Editorial Policy

The Boutique Adventurer is an online travel magazine. Our job is to publish useful, accurate travel content that helps you plan trips you’ll actually enjoy — boutique hotels with personality, food-and-wine-led travel, and soft adventure that feels rewarding rather than risky. We aim to be curated, not chaotic, and we’d rather recommend fewer things properly than list everything under the sun.

How we choose what we cover


We decide what to publish using a mix of editorial judgement and research. We look at what readers are searching for, where existing information is thin or outdated, and where we can add genuine value. Every story also has to fit the magazine’s focus: distinctive stays, destinations with character, and experiences that help you understand what makes a place unique.

How our articles are created

The Boutique Adventurer is a small independent publication. The magazine is edited by Amanda O’Brien, and we also work with a small number of freelance writers.

When an article is commissioned, the editor provides a clear brief (angle, structure, depth, and practical detail). Some writing is handled through a freelance agency process that pre-vets writers and proofreads work before it reaches the editor. Every article is then reviewed and edited by the editor before publication, including links and images.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and tools

We use AI as a behind-the-scenes tool to help run the publication

What that means in practice:
  • AI may be used for research support (for example, generating topic ideas, organising notes, creating outlines, or producing checklists).
  • All published copy is written by a human (the editor and/or commissioned writers), and then reviewed and edited by the editor before it goes live.

Travel experiences, hosted stays, and editorial independence

Some trips and stays are hosted (for example by tourism boards, hotels, tour companies, or PR agencies), and some are fully self-funded. If something has been hosted, we disclose what was covered and what we paid for personally within the article (usually at the end).

Hosted support does not guarantee coverage, and it does not buy positive coverage. Our views are our own. If we have a genuinely poor experience, we won’t recommend it — and we may choose not to publish it at all.

Reviews (including airlines and hotels)


We aim to be fair and useful. Many posts are written from trips we’ve paid for ourselves, and airline reviews are always self-funded. When we publish a review, we include both positives and negatives and, where relevant, comparisons. For broader guides (like “things to do” or destination itineraries), our focus is on what’s most helpful to readers planning a trip.

Accuracy and keeping content up to date


Travel changes quickly: venues close, opening hours shift, tours change, and prices move with the seasons. We work to keep content accurate by:

  • reviewing comments regularly and updating content when readers flag changes
  • acting on reader emails that highlight errors or updates
  • checking for broken links and fixing them
  • reviewing and updating key articles periodically (and especially after revisiting a destination)

If you spot something that looks out of date, please contact us — it genuinely helps.

How the magazine is funded


The Boutique Adventurer is free to read. We rely primarily on advertising revenue, and some pages may include affiliate links. Affiliate links never dictate what we feature or recommend — they simply help support the running costs of the magazine.

Contact


For corrections, feedback, or partnership enquiries, please use the Contact page or email us directly.
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