One of the most dangerous traps, which caught the travelers - star hotels

[DARPA]

One of the most dangerous traps, which caught the travelers - star hotels. Our people somehow believe that the star level hotel. "I bought a week 5 star hotel in Hurghada for just 300 bucks" - boasts one another tourist. Then he comes back from vacation and will be for a long time to wonder what kind of trash he slipped, because he expected to see there "5 Stars!" And not klopovnik overlooking the construction site.

Theme with stars is complicated, they really are, in some countries, while in others the stars do not know anything. For example, if you are in the United States say they are looking for "good 3 star hotel", then you probably will not understand. As in the US "3 *" can mean rating of hotel reviews guests and 3 * - this is not a good hotel. Remember, all over the world use different systems, there are no "stars". More precisely, they are, but most of their value much like a medal on his chest mummers Cossacks. Let's face it.

Oddly enough, the pioneers of hotel classifications become motorists. Here's how it happened.

In 1905 the UK was formed Automobile Association. Its members toured the city (on bicycles, by the way), studied the state of the roads, installed in hazardous locations warning signs, as well as engaged in drawing up a special guide (published in 1909). Other than the addresses of repair shops and mechanics of contacts, it also included a list of about thousands of hotels with a brief description. This guide was very convenient and popular, more and more hotels would get into it, and compilers very lacked objective evaluation criteria. In 1912, Secretary of the Association Stenson Cook offered his solution: he had previously engaged in the sale of wine and spirits and thought that a five-star system for evaluating the quality of brandy can be used for hotels. Thus, the "decent, decent hotel for the middle class" corresponded to three stars. Already in 1913 there was a new guide, there were 1,375 hotels, of which only 20 received five stars. Since then, the UK operates such a system. In addition, there are more hotels class 5+ upgrade.

Traditions The Automobile Association has adopted the US: in 1937, its members began to inspect restaurants and hotels. They assign them the title - from "good" to "awesome," and in 1977 was introduced with diamonds (one to five). Competition is the American Automobile Association Guide Forbes Travel: the first edition appeared in 1958 and included the hotels only five states. Interestingly, his company sponsored Mobil, which produces oil, and has a network of service stations and car washes. Anonymous inspectors assigned to the following categories of hotels: 5 stars, 4 stars and "recommended".

It should be understood that the criteria are different everywhere. For example, the English system assumes that a five-star hotel welcomes guests at the entrance, the restaurant offers high quality, there is the wine list, service is available in many languages. American Association gives a vague definition of "Five Stars - assessment hotels closest to the ideal of luxury and refinement. All rooms - first class, their situation is exceptional in every way. Such institutions are proud of their friendly service and always strive to surpass any guest expectations while maintaining the highest quality standards. Contribute to the maintenance of a unique level of comfort makes a large number of additional services and individual approach to customers. "

In Europe and Turkey now has a unified network Hotelstars. It was established hotel chains, it is based - the German system: 5 stars, as well as the category S - superior (high comfort). Obtained ten categories: 1 star 1+ star and so on. At the same time in each country, there is also the, state standards. In general, a complete mess. In Finland, the official hotel rating is not, but the stars at the hotel - there. They use the system Hotelstars or come up with your own.

In Italy, the evaluation of the hotel occupies the region's administration, so in Abruzzo you get is not the same set of services, such as Sicily. Criteria are similar, but not identical. Generally speaking, in hotels from 1-2 stars need not be a separate bathroom, one is enough for 3 rooms (or 6 people), no breakfast, and air conditioning (but heating required). Part of the hotel is an old building, where there is no room for a separate lobby and small rooms, there is no way to hold the elevator. The situation may be a luxury, but this hotel still can not get 4 or 5 stars. The opposite is true: a five-star hotel in Italy can unpleasantly surprise those who are used to perfect service and great rooms.

In France, until recently, the hotel gets from one to four stars, in 2012 there was a fifth category. It is obtained hotels that not only meet all required criteria, but also exceed them, for example, the hotel restaurant has received a Michelin star. However, many French hotels do not undergo an assessment, preferring not to have stars and attract customers fame and reputation.

In the USSR, hotels divided into categories. Here is an excerpt from the "Regulations on referring to the ranks of hotels and rooms in hotels with categories" on February 14, 1952:

1. The first category hotels are hotels that have water supply, sewerage, central heating and is supplied with hot water, telephone, a restaurant and a hair salon.
Rooms, living rooms, hotel lobbies should be well furnished and decorated properly.
2. In the second category include hotel accommodations, equipped with water, sewerage, central heating, telephone and having baths or showers common areas, a restaurant or buffet.
3. The third category of hotels are hotels that have water and sewer.
4. The fourth category of hotels are booking a hostel, house for visitors with companies, institutions and the construction of houses and farmers.


In 1970 it adopted a new classification of the seven digits (lux, the highest A, B the highest, first, second, third, fourth). After the collapse of the USSR, we switched to a more traditional system of stars. In Russia, the classification process is voluntary, by 2011, it received only 400 hotels. By the 2014 Olympics passed a law by which certified hotel in Sochi (this was a requirement of the IOC). The same applies to the regions, which take the World Cup in 2018. The rest of the total chaos. Talk about compulsory certification conducted continuously, for example, February 4 of this chapter Rostourism spoke.

Constitute a separate category of six- and seven-star hotel. They are mainly located in the Middle East, there is also one in Italy (Town House Galleria), China (Pangu Hotel). In fact, this is more a marketing ploy than a real indicator. Oil workers from the Gulf in general tend to demonstrate its superiority to all: build the world's tallest tower, poured the island, and now and have come up with seven-star hotel. In Italy, as I said, the classification is limited to five stars, so that the seven stars of the hotel in Milan appeared simply because its owners actively beat their butt to the chest. In 2008, there was talk that the Beirut desyatizvezdochny going to build a hotel. However, then came the Arab Spring, the war in Syria, and talk about it as something quiet.

What do we have now? Hotels in most countries draw yourself stars based exclusively arrogance and greed of the owners. Navigate when choosing a hotel for the "stars" stupid.

In addition, there is another stereotype that there are "5-star hotel chains." That's not it. The same Sheraton or Intercontinental in one city can be a luxury hotel, and in the next - a dusty old sanatorium.

It is best when choosing a hotel to focus on price and reviews of guests. As there is a good wine for $ 10,