We recently stayed at a 4-star hotel in Ixtapa, Mexico, only to realize upon checking-in the room accommodations were shoddy. The overall star rating proved to be misleading. Hotel ratings have become blurred and tricky at times to interrupt thanks in a large part to reviews written by guests which is today’s major means of travel research on the internet. Guest reviews generally reflect opinions rather than a grade from a reputable organization. Though unofficial, guest-submitted ratings may be more or less reliable as long as the criteria for evaluating hotels is consistent. The purpose of this travel tip is to provide an overview of the difference between 3-star, 4-star and 5-star hotels.
To put hotel ratings in context, I’ve compiled the below definitions from various sources for 3-star, 4-star and 5-star hotels. I believe it’s a good tool for travelers to compare hotel reviews and photos to base their hotel selections.
3-Stars:
- Hotels are more comfortable than 1-star and 2-star hotels.
- Provide a variety of room options.
- May not have 24-hour room service.
- Basic amenities include restaurant, pool, fitness center, lobby, and conference room.
4-Stars:
- Considered luxury hotels, typically stylish and refined and offer upscale accommodations.
- Provide a variety of rooms as well as suite options. Rooms are spacious.
- Have 24-hour room service.
- Will have a bar, multiple pools, kids club or care facility, lounge, spacious lobby with colorful stylish furniture, fitness center, spa, concierge service, business facilities, multiple restaurants and valet parking.
- Offer more services, comfort, and luxury than 1-star, 2-star and 3-star hotels.
- Rooms and suites have high-quality bedding, linen and extensive amenities.
- Grounds and landscaping exquisitely groomed.
- Typically, less expensive than 5-star hotels.
5-Stars:
- Hotels offer maximum level of comfort, luxury and service. Known for their superb hospitality, excellent architecture, interior design, landscaping and exquisite taste.
- Provide a variety of rooms as well as suite options. Rooms are spacious.
- Have 24-hour room service, butler service.
- Offer gourmet food, elegant ambiance throughout rooms, public spaces, multiple pools, kids club or care facility, luxury spa services, lounge, lobby with natural greenery and plants, fitness center, concierge service, business facilities and meeting facilities, multiple restaurants and valet parking.
- Offer more services, comfort, and luxury than 4-star hotels, meticulous and personalized service to guests.
- Rooms and suites have high-quality bedding, linen, flooring, extensive amenities, original wall art, and elegant room decor.
- Elegant ambiance throughout outer grounds.
- Very expensive since they offer ultimate luxury.
The original star ratings system was started in the U.S. with the Mobil Travel Guide in the 1950s. It eventually became the Forbes Travel Guide and today is internationally recognized as the yard stick to measure a hotel’s overall quality. There are no international standards, but there are other rating systems designed and used by other countries, travel organizations and travel websites. The American Automobile Association (AAA) is another major official organization that rates hotel quality across the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. AAA, however, issues diamond ratings as opposed to star ratings. Nevertheless, most of the ratings are similar.
Hotels can also play the system by cleverly skimping on subtle details, for example, room furniture, linen and bedding, toiletries, limiting restaurant hours, etc. This is exactly the irony of the 4-star rating of the hotel where my family and I stayed. The number of pools, restaurants and bars, size of the lounge and lobby, on-site fitness center and spa, and room options are consistent with a 4-star rating, but each area lacked useful features expected of a 4-star quality hotel.
In my case, it soon became obvious the hotel actually paid little attention to the quality of its room accommodations. This became even more apparent when I discovered an insect infestation in one corner of the ceiling in the master bedroom. Originally, I believed it was discolored caulking, but several days later discovered it was in fact an active infestation.
Hotel management took immediate action to remove the infestation, however, the psychological damage to our family vacation was done. As a result, I protested the quality of our room accommodations and challenged the hotel’s overall 4-star rating. Upon returning home, I filed a complaint with the hotel corporate offices, and as a result I was reimbursed for the cost of my hotel stay.
But for my knowledge and understanding of the hotel star ratings system, I do not believe my case for reimbursement would have been resolved to my satisfaction. This aside, knowing what the star ratings system really means and how it is supposed to work will enable travelers to select their preferred hotels and objectively base their guest hotel reviews in the future.