How we research
What the experience stamps mean
Each country page and guide carries a stamp near the title. It shows the owner's experience with the country, not where each detail on the page comes from.
- Lived there means the owner has lived in that country.
- Visited means the owner has been to that country. It does not mean every city, region or sight in it. Visiting is not the same as living there, and the guides do not pretend otherwise.
Prices, opening hours and booking conditions are checked against official sources and the businesses that provide the service, whatever the stamp says.
How a country page is put together
- Each country page lists services you can book before you go, such as travel eSIMs, airport transfers and rental cars, and links to the companies that sell them.
- Travel eSIMs are compared on the same plan, the same amount of data for the same number of days, at the price shown on each seller's official page on a stated date, from the lowest price.
- For other services, the page says how each one works, as the seller describes it.
- The services have not been tested unless the page says so.
How a guide is put together
- Each guide starts from one practical question a traveler has, such as how to get online after landing.
- Options are compared on the same terms, for example the same amount of data for the same number of days, using each seller's official page on a stated date.
- Where the owner knows the place first-hand, such as what to expect at the airport, the guide says so in plain terms.
- When something has not been tested, such as network speed or coverage, the guide says that too.
How products are chosen
Country pages and guides compare products sold by companies that run affiliate programs, because that is how the site is paid for. The commission does not decide which products are compared or the order they appear in. Pages do not name one “best” option. Guides say which option suits which situation.
If a reasonable option exists that this site does not link to, such as a local SIM bought after you land, the guide mentions it.
How hotels are selected
BYV Select hotels are chosen from Klook listings using the following criteria:
- A rating of at least 4.5 out of 5.
- At least 900 reviews on Klook.
- A convenient location with easy access to transportation.
Hotels that meet these criteria are ranked by rating, with the number of reviews used to break ties. We select up to two hotels per city or airport area.
In Medellín, only one hotel among the listings reviewed met all the criteria.
These criteria explain how the hotels were selected. Ratings, review counts and availability may change, so check the latest details before booking.
Owner's Recommendations are separate from BYV Select. They feature hotels the site owner has personally stayed at, with comments based on firsthand experience.
Checked dates
Prices and booking conditions can change. We show when information was checked, but it may have changed since then. Always confirm current details with the booking provider.
Corrections
We review and correct information when we identify an error or receive a report of outdated details. You can report an issue through our Contact page.