Recommendations are editorial decisions
Destination fit, practical usefulness, audience needs and current evidence shape recommendations. Commercial status is not an editorial scoring signal.
How recommendations work
Useful guidance needs visible boundaries.
Costa Notes separates editorial judgement from commercial status. The aim is simple: readers should understand why something is recommended and when money is part of the relationship.
How recommendations work
- Editorial recommendation
- Selected for editorial relevance, without a commercial mechanism determining the recommendation.
- Affiliate link
- A disclosed link may earn Costa Notes a commission if the reader completes an eligible action.
- Sponsored content
- The placement or feature is paid for and identified as sponsored.
- Partner
- A verified commercial relationship exists and the relevant action is labelled.
Commercial work is visible
Where Costa Notes is paid, receives a commission or has a partner relationship, the relevant label appears close to the action or content.
Changing facts still need checking
Prices, opening hours, access rules and availability can change. Verification notes and source links are used where a decision depends on current information.
Image and editorial visual policy
Costa Notes prefers rights-cleared real photography. When suitable photography is unavailable, some evergreen editorial visuals may be created digitally from verified characteristics. They are illustrative, not documentary evidence: specific events and activities are not presented as if they were photographed. Partner and licensed photography is used within its permission and attribution requirements.