MartinJacobson/Star article criteria

This is a Wikivoyage user page.

To make it easier to determine whether an article meets star status I made this check-list of criteria I think that any star article should meet. Please feel free to add any criteria you think is necessary for status.

In general

• Follows manual of style, duh
• Complete. Ideally, this should be attested by a docent, or someone who is familiar with the area
• Good quality images, evenly distributed over the article (~1 image per full page on a computer?)
• The article should have an up to date map
• Up to date. Even if the article met all the criteria for star status 15 years ago, but hasn't been updated since, it is unlikely to be helpful to travelers

Lists and listings

• Alphabetical order. In anything else is used that should be made clear
• No lists should exceed 9 items. The only exceptions I can think of are lists of annual events. As they are organized by date, they are easy to overview even if they are long.
• No duplications
• No fields in the listing editor should be left blank if there is information to add about them. The exceptions would be the price field for things which are obviously free, and directions to places which are easy to find, and the like.
• Importantly: External link to any place that has a website, or even an official facebook page. Makes it way easier to keep it up to date
• Importantly: Fill out the lastedited-field, so that you can tell if the listing and the article is up to date. The only real exception would be places which are free, open 24 hours daily, and cannot move, such as a park or a forest

Heading-specific checklist (for cities)

• Lede
  • Briefly explains where the destination is and why it is interesting to travelers
  • Population figures (in lede or in understand). I know that such statistics are very blunt, but at least they give an idea weather it is a city of millions, thousands, or hundreds
• Understand should include information about
  • Orientation. If orientation is easy, then say so
  • History
  • Climate, with a chart
  • Tourist office. If there is none in town, then say where the closest one is
  • Read/Watch (if there is any interesting literature about the place)
  • Talk (if it is not obvious that English is understood everywhere)
• Get in/around
  • Don't forget prices, duration and frequency of any relevant public transport
• See
• Do
  • If there are any annual/recurring events, these should be listed under their own heading, ordered by date. Event dates should be generic so that they stay true over time, i.e. "first Friday of October every year", not "October 5th 2018".
• Buy
  • Information about typical/appropriate souvenirs, and, if there are any, a list of souvenir stores/Gift shops
  • Major shopping streets/areas/malls
  • General shopping opening hours
• Eat
  • Information about local cuisine, if it differs interestingly from the national cuisine
  • Information about vegetarian and vegan options. If there are none say so
  • Varied list, including budget, mid-range and splurge option. If there are none say so
  • {{eatpricerange}} and/or prices for each venue
• Drink
  • Mention local brands and types of beverages and pastry, if there are any
  • For any major city: Paragraph about LGBT nightlife. If there is none, say so
  • Mentions cafés. If there are none, say so
  • Mentions bars. If there are none, say so
  • Mentions clubs/nightlife venues. If there are none say so
• Connect
  • Country and regional phone codes
  • Best ways to get online. If there are none say so
• Stay safe/healthy
  • List the major hospital. If there is none in town, then say where the closest one is.
  • List the major police office. If there is none in town, then say where the closest one is
  • Information about pharmacies. If there is none in town, then say where the closest one is
  • Information about vets. If there is none in town, then say where the closest one is
  • Any relevant info about Infectious diseases/Pests/Dangerous animals/Poisonous plants/Severe weather
  • Emergency numbers
• Cope
  • List embassies and consulates in the city. If there are additional ones nearby (in some place listed in "Go next") this could be mentioned
  • List all major religious denominations/places of worship at the destination
• Sleep
  • {{sleeppricerange}} and/or prices for each venue
  • Varied list, including budget, mid-range and splurge option. If there are none say so