Understanding Hotel Star Ratings: What They Really Mean

We do a lot of research in selecting hotels for our small group tours.  When booking a hotel, many travelers assume that star ratings reflect location or room size—but that’s simply not the case. Whether you’re right in the heart of the city or miles away, a hotel’s star rating says little about where it’s located or how spacious your room will be. In fact, I’ve stayed at 1-star hotels with larger rooms than some 5-star properties.

So, what do star ratings actually measure? Let’s break it down.

What Hotel Star Ratings Really Mean

Star ratings focus primarily on amenities—the services and facilities a hotel offers—not location or room size. Here are some examples of factors that can determine a hotel’s star rating:

• On-site restaurant (in some countries, you can’t achieve a 4-star rating without one, no matter how good the hotel is)

• Television in the room

• Elevators

• Concierge services

• Spa or wellness facilities

• Fitness center

• Parking availability

• Swimming pool

• Business or meeting rooms

• Reservation services

Because of these requirements, you can often find a 3-star hotel that’s every bit as good as a 4-star—especially if you don’t care about amenities like an on-site restaurant. And since 3-star hotels generally cost less, they can be a great value.

Insider Tip for Finding a Bargain

Sometimes a hotel upgrades its facilities and services but hasn’t yet received its official certification for a higher star rating. That means you might score a soon-to-be 3-star property at a 2-star price.

The Traveling Professor’s Quick Guide to Star Ratings

• No Stars – You don't want to stay here. 

• 1 Star – Often no private bath or A/C. Unless specifically recommended, skip these.

• 2 Star – The better ones have private baths, are clean, and may include elevators and hair dryers. Usually small properties. Book only if recommended.  An example of a good 2-star hotel in Paris is the Grand Balcons. We use it on our small group tours to Paris. 

• 3 Star – Often small and charming but can also be large. Private bath, usually A/C. A safe bet for most travelers.  We like the Il Guelfo Bianco in Florence hotel for instance, on our small group tours to Italy. 

• 4 Star – Quality, full-service hotels. Rooms may be smaller than what’s typical in the U.S.  A 4-star we use on our "Dublin and Gems of Ireland" tour is the Brooks Hotel in Dublin. 

• 4 Star Luxe & 5 Star – Iconic luxury hotels like The Ritz, Meurice, or Excelsior. Expect unmatched service—and nightly rates of €600–€900  a night or even more.  When we travel to Sorrento, Italy, we like to stay at the 5-star Hotel Excelsior Vittoria when we can get an exceptional deal. A 5-star hotel we use regularly is the Hotel Cornaro in Split, Croatia before we depart on our small ship cruise. 

Bottom Line:
Star ratings are not about location or room size—they’re about amenities. Knowing this can help you find great hotels at the right price without overpaying for features you don’t need.  On our Traveling Professor small group tours, the first thing we look for in a hotel is location.  From there, we determine if it is a good value and if it offers the amenities we need.