Hotel stars: What do they mean and what can guests expect?

Planning your vacation and faced with the choice: Should it be the two-star hotel? Or do you treat yourself to the luxury of five stars? And what might you actually miss out on if your accommodation has one less star?

The German hotel star classification system attempts to make hotels comparable, thus avoiding unpleasant surprises for tourists on vacation. We explain what travelers can expect in terms of amenities and services at one, two, three, four, and five stars and what the criteria entail.

Since 1996, the German Hotel and Restaurant Association has been awarding hotel stars. In Germany, according to Statista, the total number of classified establishments is around 6728 hotels (as of January 2024). They have voluntarily participated in the classification for a fee. The classification is valid for three years, after which it undergoes re-evaluation based on the then-current criteria.

Bavaria, with about 1300 classified hotels, is the state with the most classified establishments, with most receiving three stars, followed by Baden-Württemberg and North Rhine-Westphalia.

Since the first classification about 25 years ago, the category system used for evaluation has steadily grown. Currently, hotels are assessed against 247 different criteria, and some criteria have subcategories.

A category can be worth between one and 20 points. The more categories and points a hotel earns, the more stars it can be awarded. The maximum possible is 971 points.

When you stay at a hotel with one star, you can expect to find a shower or bath and toilet in your room. The staff will clean your room daily. Your room will also include a desk, chair, telephone, a TV (with remote!), and WiFi.

In the bathroom, towels and soap or body wash will be available. There may not be a reception desk, but there will be a service desk accessible by phone 24 hours a day. Breakfast is offered, and you can purchase drinks in the hotel. You should also be able to store your valuables in a depository (not necessarily a safe), and you must be able to pay by card.

And most importantly, 'Cleanliness and hygienic conditions are a fundamental requirement in every star category,' states the German Hotel Classification in its criteria catalog.

For one star, a hotel must meet at least 46 minimum criteria and achieve 95 points. From 96 to 180 points, it receives the 'Superior' designation.

In addition to one-star amenities and service, your room is equipped with a reading light and storage for your clothes. In the bathroom, you'll find bubble bath or shower gel and additional toiletries like toothbrushes and disposable razors. There must be bilingual staff, and a breakfast buffet is available.

For two stars, a hotel must meet at least 54 minimum criteria and achieve 180 points. From 181 to 270 points, it receives the 'Superior' designation.

If your hotel has been awarded three stars, your room is additionally equipped with beverages, a hair dryer, tissues, a dressing mirror, and a luggage rack. Laundry and ironing services, as well as extra pillows and blankets, are available upon request. There is also luggage service and secure luggage storage.

In addition to the reception desk, there must be a front desk staffed for at least 10 hours and reachable 24 hours a day. The hotel's website must be bilingual, and there should be seating in the reception area.

For three stars, a hotel must meet at least 76 minimum criteria and achieve 270 points. From 271 to 410 points, it receives the 'Superior' designation.

In a four-star hotel, your room becomes cozier: In addition to the minibar and 24-hour beverage service (or a maxibar on every floor), there is an armchair or sofa with a side table. In the bathroom, you can expect additional cosmetics, a makeup mirror, a large storage area, and heating. On request, there are bathrobes and slippers available.

The breakfast buffet in a four-star hotel must be offered with service, or there should be an equivalent breakfast menu. The reception must be staffed at least 16 hours, and the lobby must feature seating, a beverage service, and a hotel bar. Additionally, your room must have international TV channels.

For four stars, a hotel must meet at least 95 minimum criteria and achieve 410 points. From 411 to 610 points, it receives the 'Superior' designation.

Welcome to hotel paradise: The basic room amenities don't change much from a four-star hotel, but more toiletries are provided. Additionally, you are greeted with fresh flowers or a small gift in your room. There is also a safe in the room and an evening turndown service.

This means that in the afternoon, the cleaning staff will refresh your bed and tidy up the room. On request, you can have a laptop or tablet to access the internet, and there is an ironing service as well as a shoe polish service.

Of course, five-star hotels also include a concierge and bellhops who handle luggage. These hotels are also frequently subjected to incognito testing by hotel testers - or in industry terms: 'Mystery-Guesting.' The front desk must be staffed 24 hours a day. Meals and drinks, including breakfast, are available via room service.

In addition to the stars, there are also the 'Garni' and 'Superior' categories. If a hotel is awarded '3 stars Superior,' it means that it exceeds in many categories above average, with an overall impression that goes beyond what is expected in its category.

These establishments thus offer a particularly high level of services, but they do not have enough points for the next star classification. 'Superior' is accessible for all hotels and 'Hotel garnis.'

A 'hotel garni' is an accommodation where you can only have breakfast and possibly order small meals. Such an accommodation cannot receive five stars. Here, the number of points required decreases by 20 in each category.

No, there is no unified international system for hotel stars. Therefore, there can be significant differences in the criteria between countries.

A five-star hotel in the USA does not meet the same standards as a five-star hotel in Germany. In some countries like Greece, Italy, and Spain, hotel classification is mandatory, governed by a regulatory body. In other countries, like Finland and Norway, stars don't exist.

To create more structure, some countries have joined the Hotelstars Union (HSU) and developed a unified rating system. As of May 2024, members include:

Overall, however, today the quality of a hotel experience is often much more strongly reflected in travelers' online reviews, so that they should also be an important criterion in choosing the right hotel.

What must travelers know now? You can find all the important news for your vacation at bettercities.net.

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