🏆 How Lukiih Rates Travel Experiences

Travel guides list countless “top things to do,” but it’s not always clear which experiences are actually worthwhile. That’s why I created a practical rating system that scores activities across key factors and accounts for real-world constraints.

It allows me to compare everything—from street food tours in Bangkok to multi-day hikes in Patagonia—and provide a prioritized, consistent set of recommendations. Below is a breakdown of how my system works and the assumptions behind it.

🍀 Understanding Lukiih’s Overall Rating

My overall rating uses a 10-point scale to show how strongly I recommend an experience to other travelers.

Rating	What does the rating mean?
8+	Highlight (a top-tier experience; don’t skip it)
7-7.99	Highly Recommend (well worth doing; prioritize it)
6-6.99	Recommend (worth doing; best if convenient)
5-5.99	Optional (a decent pick; do it if it’s easy to fit in)
<4.99	Filler (okay, but only if you’re out of options)

Here’s the distribution of my overall ratings, based on the first ~300 travel experiences I’ve reviewed (last updated March 2025).

The Four Factors Behind the Rating

My overall rating is based on a weighted average of four key factors travelers often consider when choosing a tour, attraction, or activity.

Factor	What does the factor capture?
🦄 Uniqueness	How rare and memorable is this experience?
😊 Enjoyment	How enjoyable and rewarding is this experience?
💰 Value	How affordable is this experience?
🎒 Preparation	How much preparation is required for this experience?

Calculating Overall Rating

Each of the four factors is scored numerically, then translated into a more intuitive label (e.g., very high, high, average, low, very low). Each factor is weighted based on how much it influences the final rating. Uniqueness and Enjoyment carry more weight than Value and Preparation.

🍀 Overall Rating = (🦄 Uniqueness Score * Large Weight) + (😊 Enjoyment Score * Largest Weight) + (💰 Value Score * Smaller Weight) + (🎒 Preparation Score * Smallest Weight) 

🦄 Understanding Factor #1: Uniqueness

The Uniqueness Score is based on two questions:

• How rare is the experience?
• How memorable is the experience?

Uniqueness gives equal weight to Rarity and Memorability. Rarity is a strong motivator to do an experience, while memorability approximates whether it is as unique as it is rare.

🦄 Uniqueness Score = (Rarity Score * Equal Weight) + (Memorability Score * Equal Weight)

Scoring Rarity

To evaluate rarity, I consider:

• How many similar experiences exist worldwide?
• Can it be authentically replicated elsewhere?
• Is it considered the “best” in any meaningful way?

Score	What does the score mean?
Very Rare	Globally Defining (a nearly one-of-a-kind experience)
Rare	Rare & Highly Significant (stands out meaningfully)
Uncommon	Uncommon with Recognition (regionally recognized or enhanced version of a common experience)
Not Rare	Common but Somewhat Notable (common experience with local noteworthiness)
Common	Common with Minimal Distinction (common experience)

Scoring Memorability

To evaluate memorability, I ask:

• Is it easily recalled later?
• Does it leave a strong impression?

Score	What does the score mean?
Very High	Unforgettable (profoundly memorable)
High	Strongly Memorable (stands out clearly)
Moderate	Moderately Memorable (distinctive in the moment)
Low	Mildly Memorable (fades over time)
Very Low	Forgettable (blends with similar experiences)

😊 Understanding Factor #2: Enjoyment

The Enjoyment Score is based on two questions:

• How much joy does the experience bring? Think delight, bliss, or thrill.
• How rewarding is it? This reflects feelings of accomplishment or personal growth.

Enjoyment is based on the Joy Score, with a boost from how rewarding the experience is. Joy is usually the main driver of whether something feels recommendable. Reward adds depth, but its absence doesn’t necessarily take away from the experience.

😊 Enjoyment Score = (Joy Score) + Function(Reward Score)

Scoring Joy

To evaluate joy, I ask:

• How much joy does the experience bring? Think delight, bliss, or thrill.
• Do inconveniences (like crowds, long waits, or weather risks) regularly occur—and do they noticeably affect the experience?

Score	What does the score mean?
Very High	Pure Joy (deeply delightful, blissful, or thrilling)
High	Genuinely Enjoyable (clearly fun, calming, or satisfying)
Moderate	Pleasant (enjoyable but not consistent or remarkable)
Low	Mildly Enjoyable (some interest, but flat overall)
Very Low	Not Enjoyable (lacks joy or appeal)

Scoring Reward

To evaluate how rewarding an experience is, I ask:

• Are feelings of accomplishment typical? Was it physically or mentally challenging?
• Are feelings of enrichment typical? Did it leave an emotional impact or sense of connection?

Score	What does the score mean?
High	Profoundly Rewarding (deep emotional, intellectual, or personal impact)
Moderate	Meaningfully Rewarding (feeling stronger, wiser, or accomplished)
Low	Minimally Rewarding (moment of insight, effort, or connection)
Very Low	Not Rewarding (not lasting emotional value)

💰 Understanding Factor #3: Value

The Value Score is based on two things:

• What’s the typical cost per person?
• How much time does the experience usually take?

Score	What does the score mean?
Very Affordable	Typically costs under $5 per person per hour
Affordable	Typically costs under $15 per person per hour
Moderate	Typically costs under $30 per person per hour
Expensive	Typically costs under $60 per person per hour
Very Expensive	Typically costs more than $60 per person per hour

🎒 Understanding Factor #4: Preparation

The Preparation Score is based on three things:

• How much skill or fitness does it require?
• How inconvenient is the transportation?
• How much effort is needed to pack, book, or prepare?

A higher Preparation Score means the experience is easier or more convenient. Less preparation usually makes something more accessible and easier to recommend.

🎒 Preparation Score = (Skills & Fitness Score * Largest Weight) + (Transportation Score * Large Weight) + (Booking & Packing Score * Small Weight)

Scoring Skill & Fitness

To evaluate how much skill or fitness an experience requires, I ask:

• How strenuous is it?
• What skills are needed? Are they common—or can a licensed guide cover the gap?
• What are the risks if a traveler doesn’t meet the skill or fitness level?

Score	What does the score mean?
None	No skill or physical exertion required
Minimal	Light movement or basic familiarity required
Basic	Moderate fitness or comfort with a basic skill required
Significant	High fitness or confident skill use required
Expert	Exceptional fitness or advanced technical skill required

Scoring Transportation

To evaluate transportation difficulty, I ask:

• How far is it from a typical tourist hub?
• How stressful or uncomfortable is the typical mode of transportation?

Score	What does the score mean?
Very Easy & Short	Very easy to access (walkable and straightforward)
Easy & Short	Minor inconvenience (under an hour and simple)
Moderate	Moderate effort or time (1–3 hours and planning required)
Significant	Significant challenge (3+ hours, with planning or discomfort involved)
Inconvenient	Very difficult to access (remote and complex)

Scoring Booking & Packing

To evaluate how difficult the booking and packing process is, I ask:

• How far in advance do tickets need to be booked?
• How competitive are the reservations or permits?
• ow hard is it to rent gear or a vehicle, if needed?
• How much planning is needed to make sure you’ve packed the right things?

Score	What does the score mean?
None	Very little preparation required
Minimal	Minor preparation required
Some Effort	Moderate preparation required
Effort Required	Significant preparation required
High Effort	Extensive preparation required

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Assumptions

Travel experiences vary widely from person to person, so no rating system—especially one built by an individual—can be perfectly objective or universal. Below are some of the built-in assumptions and biases that shape mine:

• Weights of factors — The importance of each factor reflects my own travel style. In this system, uniqueness is weighted far more heavily than cost—something that may not hold true for budget travelers, who often prioritize affordability.
• Rarity – I spend hours researching how rare an experience is, but I’m limited by my knowledge, time, and personal exposure. Over time, this score becomes more discerning as I encounter more of the world.
• Memorability – I tend to find natural landscapes more memorable than historical or cultural sites. That bias shows up in how I score this category.
• Enjoyment – Culinary and active experiences tend to bring me the most joy, so they often score higher. I also weigh real-time observations (e.g., crowd size, wait times), though those can vary by season or luck.
• Value – My value judgments are based on USD, one of the strongest global currencies. What I consider “affordable” may not align with travelers using different currencies or budgets.
• Preparation – I’m a relatively fit and able-bodied traveler. This may skew my perception of how physically accessible or skill-dependent an experience is.
• Omitted factors – I’ve left out other meaningful considerations—like sustainability, accessibility, or safety risks. Some are too complex or situational to assess fairly. Others, while important, tend not to significantly shape most travel decisions in practice.

Errors

This rating system is maintained by me, Lukiih. I do my best to check my calculations and ratings, but I am human. If you see an error, I appreciate you letting me know. Thanks!