1,000's of Hotels and Guest Houses in the UK and Worldwide. Ratings Guide English Tourism Council, Wales and Scottish Tourist Boards, AA and RAC ratings explained.

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Ratings Guide

From mid 1999, the AA, RAC and English Tourism Council agreed on a standardised rating scheme that would apply to members of all these organisations. The idea is that one single scheme is much easier to understand than several different ones. In an ideal world, the Scotland and Wales Tourist Boards would have also joined in with this rating scheme. Instead, they devised their own star rating scheme, so if you are planning to stay in Scotland or Wales, you will be confronted with a mixture of the two schemes.

English Tourism Council, AA and RAC Diamond and Star Schemes

The Diamonds scheme covers guest houses and bed and breakfasts that do not offer all the facilities of a hotel. Typically they will be smaller, probably family run, establishments. Sometimes the only thing stopping an establishment from being categorised as a hotel is that they do not offer an evening meal.

Guest houses in the London area tend to be small hotels. In common with most capital cities, London prices tend to be higher than prices outside the capital.

If a guest house or hotel has a diamond or star rating, you can expect to find the following minimum standards at all Diamond levels:

• Clean, comfortable, secure accommodation, with bedrooms equipped to modern standards.
• Beds, bedding and other bedroom furniture and equipment in good condition.
• Bedding and towels changed for each new guest, and at least weekly if the room is taken for a long stay. Additional pillows and blankets should be available on request.
• Adequate lighting and comfortable seating, a wardrobe or equivalent, shelves or drawers.
• Curtains or blinds correctly fitted and functioning.
• Adequate, clean and comfortable floor covering with bedside rugs, or fitted carpets.
• Proper attention to hygiene in bathrooms and WCs; adequate provision of toilet tissue and fresh soap.
• Adequate heating at no extra cost, and extra heating available at no extra cost on request.
• Hot water available at reasonable times.
• Normally a full, cooked breakfast will be available, although some establishments may offer only a continental breakfast. Note that a few establishments display room only rates - if this is the case, breakfast will be charged extra!

What the Diamonds mean

Guest houses can be awarded from one Diamond at the simplest level, to 5 Diamonds at the luxury end.

To be awarded any Diamonds at all, establishments must provide sufficient quality in all areas of operation shown below. They are given a score from 1 to 5 in each section. If they do not achieve a sufficient quality standard, they cannot be awarded a diamond rating at all.

The standards they are judged on are:

• Cleanliness and Housekeeping
• Service and Hospitality
• Bedroom Facilities
• Bathroom, Shower, WC and en-suite Facilities
• Food Quality and Service
• Public Rooms such as guest lounges
• Safety and Security, Exterior and Interior Appearance and upkeep

The awards take all these factors into account.

At all Diamond levels, cleanliness and good housekeeping are of the highest importance and the emphasis of the assessment for a Diamond rating is on guest care and quality rather than the provision of extra facilities.

Once everything has been assessed, the scores are converted into a percentage which is then turned into a Diamond rating:

 1 Diamond - Standard Quality - reflects a score of between 20% and 34%

 2 Diamonds - Standard Quality - reflects a score of between 35% and 49%

 3 Diamonds - Good Quality- reflects a score of between 50% and 69%

 4 Diamonds - High Quality - reflects a score of between 70% and 84%

 5 Diamonds - Outstanding Quality - reflects a score of 85% and more

What the Stars mean

 One Star establishments are practical accommodation with a limited range of facilities and services. There will be a restaurant or other eating area open to you for breakfast and dinner. Alcoholic drinks will be served in a bar or lounge. A majority of the rooms will have en suite facilities.

 Two Star establishments have everything one star places have but will be more comfortable and better equipped. They will offer a good range of services and personal style service.

 Three Star establishments have everything one and two star places have. They will offer a significantly greater quality and range of facilities and services. They are normally more spacious and will offer a more formal style of service with a receptionist on duty, room service and a laundry service.

 Four Star establishments have everything one, two and three star places have. They offer superior comfort and quality. All bedrooms will be en-suite. The hotel will have spacious public areas and will have a strong emphasis on food and drink. Room service should be available 24 hours a day.

 Five Star establishmentshave everything one, two, three and four star places have. They are spacious, luxurious establishments of the highest international quality throughout. There will be a range of extra facilities and the hotel will be amongst the best in the industry.

Scotland and Wales Tourist Board Star Scheme

Scotland and Wales are now awarding stars instead of the English Crowns.

Five different star ratings can be awarded:

• One Star establishments are rated as fair and acceptable quality.
• Two Star establishments are good quality.
• Three Star establishments are very good quality.
• Four Star establishments are excellent quality.
• Five Star establishments are exceptional, world class quality.

Scotland and Wales also divide the accommodation into various categories, each of which can have between 1 and 5 stars.

• Bed and Breakfast accommodation is usually offered in a private house, typically for no more than 6 guests.
• Guest House accommodation will usually have at least 4 bedrooms available. Some of these bedrooms may have en-suite facilities.
• Hotel accommodation will usually have at least 6 bedrooms available. To qualify as a hotel, at least half of these must have en-suite facilities. Hotels are normally licensed to serve alcoholic drinks and will serve dinner as well as breakfast.
• Self Catering accommodation is usually rented by the week and will have cooking and other facilities to allow you to cater for yourselves.
• Inns provide bed and breakfast accommodation in a traditional inn or pub. There will normally be meals served at lunch and in the evening, often as bar snacks or in a separate dining area in the inn.
• Restaurants with Rooms offer accommodation but the main emphasis of the establishment is on the restaurant.
• Campus Accommodation is student accommodation which is let out to other people when students are on holiday - typically during the main summer season but sometimes at Easter and Christmas as well.

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