Tonight, I’m staying in a 400-year-old Spanish castle that’s been converted into a hotel. Luxurious, right? Well here’s the thing: it’s a two-star hotel.
Hotel stars probably don’t mean what you think they mean. In most cases, they’re not a rating of quality; they’re a measure of the facilities on offer. A one-star hotel isn’t a dirty dive; it’s just basic, no-frills accommodation. And, while a three-star hotel is theoretically more luxurious, if the cleaners don’t do their job correctly or it hasn’t been refurbished in a few decades, your stay there could be much worse.
Let’s take a deeper dive.
The Starry Mess
There is no one universal hotel star system worldwide. In the US, different groups like the AAA rate hotels. In Europe and Asia, it’s usually the tourism board or another government body that decides a hotel’s rating—although sometimes inclusion is voluntary. And, of course, there isn’t even a standard number of stars: in France, hotels are ranked out of four. There’s no guarantee that three-star properties in Paris, New York, London, and Rome will offer you the same experience.
Even online booking sites like Expedia are in on the action and use their own star system—except where government-enforced ones are required to be used.
Put simply:
- Hotel star systems are a measure of facilities, not a subjective quality of experience. The hotel I’m staying in tonight is a two-star property because it’s a small, 400-year-old, protected building. Without gutting the inside, it could not be fitted with “luxuries” like large rooms, bathtubs, or a swimming pool. But it’s a fricking castle.
- Hotels with more stars will have more facilities, like bathtubs, 24-hour receptions, and minibars, than hotels with fewer stars, but the overall experience might not be better. It’s often better to stay in a nice three-star hotel than a generic four-star, as long as you don’t mind not having a bar on-site or 24-hour room service.
- Hotel stars, unless from an international rating agency like Michelin or booking site like Expedia, are different between countries. The judgment criteria aren’t the same. A good French four-star hotel is more like one of AAA’s American five-star hotels.
A General Guide
With all that said, while hotel star systems are a total mess, some generalities can be made about them as a whole—though there will be plenty of variance within each category.
One star hotels (and motels/guesthouses) offer basic, no-frills accommodation. Rooms will generally be small. A 24-hour reception, daily cleaning, and ensuite bathrooms are not guaranteed. You’ll have a place to sleep, but not a lot more.
Two-star hotels are a step up from one-star properties. You’ll probably get a 24-hour reception, daily cleaning, and an ensuite bathroom—though maybe with just a shower. Your room will likely have a TV and a phone. You might get a continental breakfast and a lobby bar, but it’s not guaranteed. These are your basic hotels, although, in old cities, they could just be old buildings that can’t be renovated.
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Source : What Do Hotel Stars Actually Mean?
