| Simply put, hotel classifications are not a unified | | | | zero star hotel, which is a converted nuclear bunker in |
| system. Many big chains, from budget options to luxury | | | | Switzerland. We would only recommend staying there |
| hotels, are allowed to apply their own classification | | | | in a "dire emergency/when you hear the three-minute |
| systems based on the size and facilities of each of | | | | warning!" |
| their establishments. They are not monitored by | | | | But can you ever trust these ratings if they are, at |
| anyone except their own internal managers. And to | | | | best, locally judged and, at worst, self-awarded? How |
| make things more confusing, even chains change their | | | | can you guarantee that a luxury hotel really is aluxury |
| "star criteria" from country to country! | | | | hotel ? A number of bodies rate accommodation |
| As there are variations worldwide in the quality, size | | | | providers, including the AA, the RAC, the tourist boards |
| and design of different hotels the classification | | | | of various nations and, of course, independent travel |
| systems vary from nation to nation. This often means | | | | guides such as Michelin, Gault Millau and Mobil. But, |
| that what one would expect from, say, a three-star | | | | we've all had experience of disagreeing with what |
| hotel in one country may be very much | | | | we've read or even basing our choices on reviews |
| under-achieved by a similarly-rated hotel in another. | | | | which are dangerously out of date. |
| Five-star hotels, for example, are expected to have | | | | The two paths left to the discerning traveller on the |
| the very finest of every facility made available, from | | | | hunt for the truth are as follows. The first is to |
| restaurants to spas and other amenities, a high ratio of | | | | cross-reference every piece of literature you can find |
| staff to guest and a superior location. However, | | | | on the subject of each hotel, comparing the reputation |
| France - arguably the greatest supplier of fine hotels in | | | | of the brand (if applicable) with the designations for |
| the world - doesn't even have a five-star rating as | | | | their rating and coming up with a fair picture of what |
| even the Ritz and similar "palaces" stick to the | | | | kind of quality you are to expect. The second is so |
| four-star rating to avoid heavy taxes! Not to worry, as | | | | obvious that we need not even say |
| President Sarkozy is coming to the rescue of | | | | it...Recommendations. Whether this comes from a |
| holidaymakers in Europe at least...One of his goals is to | | | | friend or an agency doesn't matter, as long as you |
| standardise the hotel rating system to ensure fair | | | | trust the source. Agencies that specialise in luxury |
| judgement and balance decision making. | | | | hotels and the upper end of splendour, base their |
| Broadly speaking, star ratings should break down | | | | reputations on customer satisfaction and separating |
| something like this... five star hotels (or most four and all | | | | exceptional establishments from the pretenders. As it's |
| four star luxe in France) are, as mentioned above, | | | | in their financial interests that you are content with their |
| expected to provide everything you need at any hour | | | | choices, you're almost certain to be directed to the |
| of the day or night, four stars should mean formality | | | | experience you want, whether it's a no- |
| and quality but without the very height of opulence, | | | | expense-spared five-star+ to the relaxed charm of a |
| three stars should mean good, clean service, two stars | | | | family-run chateau. To summarise, until the system |
| are generally privately-owned and forgiven their faults | | | | changes, forget the stars and go with what you know |
| and one star should not be considered unless you're | | | | you can trust. Or else be ready to "gets what you pay |
| desperate to get inside! There is only one record of a | | | | for". |