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get_destinations

List GSA destinations

Return the paginated list of GSA destination rate areas and their numeric IDs. A destination is an area for which GSA publishes a per diem rate; it may represent a city, metropolitan area, county, locality, or the Standard CONUS area rather than a single municipality.

Use destination_id with GET /v1/gsa/perdiem/destination/{destination_id} to retrieve the rate in effect for that destination. ID 0 identifies the Standard CONUS rate. name is GSA's display name, while defined_name, county, and state fields provide the geographic context needed to select the correct rate area.

Results are ordered by destination_id. Use offset and limit to page through the list. An offset beyond the available records returns an empty list, not a 404 response.

Input Schema

NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
limitNoMaximum number of destinations to return. The maximum is 200.
offsetNoNumber of destination records to skip before returning results.

Schema Changelog

Changes observed during successful MCP inspections.

  1. First observed

TDQS

A4.1/5.0
Behavior4/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

No annotations are provided, so the description carries the full behavioral burden. It usefully discloses ordering by `destination_id`, pagination behavior, and that an out-of-range offset returns an empty list rather than a 404. It does not mention authentication, rate limits, or pagination metadata, which keeps it from a 5.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

The description is front-loaded with the core action, then adds only useful context about destination meaning, IDs, fields, and pagination. The sentences are purposeful and there is no obvious repetition or filler.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness5/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

For a simple two-parameter list tool with no output schema, the description covers the concept of a destination, the key returned fields, the ID semantics, ordering, pagination, and the empty-list edge case. An agent has enough information to call and interpret this tool correctly.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters3/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema description coverage is 100%, so both `limit` and `offset` are already documented in the schema. The description adds useful behavioral context for `offset` (empty list beyond available records), but otherwise does not expand parameter semantics beyond the schema baseline.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose4/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description states a clear verb and resource: it lists GSA destinations and returns their rate areas and numeric IDs. It also explains what a destination is, which removes ambiguity. It does not explicitly name the sibling tool `get_destination_by_id` as the alternative for looking up a single destination, so it falls short of full sibling differentiation.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines4/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

The description gives clear usage context: use a returned `destination_id` with the destination-rate endpoint, and use `offset`/`limit` to page. It explains the special `0` ID for Standard CONUS. It does not explicitly say when to avoid this tool in favor of a specific sibling, so it is strong but not exhaustive.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

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