How We Research and Verify Our Guides
How East Timor Guide checks visa rules, prices, ferry schedules and hotel details, what 'last verified' means, and how we handle uncertainty.
Updated
Answer first, sources always
Every guide starts with a direct answer, shows the date it was last verified, and lists the sources we checked. If you only read the first box on a page, you should have the answer you came for.
Where our facts come from
We give most weight to primary sources:
- Government: the Migration Service of Timor-Leste, the Customs Authority, the Government of Timor-Leste and its news agency Tatoli, and the travel advice published by Australia, the UK, Canada and the US.
- Operators: airlines, the port authority APORTIL and its published ferry schedule, dive centres and hotels.
- Tourism bodies: Tourism Timor-Leste and the Ataúro tourism association.
We use reputable secondary sources, such as recent traveller reports, local booking platforms and Wikipedia, to cross-check. When sources disagree, we say so and use the more conservative figure.
What "last verified" means
The "last verified" date is when we last checked the facts on that page against the sources listed. It does not mean every price is guaranteed. Prices in Timor-Leste move, flights change and ferries are cancelled for weather or maintenance. Pages we have not checked for more than 120 days are marked as possibly out of date.
We also say how each page was checked. "Checked against official sources and operators" means a desk review of the sources listed. Where a partner has supplied details, we say that too.
How we handle uncertainty
We do not invent prices, phone numbers, schedules or rules. If something important cannot be confirmed, the page says so, and pages whose key facts are unconfirmed are kept out of search engines until they are verified.
Prices
All prices are in US dollars, Timor-Leste's currency, and are shown as ranges with the month they were checked. Hotel prices are typical starting rates we saw, not quotes.
Corrections
If something is wrong or out of date, please tell us. We update the page, record the change in the "updated" date, and thank you if you would like credit.