| can you expect from a 5-star hotel that you would not | | | | their faults and one star should not be considered |
| get from a 4-star? Who decides on these ratings? | | | | unless you’re desperate to get inside! There is |
| How can you guarantee the quality of the luxury hotel | | | | only one record of a zero star hotel, which is a |
| that you’ve paid for? We answer these | | | | converted nuclear bunker in Switzerland. We would |
| questions and more. | | | | only recommend staying there in a “dire |
| Seeing Stars, Hotel Ratings Demystified | | | | emergency/when you hear the three-minute |
| Simply put, hotel classifications are not a unified | | | | warning!” |
| system. Many big chains, from budget options to luxury | | | | But can you ever trust these ratings if they are, at |
| hotels, are allowed to apply their own classification | | | | best, locally judged and, at worst, self-awarded? How |
| systems based on the size and facilities of each of | | | | can you guarantee that a luxury hotel really is a luxury |
| their establishments. They are not monitored by | | | | hotel ? A number of bodies rate accommodation |
| anyone except their own internal managers. And to | | | | providers, including the AA, the RAC, the tourist boards |
| make things more confusing, even chains change their | | | | of various nations and, of course, independent travel |
| “star criteria” from country to country! | | | | guides such as Michelin, Gault Millau and Mobil. But, |
| As there are variations worldwide in the quality, size | | | | we’ve all had experience of disagreeing with |
| and design of different hotels the classification | | | | what we’ve read or even basing our choices |
| systems vary from nation to nation. This often means | | | | on reviews which are dangerously out of date. |
| that what one would expect from, say, a three-star | | | | The two paths left to the discerning traveller on the |
| hotel in one country may be very much | | | | hunt for the truth are as follows. The first is to |
| under-achieved by a similarly-rated hotel in another. | | | | cross-reference every piece of literature you can find |
| Five-star hotels, for example, are expected to have | | | | on the subject of each hotel, comparing the reputation |
| the very finest of every facility made available, from | | | | of the brand (if applicable) with the designations for |
| restaurants to spas and other amenities, a high ratio of | | | | their rating and coming up with a fair picture of what |
| staff to guest and a superior location. However, | | | | kind of quality you are to expect. The second is so |
| France – arguably the greatest supplier of fine | | | | obvious that we need not even say |
| hotels in the world – doesn’t even have a | | | | it…Recommendations. Whether this comes from |
| five-star rating as even the Ritz and similar | | | | a friend or an agency doesn’t matter, as long |
| “palaces” stick to the four-star rating to | | | | as you trust the source. Agencies that specialise in |
| avoid heavy taxes! Not to worry, as President | | | | luxury hotels and the upper end of splendour, base |
| Sarkozy is coming to the rescue of holidaymakers in | | | | their reputations on customer satisfaction and |
| Europe at least…One of his goals is to | | | | separating exceptional establishments from the |
| standardise the hotel rating system to ensure fair | | | | pretenders. As it’s in their financial interests that |
| judgement and balance decision making. | | | | you are content with their choices, you’re |
| Broadly speaking, star ratings should break down | | | | almost certain to be directed to the experience you |
| something like this… five star hotels (or most | | | | want, whether it’s a no- expense-spared |
| four and all four star luxe in France) are, as mentioned | | | | five-star+ to the relaxed charm of a family-run |
| above, expected to provide everything you need at | | | | chateau. To summarise, until the system changes, |
| any hour of the day or night, four stars should mean | | | | forget the stars and go with what you know you can |
| formality and quality but without the very height of | | | | trust. Or else be ready to “gets what you pay |
| opulence, three stars should mean good, clean service, | | | | for”. |
| two stars are generally privately-owned and forgiven | | | | |