Write down your five top priorities, share ten points between them, then score each finalist from one to five. Multiply, add up, and the highest total is your answer. If the totals are close, a short gut check decides.
This method belongs to our destination decisions topic and works with any three places. Below is the sheet, a worked example and the traps to avoid.
How do we set our priorities?
Each of you writes down the five things that matter most. Typical candidates are privacy, food, rest, activities, travel time, budget, halal food and photos. Combine the lists into one set of five.
Then each of you shares ten points across the five items. A priority with zero points is allowed. A priority with eight points tells you something important about what the trip is for.
How do we score the finalists?
Give each place a score from one to five on every priority, using facts rather than feelings. Travel time can use flight hours. Rest can use the number of transfers. Food can use what you could confirm about halal options.
Multiply each score by the weight and add the line. Do the sums on paper or use our couple priorities chooser.
What does a worked example look like?
Say a couple weights rest at four, food at three, privacy at two, travel time at one. They score three finalists.
| Priority (weight) | Place A | Place B | Place C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rest (4) | 5 | 3 | 4 |
| Food (3) | 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Privacy (2) | 4 | 2 | 5 |
| Travel time (1) | 3 | 4 | 2 |
| Weighted total | 40 | 35 | 40 |
Places A and C tie, and B is not far behind. That is useful, because it tells the couple none of the options is clearly wrong.
What if the totals are too close?
Within a couple of points, the numbers are only a tie-break between friends. Use the gut check.
- Imagine you are told place A is booked. Notice your reaction.
- Repeat for B and C.
- Compare reactions, not arguments.
The place that makes both of you feel a small lift is usually right. If you feel different things, return to the weights, since this is where a disagreement is hiding.
Where do couples go wrong with this?
They give every priority the same weight, which makes the sheet meaningless. They also score from photos, so a place is rated high for privacy because the picture shows an empty beach.
Another trap is leaving out the cost. Add a line for the total for two and score it against your budget. Our destination quiz for Malaysian couples can warm you up before the sheet.
What should we do after we have a winner?
Treat the winner as a hypothesis, then check it. Confirm the dates, the transfers and what the room price includes. If a fact changes the score, update the sheet before you pay.
If you are worried you may regret the choice, our guide on what to do after booking the wrong honeymoon lays out your options.
What should we do next?
- Write your five priorities on one page and split ten points each.
- List the three finalists and fill in the facts you can verify.
- Score, multiply and add. Run the gut check if the totals are close.
- Send us the sheet. We will confirm the missing facts and give you a total for two for each finalist.