A Guide to Hotel Star Ratings - Men's Folio

A Guide to Hotel Star Ratings

All the stars.

By Manfred Lu

A Guide to Hotel Star Ratings
Hotel star ratings can be confusing. Some have insisted its outdatedness while others find that user-based ratings provide are more precise. We attempt to figure out where the ratings come from and what each star truly means using reactions of Paris Hilton — the Mother of all hotels.

The last thing anyone needs during a vacation is to be disappointed. We have all heard the horror stories — luggages going missing, getting food poisoning, finding bed bugs. Travelling isn’t always smooth sailing, and mishaps can be avoided if ample research had been made prior to booking that trip. Which is why when it comes down to the choosing the hotel for a trip, we rely on hotel star ratings for an assured, peace of mind.

But today, its simple scale of 1 to 5 stars has led many to be confused. Try this: Google the W New York Union Square (the property that infamously called the police on Anna Delvey) and the search engine will reveal it as a 4-star hotel. Yet, those familiar with the W brand may find this misleading. As a luxury brand under the Marriott group of hotels, W hotels are known for their quirky, off-beat but glamorous appeal — most W hotels across the globe sport a 5-star rating. Should they all not be the same? After all, what makes it even more skeptical is that we would expect less of Delvey to choose one of the Lower East Side’s more “affordable” option in New York City.


Standard rooms at the W New York Union Square.

It turns out, what used to be a straightforward indicator of a hotel’s quality has not quite been the most accurate gauge for a hotel’s quality. Traditionally ranging from 1 to 5 — the higher the number, the higher the expectations for better service — official star ratings was how one could tell if they were not getting scammed. But with an increasing number of discrepancies thanks to varying laws governing how these ratings are given globally, we have all turned to user-based ratings for its preciseness — think Tripadvisor.

Do these official ratings matter then? To get a better idea, perhaps it is time we understand why these ratings exist, and what it truly means.

A Guide to Hotel Star RatingsHôtel Plaza Athénée has an official 5-star badge.

Each country has unique organisations that rank their hotels by stars. While they may all appear to sport a similar framework, some are leaner and others have stricter rules. In France — where it once ranked hotels up to just 4-stars — a government agency was set up in 2009 and is responsible for giving out these official ratings. It also involves a stringent checklist. For instance, 3 or 4-star ratings are given to hotels that have rooms bigger than 14 square metres and 6 hangers, while 5-star ratings are awarded to hotels with facades decorated with plants or flowers.

In the United States, there are no official government channels responsible for handing out star ratings. Instead, the country uses a common consensus on the stars to denote the level of services a hotel can provide. 1-star hotels typically refer to tourist inns, while 5-star adhere to a common understanding of flawless service and luxurious finishings. 4-stars are for those who may not have a complete set of amenities but still come with impeccable service similar to 5-star prosperities. This means, the the lack of a pool at the W New York Union Square would have contributed to its 4-star rating, which feels arbitrary considering it has all the qualities of a high-end hotel.

To make things easier, here is a breakdown of what the star ratings actually mean — explained with Paris Hilton reactions.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Pure luxury. But not all the time. In certain countries, star rankings are defined by the amount of extra services provided. That means, the higher the stars, the more you would be overcharged for menial services.

★ ★ ★ ★

This is where the party starts, especially if you’re not keen on splurging for shiny name brands. Bigger rooms, 24-hour room service and sometimes even an exclusive club lounge, because that’s hot.

★ ★ ★

Everything you’d expect a hotel to provide but without all the extra luxuries like a pool or a gym. Over the years, luxurious boutique hotels have sprung up but are unfortunately forced to hold a 3-star status, so don’t be fooled by the lower ranking.

★ ★

The bare minimum. like a TV in colour or Wi-Fi fast enough to at least read your emails. Don’t expect room service or a concierge desk though — you’re merely paying for a semi-comfortable roof over your head here.

Just avoid it. While it suggests having lesser amenities, there are plenty of better options at the same price.

Bonus: (and beyond)

While it may represent the ultra-luxurious, hotels that claim to be more than 5-stars in quality are most likely using it as a marketing gimmick. By definition, these are simply top notch 5-star hotels.

Once you are done with this story, click here to catch up with our June/July 2024 issue.