What is the Juara Standard?

It is the process we use to assess every hotel, villa, guide, driver and experience before we recommend it, covering quality, safety, authenticity and sustainability.

Do you inspect transport operators yourselves?

We review each operator’s licensing, insurance and crew certification. It is a documentation review by our operations staff, not an inspection by a certified surveyor or auditor.

How often are partners reviewed?

Every partner is re-assessed once a year, and client feedback after each trip feeds into that review. Partners who fall short are put on probation or removed.

How we assess what we recommend

Every hotel, villa, guide and experience we suggest is checked against the same criteria, which we call the Juara Standard.

Ask about our partners

or call +62 811-3941-4563

Applies to: Stays, guides, drivers and experiences
Stay scoring: Four weighted criteria
Partner review: Once a year
Transport checks: Documentation review

Why we work to a written standard

Our recommendations are what our reputation rests on, so every partner is assessed the same way. We call the process the Juara Standard.

The detailed scoring is internal, but the main criteria are the same in every category, and this page sets them out.

For vehicle, boat and aircraft operators, the check is a documentation review by our operations staff, not an inspection by a certified surveyor or auditor.

What our safety checks cover

How we score hotels, villas and boats

Properties are assessed through site inspections, often including an anonymous overnight stay.

How we score hotels, villas and boats
Topic	What to know	Guide
Service (40%)	Staff-to-guest ratio, how proactive and personal the service is, language skills and formal staff training.
Safety and security (25%)	CHSE protocols, certified fire safety, 24/7 security and clear evacuation plans. For boats, SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) compliance.	Safety and compliance
Quality (20%)	Condition of the facilities, quality of materials, food, and care in design and maintenance.
Authenticity and sustainability (15%)	Use of local culture and design, environmental practice and a positive effect on the community.	Sustainability

Traditional houses along the main street of Penglipuran village

How we choose guides and drivers

They are selected for character as well as skill.

Tested on local history, culture and environment, and on explaining it clearly in English
Certified first aid and CPR training every year for all client-facing staff
Interview and background check covering professionalism and reliability
Official guiding licences or culinary certifications checked where they apply
Preference for partners with fair labour practices and roots in their community

How partners join and stay on our list

Screening

Background checks on legal standing, operating licences such as SIUP Pariwisata, and tax registration (NPWP).

Site inspection

A senior team member visits using our scoring rubric, often with an unannounced, anonymous stay.

Agreement

Partners who meet the standard sign agreements committing them to our safety, sustainability and service rules.

Feedback and yearly review

We ask every client for feedback and re-assess each partner once a year. Those who fall short are put on probation or removed.

How we assess experiences

The same standard applies to excursions, workshops and guided tours. We look for real contact with local communities, such as a sunrise trek up Mount Batur with an experienced local guide.

Food matters too. We check that vegetarian and vegan options, often requested by travellers from India, are properly catered for.

For adventure activities such as diving, we check certifications, equipment and emergency preparedness before recommending an operator.

Is Bali safe for Indian travellers?