Every spot personally visited and approved by Ivan. Not Michelin. Not an algorithm. Just honest picks from someone who actually shows up.
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I travel, I eat, I stay β and I tell you exactly what I found. No PR packages, no comped meals, no reasons to lie. If a place is rubbish, I say so.
I followed Michelin. I followed the apps. I kept ending up somewhere average, overpriced, and forgettable. So I stopped trusting other people's lists and started my own. Every spot on here I visited myself β food, hotels, everything. This is the guide I wish existed.
I go. I pay. I'd go back β or I'd send a friend without hesitation. That's the only filter. Venue partnerships exist but are always clearly labelled. My personal picks are always organic and always earned.
I added hotels because finding a genuinely good place to stay is just as hard as finding good food. Every hotel I've either stayed in or inspected personally. I cover the real stuff β is the bed actually comfortable, is it worth the price, is the location convenient.
The Sanctioned Ivan channel is where you can watch me go to these places in real time.