How Destination Score Works™

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Destination Score™ is a dynamic, multi-factor travel rating system designed to evaluate destinations using both real-world data and your personal travel preferences. Here’s how it works:

Each destination is rated across five weighted categories (each 20% by default, scale 0–100):

• 🛡️ Safety – Based on crime, stability, health, and risks. Split into 3 sub-scores:
   
  • Tourist Areas (60%)
     
  • Tourist Nightlife (20%)
     
  • Non-Tourist Areas (20%)
     
• 🏗️ Infrastructure – Transit, walkability, digital access, cleanliness.
   
• 💸 Affordability – Lodging, food, transport, activities relative to value.
   
• 🏛️ Culture & History – UNESCO sites, museums, architecture, festivals, food, local traditions.
   
• 📸 Attractions & Landmarks – Proximity to iconic sights, nature, parks, theme parks, events.
   

Each destination receives four seasonal scores. These factor in:

• Climate comfort (temperature, humidity, rainfall)
   
• Seasonal access (parks, cruises, events)
   
• Crowd levels and infrastructure strain
   
• Seasonal festivals or cultural events
   

You can tailor Destination Score™ in two ways:

1. Custom Weighting – Adjust importance of the 5 core categories and safety subcategories.
    
2. Travel Interests – Name and rate personal interests (e.g., beaches, food, nightlife, nature, theme parks, winter sports) from 1 (not interested) to 5 (love it).
    

When you pick a destination, you’ll see a Destination Score report with:

• Peak Score (highest seasonal score)
   
• Your Score (personalized peak score)
   
• Seasonal insights (climate, events, crowds)
   
• Core category breakdown (safety, affordability, culture, etc.)
   
• Interest-specific insights (e.g., beaches, food scene, nightlife). Have fun comparing destinations with "Battles", "Tournaments", and whatever else you can imagine.
   

✅ Data Sources: UNODC, World Bank, OECD, UNESCO, NOAA, and others. Destination Score™ was created by a CPA with independence and objectivity top of mind (please see disclaimer below). 

For content creators and travel industry professionals: Public use of Destination Score™ output requires proper attribution. Some underlying datasets used by Destination Score™ are subject to third-party licensing restrictions. Any commercial use of Destination Score™ must either secure appropriate data licenses or use open-source equivalents. Please contact us to discuss in more detail, we are open to collaboration and love content creators and enthusiastic travel professionals.

⚠️ Disclaimer: Public data referenced by Destination Score™ is for educational use only and in no way is to be construed as affiliation/endorsement of Destination Score™. Scoring is dynamic and subject to change. Scores have not been audited, reviewed, or examined in accordance with any accounting or attestation standards. No assurance is expressed or implied. Destination Score™ is intended solely as a planning and comparison tool for travelers and should not be relied upon as professional advice.