How We Score 9,400+ Retreats: The RetreatvVault Methodology

Why Another Rating System?

Google gives you a number out of 5. TripAdvisor gives you a number out of 5. Neither tells you whether the retreat is good at the specific thing you care about.

A retreat can have a perfect 5.0 Google rating and be completely wrong for you. Maybe it's an incredible spa resort — but you wanted clinical diagnostics. Maybe the food is legendary — but the fitness programming is nonexistent.

One number can't capture that. So we use fifteen.

The 15 Categories

Each retreat is scored 0-10 across these categories:

1. 1.Nutrition & Food Quality (10%) — Sourcing, dietary accommodations, therapeutic meal planning, chef credentials
2. 2.Fitness & Movement (9%) — Programming variety, equipment, certified trainers, progression-based training
3. 3.Mindfulness & Meditation (8%) — Structured practice, qualified teachers, variety of modalities
4. 4.Spa & Relaxation (8%) — Treatment depth, therapist qualifications, facilities, thermal options
5. 5.Sleep & Recovery (7%) — Environment optimization, sleep protocols, recovery programming
6. 6.Medical & Clinical (8%) — On-site physicians, diagnostics, personalized protocols, follow-up care
7. 7.Personalization (7%) — Intake assessment, customized programming, staff-to-guest ratio
8. 8.Amenities & Facilities (7%) — Property quality, room standards, common areas, equipment
9. 9.Pricing & Value (8%) — What you get per dollar, inclusion level, transparency
10. 10.Activities & Excursions (6%) — Off-property options, cultural integration, adventure programming
11. 11.Education & Workshops (6%) — Teaching quality, take-home knowledge, skill building
12. 12.Ease of Travel (5%) — Airport proximity, transfer logistics, visa requirements
13. 13.Sustainability & Ethics (5%) — Environmental practices, community impact, ethical operations
14. 14.Social Proof & Reputation (5%) — Review volume, rating consistency, awards, industry recognition
15. 15.Add-Ons & Options (1%) — Supplementary services, flexibility, customization options

Weights reflect how much each category impacts the actual wellness experience. Nutrition at 10% matters more than add-ons at 1%.

The Vault Score

The composite Vault score (0-10) is the weighted average of all 15 category scores. Retreats are then classified into tiers:

• Elite (9.0+): Top 1-2% of all retreats
• Exceptional (8.0-8.9): Top 10%
• Highly Recommended (7.0-7.9): Top 25%
• Good (6.0-6.9): Above average
• Listed (below 6.0): Below our recommendation threshold

Data Sources

Category scores are derived from multiple inputs:

• Official retreat websites and programming details
• Google and TripAdvisor reviews (volume and rating)
• Industry awards and recognition
• Pricing transparency and inclusion level
• Property specifications and amenity listings
• Staff credentials and certifications

We do NOT accept payment for higher scores. We do NOT adjust scores based on advertising relationships. The methodology is the same for every retreat.

Read More

Visit our full methodology page for detailed scoring criteria and category definitions.