In the world of travel, stars often shine as a symbol of quality and luxury when choosing a hotel. But behind this rating lies a very different reality
The star rating of hotels, and especially of all-inclusives, is often seen as an indicator of a property’s quality. But you should know that this rating method looks only at the number of services available at the hotel, free or paid. For example: a spa, a gym or other sports facilities, food available 24 hours a day, conference rooms for events and conventions, a nearby golf course, or a concierge, laundry or dry-cleaning service.
As a result, it’s not unusual for a hotel to get a high number of stars because of tiny details, such as an umbrella in the room. Picture this: you book a week at a 5-star in Punta Cana in April, when the average temperature is 29 degrees and there is no rain. You’re paying for umbrella service, but it will stay untouched in your room, never used.
In Québec, in fact, for a tourist establishment to get the perfect 5-star rating, it had to have at least three different light sources in the bathroom of every room. Unsurprisingly, the star classification system was abolished during the pandemic, making way for online review sites like TripAdvisor or Monarc.
And since star ratings aren’t based on an evaluation, some things aren’t taken into account and so aren’t reflected in the number of stars awarded. What are they?
Food
When it comes to dining, it’s mainly the number of restaurants that counts. For example, a small 200-room hotel with 10 restaurants could see its star rating go up thanks to its ratio of 1 restaurant per 20 rooms. Still, the food offering may well deserve 5 stars while the dishes aren’t to your taste and the flavours just aren’t there.
Upkeep and cleanliness
Here’s a concrete example: the four-star NYX Cancun hotel is constantly praised for its spotless cleanliness, while the Riu Republica in Punta Cana, despite having one more star, is rarely praised for its housekeeping or the upkeep of its common areas and pools.
Staff
The staff are there to provide the service, yes, but courtesy, politeness and a smile are never guaranteed. On the other hand, you can find the most smiling, warm and dedicated employees in most 3- to 4-star hotels, in Cuba for example.
Beach
Although being close to the beach counts as a service, the beauty of the beach does not. It’s not unusual to find luxurious 5-star resorts on Mexican beaches full of seaweed, with rocky sand and brown water, or 3.5-star hotels on the most beautiful beaches in Cuba.
Notice something? In almost every case, these four criteria are what drive the final choice when picking a hotel. When we go all-inclusive, we want a clean place where we’ll eat well, with attentive service, and ideally set on a beach with turquoise water and white sand!
So how do you find your way? Turn to your travel agency! Travel experts will answer your questions and find the perfect hotel for your vacation plans, one that fits both your criteria and your budget.
