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The phrase 5-star hotel conjures up visions of luxury: a majestic lobby, bellhops and a concierge on hand to serve you, room service and white fluffy bathrobes in your hotel room, and opulent facilities such as a spa and gym.
But what exactly do hotel star ratings mean?
What exactly is the distinction between a 5-star hotel and a one-star hotel and all the levels in between?
While star ratings are prevalent on hotel booking websites and travel guides, you may be wondering what they imply.
Here’s a rundown of hotel star ratings and what to anticipate while staying in a 5-star hotel.
Who determines hotel star ratings?
Because there is no common system for grading hotels and assigning star ratings, star ratings differ per region.
Forbes Travel Guide and AAA are the two most well-known hotel rating agencies in the United States.
Forbes Travel Guide assigns the designations Five-Star, Four-Star, and Recommended to hundreds of upmarket hotels worldwide (Three-Star.) The AAA Diamond Rating System assigns hotels between One Diamond (Budget-Oriented) and Five Diamonds (Ultimate Luxury.)
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However, hotel star ratings fluctuate in various nations.
There is an official government rating system in France, for example, and hotels are required by law to show their star rating, which ranges from one to five stars. Many other nations have official star rating systems that are used to rank hotels by the government or the tourism board.
While the conventional worldwide scale grades hotels from one to five stars, some ultra-luxury hotels have gone so far as to claim to be six-star hotels.
The Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai even claims to be the world’s only seven-star hotel, with features such as personal butler service, a Rolls-Royce chauffeur, and apartments that cost more than $20,000 per night.
What Do Hotel Star Ratings Indicate?
Although there is no universally accepted rating system, the overall meaning of each star rating is generally constant.
Here’s what to expect from each hotel’s star rating:
No-frills one-star accommodation. A one-star hotel will not provide facilities such as room service or daily housekeeping. Consider something like a Motel 6 in the United States.
Two-Star
Two-star hotels are still rather basic and inexpensive, although they may offer some additional facilities, particularly if they are newer. This may be anything like a Marriott Fairfield Inn or a Wyndham La Quinta Inn.
Three-Star
A three-star hotel is typically a normal, pleasant hotel with a reasonable variety of amenities. There are often swimming pools, exercise centers, and on-site eateries. Consider the Courtyard by Marriott or the Hyatt Place.
Four-Star
Hotels Four-star hotels offer all of the facilities of a three-star hotel, plus extras such as valet car service or concierge service. This is comparable to a Marriott or Hyatt Regency.
Five-Star
This is the most opulent hotel available, with even more high-end facilities and services. The Ritz-Carlton and the Four Seasons are two examples of five-star hotels.
Are Hotel Star Ratings Reliable?
Hotel star ratings might be an excellent starting point for appraising a hotel’s quality, but they are not the only metric to consider.
Rather than relying just on the hotel’s star rating, it’s a good idea to examine guest reviews on platforms such as Tripadvisor or Booking.com.
It’s also vital to consider a hotel’s location, pricing, and newness.
A contemporary, newly built SpringHill Suites by Marriott can easily be a nicer stay than an older, dated, full-service Marriott hotel with a four-star rating.
While hotel star ratings might be useful when planning a trip, they are not the only element to consider.
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