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Explainer • Guest

How listing ranking works

A plain-language explainer of how Finding Retreats ranks listings in search.

Finding Retreats ranks listings using two layers: which page of search results a listing appears on, and where on that page it sits. Here's a plain-language explainer for guests.

The How Ranking Works explainer page

Why ranking matters

Listings on page 1 get viewed dramatically more than listings on page 3+. We want page 1 to be the right listings — accurate, well-reviewed, available, and a good match for your search.

What we look at

  • Listing quality: complete information, strong photos, accurate description.

  • Host responsiveness: how quickly hosts reply to enquiries and booking requests.

  • Reviews: average rating and recency.

  • Cancellation rate: hosts who cancel less rank higher.

  • Relevance: how well a listing matches your specific search.

  • Availability: a listing not available for your dates is pushed down.

What we don't do

  • Hosts can't pay for placement.

  • No "sponsored" results mixed in with organic ones.

  • Brand new listings get a fair shot — we boost them temporarily to gather signal.

Tips

  • If you'd like to see a specific retreat that isn't showing up, search by host name directly — host pages list every retreat regardless of ranking.