The short version: Nothing on CityWise is paid placement. No restaurant, hotel, attraction, or platform has ever paid to appear here — and none ever will. Every recommendation is editorially selected.
Our Core Principle
CityWise is built by one person with the goal of being the most honest travel guide on the internet. That only works if every place listed here earned its spot through quality, not payment.
We do not accept sponsored listings, paid placements, affiliate fees for inclusion, or any form of compensation in exchange for featuring a business.
How We Select Places
Every place on CityWise is selected through a combination of:
- Editorial research — deep reading of travel writing, local guides, and expert reviews
- Traveler consensus — consistent, long-standing positive reputation across independent sources
- Local knowledge — places that locals actually use and recommend, not just tourist traps
- Category balance — we aim to represent different budgets, styles, and neighborhoods
- Quality floor — if a place has slipped in quality, it gets removed
What We Never Do
- Accept payment for featuring a business
- Accept free stays, meals, or services in exchange for coverage
- Prioritize businesses based on advertising spend
- List affiliate links that reward us for bookings (unless disclosed)
- Keep a business listed if it no longer meets quality standards
Concerns & Corrections
If you believe a place should be added, removed, or corrected — or if you have evidence of a quality or accuracy issue — please email us:
We read every message and take corrections seriously. This is a small, honest project and we want to keep it that way.
Last Updated
This policy was last updated in June 2026. If it changes in any meaningful way, we'll note it here.