Operating Principles
Listing is free. We take no booking commission. Optional "featured listing" yearly fee exists but does not affect verification status.
Booking and payment always go directly through the operator's official channel. We do not handle financial transactions.
Verification status is renewed yearly. Stale verifications are removed.
No automated scraping. Every operator is checked by a human — phone call, document review, image verification.
Which operators are verified, when verified, which steps passed — all visible on their pages.
List ordering and selection are influenced by verification quality, not advertising budget.
The 12 Steps — In Order
- #1
Google Maps Pin Verification
Each operator must have a correct Google Maps pin with at least 3 photos and 1 review. No pin or wrong location ends the process.
- #2
Tax Plate / Operating License
Official tax plate or Tourism Operating License / Simple Accommodation Facility Certificate is verified. Corporate vs sole-proprietor distinction is recorded.
- #3
Phone Call With Owner
A 15-30 minute voice call: location verification, pricing policy, deposit terms, cancellation policy. Operators who refuse a voice call cannot be listed.
- #4
Third-Party Review Cross-Check
Reviews/profiles checked across Tripadvisor, Booking, Otelz, Etstur and Şikayetvar — minimum 3 platforms. Negative-review ratio above 40% triggers a deeper review.
- #5
Reverse Image Verification
Operator-provided photos run through Google Reverse Image Search. If the same image appears under another operator, the process stops.
- #6
Social Media Audit
Instagram/Facebook account creation date, follower-growth pattern, organic engagement rate. Accounts younger than 6 months get stricter scrutiny.
- #7
IBAN & Payment Method Check
Accepted payment methods are queried. Operators must offer at least one of: corporate IBAN, virtual POS (iyzico/PayTR), or on-site payment — never personal IBAN only.
- #8
Booking Flow Test
A test reservation request is filed. Response time, written confirmation, and contract sample are collected. Operators who do not provide written confirmation are not listed.
- #9
Amenity Verification
All listed features (jacuzzi, fireplace, view, etc.) are individually confirmed with the owner. Misleading wording is corrected.
- #10
Access & Location Detail
GPS coordinate, distance to nearest airport/town, public transport availability, winter access (snow tire requirement) are documented.
- #11
Pricing Consistency
Prices stated by owner, listed on website, and shown on third-party platforms (if any) are cross-checked. Significant deviation requires explanation.
- #12
Annual Renewal
Verification status is renewed yearly. Operators failing renewal or losing contact lose status and are removed from the list.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do operators pay to be on your list?+
No. Verification and listing are completely free. There is no booking commission. An optional "featured" listing has a yearly fee but does not affect verification criteria.
Does being off-list mean an operator is unsafe?+
No. There are far more legitimate operators in the Black Sea than on our list. Off-list simply means we have not verified yet. To choose an off-list operator, run the 12 steps yourself.
How is verification status lost?+
Failing annual renewal, broken contact channels, significant pricing/service inconsistency, or a spike in verified user complaints. Operators are warned first, then removed.
I think an operator is providing wrong info — what should I do?+
Use the contact form. Our team reviews within 5 business days. Concrete reports (wrong price, wrong location, misleading photo) trigger an explanation request from the operator.
Browse the Verified List
123 operators have passed our 12-step process. Filter by region, price, features.