Why Traditional Travel Ratings Fall Short
We’ve all been there. Scrolling through endless five-star reviews, comparing TripAdvisor, Google or Booking.com scores, reading “best value” lists… and still wondering if that place is right for you.
That’s because traditional travel site ratings measure the wrong things. They tell you if a hotel is “good,” but not whether it aligns with what brings you joy or what you might really need from a holiday. And it’s really hard to tell whether that rating they give transforms into a holiday that is value for money.
A 9.0 rating means nothing if that luxury resort feels detached from local life and you’re someone who travels to immerse yourself in authentic experiences. Your hotel could then be anywhere in the world and you’ll return home and not remember anything about the place you’ve just been to.
The unique Holiday Cost of Enjoyment Index (HCEI), which we’ve developed after many years of highs and lows of travel, is different. It doesn’t just ask “Is this place good?”
It asks: “Is this place right for me?” And gives everyone a way to answer that question before you even book.
The Philosophy: Starting with Why
Travel isn’t about ticking boxes or collecting passport stamps. It’s about the moments that stay with you long after you’ve unpacked — the conversation with a local fisherman that changes your perspective, the sunrise hike that makes you feel alive, the meal so good you still dream about it years later. I still remember some places by their smell (good and bad!)
But those moments cost money. And increasingly, travellers are asking: Was it worth it? Not “was it expensive” or “was it cheap” — but was the joy I received proportional to what I spent? That’s the question the Holiday Cost of Enjoyment Index was built to answer.
So when you get home (or even before you book), you can think about the things that really made a difference. Soon, once you’ve “scored” a few hotels or resorts, you’ll begin to develop a theme. These might include the following descriptors:
- Restful – Providing relief from the stresses of work or everyday life
- Intentional – chosen because it aligns with your values
- Fulfilling – delivering experiences that matter personally
- Responsible – respecting the people and places that make it possible
- Worth it – providing joy that justifies the investment
These beliefs shaped our framework: five pillars that define what truly creates travel enjoyment. Not just satisfaction, but that deeper sense of “this was exactly what I needed.”
Example: Eco-Resort vs. Five Star Luxury?
We’ve been lucky enough to stay in some the finest of the fine hotels around the world. We’ve coped with some simply awful places too. But here’s the thing: we once spent a fortune on a special treat holiday to The Maldives. We stayed at Siyam World, shortly after it opened. The room was amazing, with the classic outdoor bathroom and shower. But I’ve NEVER had a bed that was so hard and uncomfortable and the room was poorly thought out, with wasted space and silly things like no mirror near a plug when my wife wanted to use a hair dryer. These rooms go for $1,000 a night!
By contrast, we stayed in a 3* eco-resort in Vietnam, the Mango Bay Resort, which cost $100 a night. The room was actually on two floors, built in cedar so smelled divine, had no air-conditioning, but was absolutely sublime. Yes I know we didn’t get free flowing champagne and the beaches weren’t comparable: but I know which one I’d rather go back to time and time again!
The Five Pillars of Enjoyment – How We Score It
So, we set about coming up with a system that helped us measure what things were really important to us. These we then sorted into five groups and they are as follows:
🏡 Comfort & Ease – Ease of Stay
Why: Because a holiday should feel effortless the moment you arrive.
How: We measure how easy it is to settle in — from comfort and amenities to location and accessibility.
What: The smoother the stay, the freer the mind to explore. Whether it’s a seamless check-in, a room that feels instantly relaxing, or the joy of waking up to calm surroundings — comfort creates the foundation for everything that follows.
🌿 Authenticity & Connection – Cultural Connection
Why: Because travel means more when it connects you to something real.
How: We look for local immersion — the food, conversations, and small human moments that reveal a destination’s true character.
What: Places that open their doors and hearts score highest. A shared meal with locals, a community craft workshop, or simply learning to greet someone in their language — these are the connections that turn trips into stories.
🧭 Adventure & Exploration – Adventure Factor
Why: Because discovery is what keeps the spirit awake.
How: We balance variety and vitality — natural beauty, access to activities, and that spark of freedom that comes from exploring somewhere new.
What: From island-hopping in Palawan to winding jungle roads in Costa Rica, this pillar captures the curiosity that drives every great journey. The wider the horizon, the deeper the joy.
🌱 Sustainability & Eco-Balance – Eco Balance
Why: Because the places we love deserve to last.
How: We assess how responsibly a destination operates — from environmental care to ethical tourism and community impact.
What: Travel that balances comfort with conscience scores highest. Whether it’s a resort that funds reef restoration, a lodge that empowers local guides, or a destination that limits overtourism, sustainability keeps adventure meaningful — not disposable.
💰 Value Score – Enjoyment per Pound
Why: Because value isn’t about the price you pay — it’s about the joy you receive.
How: We compare cost with comfort, authenticity, and adventure — measuring how much real fulfilment each pound delivers.
What: Trips that feel balanced, fair, and rewarding earn top marks. When the experiences outweigh the expenses, you’ve found true value.
How the Holiday Cost of Enjoyment Index (HCEI) Works
Each journey we take is rated across the five pillars we described above (Comfort, Connection, Adventure, Sustainability, and Value), but we need to add more attributes for each pillar to better describe them.
Within each pillar are therefore three key elements that together capture the essence of that part of the experience. So, for the first pillar (Comfort & Ease) we include:
a) The Accommodation itself: how comfortable is it? What are the amenities like?
b) The Location and how accessible is it? There’s nothing worse than being stuck miles from anyway if you’re keen to see the sights or want to dine in the local town.
c) Travel Simplicity caters for how complicated it is to get there. Is the process of getting to the resort seamless or are the transfers or booking process a nightmare?
Each one of these three elements is scored on a simple 1–5 scale, reflecting how well it delivered during the trip (or how you think it might if using it to compare hotels prior to booking).
Behind the scenes, our bespoke weighting system refines these scores — because not every factor contributes equally to how a place makes you feel. Some details matter more to the overall sense of enjoyment, and the Index accounts for that balance. For example, seeing turtles on a day-trip might be a holiday highlight, but ultimately the room you stay in or the price you paid probably have more to do with the overall cost of enjoyment.
The result is a clear, intuitive score that reflects the full emotional and practical quality of a journey: how it felt, not just how it looked.
Why It Matters
The HCEI isn’t here to tell you where to go. It helps you understand why you’ll love it. It’s a compass, not a checklist. By comparing destinations through the same five lenses, you’ll discover the ones that deliver the most joy for your investment of time, energy, and money.
The Result: Meaning Over Metrics
Each HindlesWorld story, whether it’s a cinematic vlog, a travel guide, or a behind-the-scenes review, now includes the HCEI score. This Index isn’t about luxury or perfection. It’s about the balance between adventure and rest, excitement and ease, spending and meaning. It’s about measuring joy and learning what truly matters to you when you travel.
Explore the Index
Behind the Numbers
Want to see the detailed scoring system and hidden weights? Read The Making of the HCEI — our in-depth breakdown of how the Index is calculated and tested across different destinations.
Comfort & Ease of Stay
How the hotel matches what you paid for. How effortless it feels once you arrive; smooth journeys, restful stays, and surroundings that let you truly unwind.
Because a great trip begins when comfort and flow replace stress and logistics.
Uniqueness & Cultural Connection
Genuine encounters with people and place; local life, shared stories, and experiences that feel real.
Travel that connects you to a culture, not just a destination.
Adventure & Exploration Factor
The natural beauty or vibe fits. The energy of discovery; new landscapes, local adventures, and those moments that make you feel alive. And it’s on your doorstep.
It’s not about thrill-seeking; it’s about curiosity, wonder, and going beyond the obvious.
Sustainability & Eco-Balance
Journeys that respect the planet, its people, and its future; travel that gives back more than it takes.
Ethical tourism and long-term stewardship have been considered. The best adventures leave footprints of care, not impact.
Value Score
Upfront Value: Fair price for lodging quality vs. cost. The balance between what you spend and what you truly gain. Enjoyment per Spend: Was it worth it? Would you do it again at that price?
Because the best memories don’t always come with the highest price tag.