Does the option fit the day's pacing, transport flow, and traveler interest profile — not just the destination?

4. 4

   Value for Traveler Budget

   Does the experience match its price point? We flag overpriced tourist traps and underpriced hidden wins.

5. 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. 1. Direct experience

   Our editorial team's personal visits, notes, and photos

2. 2. Local contributors

   Region-based writers with lived experience in the destination

3. 3. Primary operator data

   Official schedules, menus, pricing, and capacity information

4. 4. Government tourism boards

   Official travel advisories, visa rules, and event calendars

5. 5. Reputable published journalism

   Named authors at established publications with editorial standards

How We Use AI

ItiMaker is an AI-powered itinerary tool. The day-by-day plan a traveler generates is produced by a large language model conditioned on destination data and the traveler's preferences. Editorial guides on the blog use AI for drafting assistance and research synthesis, but every published guide is reviewed and edited by a human editor responsible for its factual accuracy and recommendations.

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.