Ever booked a five-star hotel to discover that, in reality, the service is a bit of a let down or the spa is a bit dated? Or, have you ever stayed at a lower-ranking, cheaper hotel to be extremely pleasantly surprised by staff who can’t do enough for you, and a breakfast worthy of a Michelin star? You’re certainly not alone. This is because the metric system that judges the hotels in the UK and abroad is not universally adhered to, meaning service, amenities, restaurants and even room sizes that earn a five-star rating are not standardised. Confused? We hear you. Discover our essential guide to hotel ratings – and how to ensure you’re not caught out when booking – below. 

Who ranks hotels in the UK? 

The most common and trusted organisations that can award hotels with ratings, and therefore stars, are the AA (Automobile Association) and Visit Britain. The former has been judging the hospitality sector since 1908 and launched the star rating scheme six years previously, meaning many deem its reviews as gospel. AA inspectors disguise themselves as mystery guests, provide feedback and can even award restaurants with now-coveted Rosettes. 

The AA, however, does not adhere to quite the same standards it launched with more than a century ago. In 2006, the AA joined forces with Visit England, Visit Wales and other partner bodies to all follow the Common Quality Standards so they could judge hotels by similar standards. 

However, this often meant one and two-star hotels could be seen as unpleasant or inferior, when in reality to even achieve one star, UK hotels had to provide a TV in every bedroom and offer breakfast, which is not something, regardless of standards, all hotels provide. In 2024, the AA and all other hospitality-governing bodies removed one and two-star ratings in a bid to create a fairer system, turning their attention to hotels that signed up to a scheme to be rated between three and five stars. A free, entry-level alternative rating system, named ‘Visitor Ready’, was also added to fill this gap. 

What do the different star ratings mean? 

The AA has recently published 33 pages on its star-rating system for hotels (see here), ranging from what constitutes a three-star experience from the moment you book or walk through the reception doors, to what would pass as a five-star room or suite judged on space, heating control, furniture, seating and in-room information. 

A reception area, for example, would be awarded five stars if it offers ‘a clearly designated reception area within an impressive lobby and foyer or a bespoke check-in, check-out process’, while a double bedroom could only get the top rating if offering ‘two substantial easy chairs plus an additional chair providing comfortable table use at the dressing/writing table’. 

Is this rating standardised across all booking platforms? 

The short answer is no, which is where the confusion and contradiction seep in. Booking.com, which had more than 100 million users on its mobile app in 2024, allows properties to self-select their own ratings when they sign up to the platform. Aeroplane operators like British Airways and EasyJet often look to third-party platforms, specifically TripAdvisor and Feefo, to judge hotels, meanwhile travel agency Thomas Cook relies on customer questionnaires to then award properties hearts instead of stars. 

Are hotels judged differently abroad? 

To muddy the waters further, hotels abroad abide by completely different standards. European countries including Greece, Germany and Switzerland have voluntarily signed The European Hotelstars Union, which launched in 2009 to ‘establish a transparent and reliable rating system for hotels that is applicable across national borders’ – but only 21 countries have signed up thus far. 

Popular holiday destinations such as Italy, France and Spain follow their own rules – case in point, Italian hotels don’t need to provide ensuites or breakfast to achieve a one-star rating. In some countries like Finland and Norway, there is no star classification at all. Elsewhere, the US has replaced stars with diamonds and, again, doesn't follow a national rulebook so its ratings can be quite loose. 

Dubai, in particular, made headlines in 1999 when the Burj Al Arab opened as supposedly the world’s first seven-star hotel. However, that comment was actually used by a journalist to describe its OTT opulence, not an inspector or independent judging body, but the tagline stuck. 

It’s no secret, then, that international hotel standards can be extremely hard to judge. Before you book, we recommend thinking about what you want from your hotel stay and then finding what suits you best, as well as reading independent reviews and advice. Happy booking.

Read more: Inside London’s Michelin Key hotels