About the Trust Grade
The Trust Grade is Best Retreats’ published evaluation of a retreat center based on publicly available information, user-submitted reports, platform research, and the center’s responsiveness to inquiries and complaints. Each retreat in our directory is assigned a grade from A+ to F based on the scoring criteria below.
What Is the Trust Grade?
The Trust Grade is Best Retreats’ independent evaluation of a center’s risk and transparency profile. It’s not a popularity score – it’s a signal based on evidence: complaints, incident reports, verified responsiveness, and behavior across the web.
Each center is assigned a Trust Grade from A+ to F, and it’s updated regularly.
Scoring Criteria Breakdown
Centers begin with a baseline score of 100. Negative-scored items deduct from the baseline. Positive-scored items represent areas where the center can earn back points if penalized in related categories. The final score is mapped to the grade scale below.
| Category | Max Points | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Complaint volume (weighted by recency) | 15 pts | We track formal complaints and major red flags submitted to Best Retreats |
| Unanswered complaints | 40 pts | Has the retreat replied to complaints? Silence is a red flag |
| Unresolved complaints | 30 pts | Was the issue addressed fairly or ignored? |
| Delay in resolution | 5 pts | Did they respond quickly and professionally? |
| Pattern of complaints | -25 pts | Ongoing patterns without change reduce grade |
| ICEERS / Legal / News Reports | -30 pts | Verified incidents from outside orgs |
| Transparency (Team, Pricing, Location) | 10 pts | Are team bios, photos, and pricing clearly shown? |
| Responded to our outreach? | 5 pts | We test if they reply to contact attempts |
| Willingness to mediate/arbitrate | 5 pts | Engaging in dispute resolution adds points |
| Online risk monitoring (Reddit, Quora, TripAdvisor) | -10 pts | Severe online risk incidents, tone, and themes |
| Ad review violations | -20 pts | Exaggerated/fake marketing claims |
| Business documentation verified | 5 pts | If available — business registration, licenses, etc. |
| Impersonation or fraud risk | -50 pts | Misleading users with false claims or stolen content |
| Health & safety procedures (if disclosed) | 5 pts | Bonus for safety protocols and medical screening |
| Verified guest feedback (non-incentivized) | 10 pts | From direct interviews, third-party reports, etc. |
Trust Grade Letter Score Scale
| Score | Grade |
|---|---|
| 97 – 100 | A+ – Fully transparent, zero incidents |
| 94 – 96.99 | A – Excellent track record |
| 90 – 93.99 | A- – Strong but room to improve |
| 87 – 89.99 | B+ – Decent history, minor issues |
| 84 – 86.99 | B – Some gaps in transparency |
| 80 – 83.99 | B- – Slower response or weak disclosures |
| 77 – 79.99 | C+ – Complaints not resolved promptly |
| 74 – 76.99 | C – Not communicative; concerns flagged |
| 70 – 73.99 | C- – Multiple risk signs present |
| 67 – 69.99 | D+ – Ongoing incident patterns |
| 64 – 66.99 | D – Risky behavior, no resolution |
| 60 – 63.99 | D- – High-risk / non-responsive |
| 0 – 59.99 | F – Known safety issues, impersonation, fraud |
How to Improve Your Grade
Requesting a Re-evaluation
Centers can request a re-evaluation of their Trust Grade at any time. Re-evaluations are typically prompted by:
- Resolution of previously flagged complaints
- Updated transparency (team bios, pricing, location, etc.)
- Documented changes to safety protocols
- Engagement with mediation or arbitration on outstanding incidents
Re-evaluation requests can be sent to contact@bestretreats.co.
Learn More
Trust Grades are determined independently of accreditation status. To read about how Best Retreats Accreditation works as a separate program, see Accreditation Standards.
To submit information about a retreat center for review, contact us at contact@bestretreats.co.
Trust Grade scores reflect Best Retreats’ independent evaluation based on publicly available data, user-submitted reports, platform research, and retreat center responsiveness. While we use a structured scoring framework, not all factors can be perfectly measured. Grades are approximate, subject to human review, exceptions, and ongoing updates. They are not a guarantee of safety or service quality, and should be considered one piece of a broader decision-making process. Users should always do their own research before choosing a retreat.
Best Retreats is operated by The Retreat Safety Project, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN: 41-5114645). Trust grades are determined by the nonprofit’s independent research team. Accreditation is a separate, fee-based program; trust grades are not influenced by accreditation status.