We sort every privacy statement into one of four evidence tiers and describe it only as strongly as its tier allows. A resort saying “private” is a claim. A resort confirming the sightlines in writing is evidence.
This page is part of our decision methods topic. It sits beside our general methodology and the editorial policy.
Why do privacy claims need a method?
Privacy words are free to print. “Secluded”, “exclusive” and “private pool” can describe a walled villa or a pool with a path beside it. Couples pay extra for these words, so we treat them as questions, not answers.
Our job is to bring back the details behind the word, and to be honest about how strong they are.
What are the four tiers?
| Tier | What we have | How we word it |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Written and specific | A dated reply or site plan covering sightlines, neighbours, walkways and noise | “The resort confirmed in writing that…” |
| 2. Resort evidence | Photos or plans from the resort, with a clear source | “The resort’s own photos show…” |
| 3. Guest signals | Recent reviews that mention the point | “Some guests have written that…” |
| 4. Marketing wording only | A label such as “private” with no detail | “The resort describes it as private” |
Tier 4 is the starting point for every villa. Our work is to move it up, or to tell you it has not moved.
How do we move a claim up a tier?
We ask the resort the same questions every time, which are the ones in our pool villa privacy checklist. A reply that names a distance, a height, a route or an hour is stronger than one that repeats the brochure.
We also look at where a photo comes from. See can you trust resort photos for how we read them.
How do we use guest reviews?
Reviews are signals, not proof. A single review about noise might be one bad night. A pattern across different months is more useful.
We also read for what a reviewer could not have seen. Our guide on reading hotel reviews for noise clues covers the habit.
What do we hold back from saying?
We rate privacy with a number only when every input is at Tier 1. We stop short of calling a villa “completely private”. A stay we have not had is never described as if we had.
When a resort will not answer, we record that too, because silence is also information.
How can you check us?
Ask for the reply we received. We share the resort’s written answer in a quote or on request, so you can read the exact words. If you think we have read something wrongly, tell us through the report an error route.
What should we do next?
- List the privacy words that matter to you in a resort’s description.
- Ask what each word means in sightlines, neighbours, walkways and noise.
- Mark each reply with its tier.
- Re-confirm the key points in writing before you pay.
- Send us the resort and the words, and we will ask for the specifics and tell you the tier.