How We Score Attractions
Transparent, data-driven verdicts for families with tiny travelers.
Our Mission
Tot Travels answers one question in 5 seconds: Does this attraction work for a baby or toddler under 3?
Parents deserve more than generic "family-friendly" labels. We score every attraction on the 5 things that actually matter when traveling with a tiny traveler: stroller access, diaper change facilities, air quality, weather exposure, and food/milk availability.
Data Sources
We don't make up verdicts. Our ratings are grounded in real traveler experiences and expert knowledge.
Primary Data Sources
- TripAdvisor Reviews — Aggregating thousands of verified traveler reviews, filtered for family-relevant mentions (strollers, crowds, amenities, accessibility).
- Google Maps & Reviews — Real-time ratings, visitor photos showing actual conditions, amenity flags, and crowd patterns.
- YouTube Content — Family vloggers and parent-created content showing real-world conditions, stroller maneuverability, crowd levels, and weather exposure.
- Official Venue Data — Direct venue websites, facility maps, and official amenities lists to verify accessibility claims.
- Environmental & Health Data — AQI (Air Quality Index) historical data, seasonal weather patterns, and disease risk indices from government sources.
How We Extract Insights
We use natural language processing to scan thousands of reviews for mentions of:
- "Stroller," "wide paths," "smooth," "wheelchair accessible," "uphill," "narrow," "pushchair"
- "Diaper," "restroom," "family bathroom," "changing table," "facilities"
- AQI data + mentions of "air quality," "fresh," "polluted," "hazy," "smog"
- "Sun," "shade," "covered," "indoor," "hot," "exposed," "wind," "rain"
- "Café," "restaurant," "food vendor," "picnic," "nursing," "bottle," "milk"
Our 5 Scoring Factors
🚼 Stroller Access
Can you comfortably navigate with a stroller or pram? We assess: paths, terrain, inclines, stairs, width, surface smoothness, and pushchair-friendly infrastructure.
👶 Diaper Change Facilities
Are family restrooms, changing tables, and clean facilities available? Essential for comfort and hygiene during your visit.
💨 Air Quality
We use daily AQI indices, seasonal patterns, and review mentions to assess whether air quality is safe for little lungs. Special attention to pollution, peat fires, and smog seasons.
☀️ Weather Exposure
How much sun, heat, rain, or wind will your child be exposed to? We rate: indoor vs. outdoor, shade availability, seasonal extremes, and climate conditions.
🍼 Milk & Food Access
Can you easily feed your baby or toddler? We assess: on-site food vendors, restaurants, seating areas, nursing-friendly spaces, and availability of baby food options.
The Verdict Algorithm
Each factor is scored on a 1-5 scale (where 5 = perfect for babies/toddlers). We then combine these into an overall verdict using this logic:
✓ RECOMMENDED
Strong scores (average 4+/5 across factors). Most parents report positive experiences. Likely to work well for your tiny traveler.
~ WITH PREPARATION
Mixed scores (average 2-4/5). Works with specific planning. You might need to bring extra supplies, time it for off-peak hours, or arrange logistics.
✗ SKIP FOR UNDER-3S
Low scores (average under 2/5). Major challenges for tiny travelers. Come back when they're older.
How Verdicts Are Weighted
We don't just average the scores. Verdicts account for:
- Recent reviews weighted higher — Conditions change; last year's data matters less than last month's.
- Seasonal variation — Air quality and weather are highly seasonal. We weight for the month you're visiting.
- Crowd factors — Popular attractions with intense crowds may score lower even if facilities are good.
- Safety & health — These are never compromised. High disease or safety risk lowers verdict significantly.
Why You Can Trust Our Verdicts
✓ Data-Driven
We analyze thousands of real reviews from real parents. No guessing.
✓ Transparent
Click any verdict to see the underlying factor scores, recent reviews, and why we made that call.
✓ Specific to Tiny Travelers
We don't use generic "family-friendly" metrics. Every factor is chosen because it actually matters for babies and toddlers under 3.
✓ Continuously Updated
We refresh ratings quarterly. Conditions change; so do our verdicts.
✓ Your Feedback Matters
Have a different experience? Challenge our verdict—we want to hear it. We use your feedback to improve our algorithm.
Limitations & Caveats
Important: These verdicts are research-based guidance, not guarantees. Every child is different, every visit is unique.
- Individual Variation — Your 2-year-old might love something another child hates. Use our verdicts as a starting point, not gospel.
- Seasonality — Conditions vary dramatically by month. A venue rated poorly in monsoon season might be perfect in dry season.
- Crowd Levels — Visit timing dramatically affects experience. We rate typical conditions, but off-peak visits might be better.
- Personal Factors — Dietary restrictions, health conditions, and specific needs (nursing, food allergies) aren't captured in our algorithm.
- Infrastructure Changes — Venues upgrade facilities. If you notice a change, please tell us.
Challenge Our Verdict
Disagree with our verdict? Had a different experience? We want to hear it—your feedback directly improves our algorithm and helps other parents make better decisions.
Suggest a New City
We're starting with Bali, Sydney, and New Delhi—but we want to expand. If you'd like us to cover your favorite family-friendly destination, let us know.