ABOUT US

Editorial standards

Our readers give us their time and their trust. These are the standards we hold ourselves to in return.

Last updated: 24 October 2026

Our purpose

Cosmopolitan Courier exists to help readers live well: to travel with meaning, choose beautifully made things, look after body and mind, and plan confidently for the years ahead. We aim for stories that are a pleasure to read, generous in detail and honest about what we know.

Independence

Our editors decide what we cover and what we say. Advertisers, partners, hotels and brands don’t approve, review or change editorial stories before publication, and they can’t buy a place in our editorial coverage, including The Resort Series. Anything that isn’t written by our editors with nothing given in return is labelled:

• Guest contributor: a story contributed by a guest writer or brand, with the brand named. It’s edited to our standards, and nothing is given in return.
• Partner content: Resort Series coverage where a property hosted our stay or we were compensated. It’s labelled every time this happens.

See our Advertising, guest and partner content disclosure.

Accuracy and sourcing

• We check names, prices, dates, awards and claims against primary sources wherever we can: official property and brand information, public records, published guides and reputable publications.
• We tell you how a story was put together. Where our editors haven’t visited a place, we say so plainly. A typical line reads: “Compiled from the hotel’s published information and independent sources; our editors have not stayed at the property for this guide, and it is not Partner content.”
• We name awards and ratings only as the awarding body publishes them (for example, MICHELIN Keys), with the year.
• Prices, opening hours and offers change. We note when they were checked, and readers should confirm details before booking.

Health, money and other important decisions

Personal Finance stories are general information only. They don’t take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Consider whether it’s appropriate for you, and read any relevant PDS and TMD, before acting.

Health & Wellness stories are general information too, not medical advice. Please speak with your doctor or another qualified health professional before making changes to your health or treatment.

Images

We use real photography of the places and products we write about, supplied by the property or brand with permission, taken by us, or licensed, and we credit it. We don’t use generated or digitally fabricated images to depict a real hotel, room, dish or product. Where an illustration is used for a general theme, we label it.

Bylines

Bylines tell you who is responsible for a story. Resort Series guides carry the byline Cosmopolitan Courier Travel Desk. Guest contributions carry the writer’s own name and are labelled Guest contributor. Stories are reviewed by the editors before publication.

Fairness

We write with warmth, but we don’t hide what matters. If a property is reachable only by boat, closed for monsoon or better suited to couples than to young families, we say so. We avoid language that is discriminatory or demeaning, and we treat the people and communities we write about with respect.

Conflicts of interest

Contributors must tell the editors about any personal, financial or commercial connection to a subject. Where a connection is relevant, we either disclose it in the story or assign the story to someone else. Contributors don’t accept payment, gifts or hosted travel in exchange for coverage. The one exception is a hosted or compensated Resort Series stay arranged by the editors, which is labelled Partner content. Guest contributors write about their own field, and the label names their business.

Corrections

When we get something wrong, we fix it quickly and openly.

• Minor errors (a misspelt name, a wrong date) are corrected in the text.
• Material errors (a fact that changes the meaning of a story) are corrected, with a note at the end of the story saying what changed and when, for example: “Correction, 24 October 2026: an earlier version of this story misstated the number of villas. It has been corrected.”
• If a story can’t be corrected to our standard, we may remove it and explain why.

To report an error, use our contact form and choose Correction. We’ll review it within three business days and correct it in line with these standards.

Updates

Guides are living documents. When we refresh a story with new prices, openings or awards, we show the Updated date at the top.

Questions

Questions about these standards are welcome: write to the editors through our contact form.