What do you expect from a true 5* hotel?

[no-backpacker]

After talking about hotel Hassler in Rome, I thought about this... What is a true 5* hotel and how are the hotels classified? After staying at some 5* hotels I really don't understand how the hotels has gotten the rating. Is it location? Is it the trouser-press? Is it how big the rooms are? Is it the room-service?

The 5* hotels I have stayed at are not like hotel Hassler or Ritz. Not in the level of price or by service. The only thing that has been excellent has been the location. I never got the "luxurious-feeling" at any of them, the little extra has been lacking. However I would have expected to get the little extra at a 5* hotel, or not? What are your thoughts about this?

C.

[mary-j]

Personally, I think what seperates a 5* and a 4* plus is the 5* has that certain something which makes you remember it by. One 5* we stayed in was memorable from having our own infinity pool, one was memorable from the peacocks strutting around the grounds and another wasour own infinity pool surrounded by desert where the animals roamed freely and came up to drink out our pool. We stayed in the world's only 7* hotel, The Burj Al Arab, recently and does that deserve it's 7* ....YES, definately in my opinion. From the 2 storey suites,even the lowest category suites are 2 storey, to the gold plated plasma television in the sitting area and bedroom and all the full size Hermes toiletries. Thankfully, all the 5* hotels we have stayed in have definately deserved to have that awarded. Hope that will always be the case.

[no-backpacker]

"what seperates a 5* and a 4* plus is the 5* has that certain something which makes you remember it by"

That's what I thought too, but I just don't haven't stayed at that kind of 5* yet. Maybe I have been too stingy and only went to the cheapest 5*... On the other hand, should the price be of any relevance, I would expect a 5* to be a 5* if you pay 200 Gbp or 500Gbp?

I think I could like to stay at a 7* hotel.... ...:-D

C.

[no-backpacker]

Mary:

What did you do with the Hermes toiletries?

It's kind of embarrassing to say, but I have a very bad habit of using my own toiletries and take home the nice toiletries from the hotels. The worst thing is that I never use them, as I only use a certain shampoo,conditioner and soap. However my son is a swimmer and exercise 5 times a week, so he's a great consumer...:-D I think that is my excuse... I just hate it when I come to "environment-friendly" hotels and they have dispensers all over...

C.

[mary-j]

no-backpacker,

well I am actually a little embarassed to say this but all I can say is that my case was heavier when we left than when we arrived. When your butler shows you around your suite, he tells you that the full size toiletries, still in their original wrapper, on display beside his and her sinks in the bathroom are complimentary for you to take home with you. There was a 100ml bottle of Eau Des Merveilles perfume for the lady, 100ml bottle of the same range but as a deoderant, 2 soaps, 150ml bottle of body lotion too. for the man there was 2 soaps, a large bottle(not sure how many mls) of Terre D'Hermes Eau De Toillette, large bottle of Terre After Shave Balm and these were all still in their wrappers. In the shower/jacuzzi area were all full size Hermes shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, more soaps, body lotions etc for him and a whole load for him.i put the complimentary ones in our case and started using the other ones . Everytime we had been out and they cleaned our suite, they also replaced the toiletries we had used with brand new ones. We had only used them once so there was lots left. Well, I decided that since they were replacing the used ones i would just take some away with me. So that is what I did.........I did feel guilty, but apparently after speaking to others who stayed there, that is what most people do anyway. Can I just add that although the Burj is expensive to stay in, many people stay for just one night just for the experience and even guests staying for 1 night also get the full size complimentar toiletries. So considering how much these cost, it actually doesn't work out that expensive. You also get complimentary beach bag, beachflip flops which are actually real leather and these are to take home with you too. Every night you were left a little gift at your bedside too. They really do know how to make you fel special.

[kyshel]

hi, Mary, Happy New Year!--that would be one of the few reasons I would actually check a bag these days!! On occasion, I will ask my husband to bring back things like full size Kneipp bath oils when he's coming directly home from Frankfurt (otherwise, he has to declare small liquids like the all of us when connecting). Maybe I can send him to Dubai?
I keep a basket of hotel goodies for guests (or personal use) but sometimes it's hard to squeeze them into that zip bag!
I'm still slowly dispensing with the fabulous bath stuff he brought from the Taj in Mumbai. going, going...

Message Edited by kyshel on 12-30-2007 01:03 PM

[no-backpacker]

Mary: HOW I wish to stay at that hotel, only for one night....... When speaking about expencive hotels for a night... I heard about a man (I think it was a collegue (?) of my husband) who used to stay at cheap hotels unless the last night. Then he choose one of the best and really spoil himself. I think I would have to do that if I ever go to Dubai. It sound FANTASTIC!

At Friday I am going to London, to the Radisson Mayfair. It's a 5*, but I don't expect much... It seems like the Radisson live on an old reputation they can't quite live up to anymore. Don't misunderstand, it's great hotels and I always know what I get when staying there, and I often end up at those hotels, but it just seems like they are lacking in the level of service. Both the Radisson in Manchester and Copenhagen are 5*, but I never got the *good* feeling. However I got that feeling at Radisson in Amsterdam and Liverpool. Liverpool is a 4*, but in my opinion, much better than e.g. Manchester.

C.

[mary-j]

Kyshel, Radisson are normally good hotels. I haven't actually stayed in any myself but they do get a good name. Of course as you say, maybe they no longer live up to their name and are needing to take a step back and see what they can improve on.



no-backpacker,

yes, Dubai is an amazing place. If you are looking for a true 5* hotel, then you will find lots in Dubai. You think you cannot get better than the hotel you are in, until you go to the next one and it is usually even better than the last.

Although my favourite will always be the Al Maha Desert Resort and Spa. To me that has the edge on them all....even the Burj Al Arab. I also have a few toiletries from our stays there, which happened to make their way into my suitcase.......after all, who could resist them when they are all Bvlgari.....LOL

[claassenam]

Hi No-Backpacker and Mary J,

Great question, and as with many questions here, there's no one answer. To me, the star rating system is entirely subjective. There no longer seems to be one reliable body granting stars to hotels and if you rely on the hotels themselves, well, really, any hotel could call itself a Five Star Hotel. I'm not a little skeptical when one of the large (and especially American) hotel chains calls themselves Five Stars. Radissons, Hiltons, Marriots, Hyatts - the standard versions of these hotels, while reliably nice and fine and packed with the standard amenities, rarely come close to the level of individuality and pesronal service that one can find in the world's truly standout hotels. I would consider these chain hotels to be more in the 4-star range as a whole, although there are certainly exceptions in both directions. And some of the larger chains, notably the Hyatt chain, have more upscale versions such as the Park Hyatts and Grand Hyatts that can be considered more in the Five Star range. Then there are the truly standout but smaller chains - Peninsula, Four Seasons, Oberoi, Orient Express, Taj, among others - that I would say are reliably of Five Star quality.

Like many here at LL, I am a little hotel obsessed - I want to stay at the best hotel in every place I visit! Budgetary restrictions can often come into play but I always do my research to stay at the best possible hotel - for me and my travel partner - whenever I can afford it. I rely heavily on the lists found in travel magazines - Conde Nast Traveler and Travel and Leisure are fairly reliable although they do seem to miss some of the smaller standout hotels. Also, I research the reviews on tripadvisor.com extensively, keeping in mind that some people will give a terrible review based on something as meaningless as a forgotten room service entree while others who may not have traveled quite as luxuriously will give 5 stars to a really 3 star property.

One thing I've found is that I always, always prefer the smaller hotels where I feel like an important guest, not just another number. No matter how fancy the room is, how extensive the grounds and the facilities at a large hotel, I will always go for an upscale hotel with fewer than 100 rooms if one is available. I've found the service to be overwhelmingly better at smaller hotels, not to mention more attention to detail overall. What is a five star hotel? I'd say it has to be that perfect combination of many things: excellent location, beautiful design and amenities, great food, personal attention and service, an ease of service from check-in to check-out, and being able to leave the location saying: "I will truly remember my stay here and I want to come back!"

[obrienkf]

Dear claassenam --- great answer to a great question. I agree with every one of your comments.



I have normally found that if a hotel is also a member of one of the premium hotel associations, like Relais & Chateaux (www.relaischateaux.com) or Leading Hotels of the World (www.lhw.com) or Small Luxury Hotels of the World (www.slh.com) you have a better chance of getting to a genuine 4 or 5 star hotel. Sheraton Starwoods are another good bet... there are lots of little associations like these, and Conde Nast Traveller (as you mentioned) is a good resource as well.



So, when it is that degree of extra that I am hoping to find, I double check that they are indeed associates of one of those. As well, before I bid on a hotel at Luxury Link, I check out that hotel on their web, and on associations like the ones mentioned. Some of these associations have 'web specials' for the hotels as well, knowing if I can get a better rate through the association or not, in comparison with Luxury Link, is part of the process. And, if you also join those associations as a member, you can get frequent stayer points .... an extra bonus.R&C are consistently top range in my experience. I suspect that if you were severely disappointed in an R&C member hotel, or an LHW member hotel, you could contact the association, as well as the hotel management, and they would be well disposed to listen to your concerns and make amends. As i have never been disappointed, I dont know that for certain...



Back to the original question ... some countries have standards for the assignment of 'star' ratings.(One stars havecommon bathrooms, three stars have phones in the rooms / limited room service / TV etc...) Most countries don't have monitoring systems in place; it would be an enormous task. If it's small hotel luxury you are looking for, I recommend that you confirm that the hotel is part of such a 'genuine'association, noting slh.com above. Alternatively, you can always post a question with the LL Community. Chances are that someone has tried the hotel before, and will offer some critical opinion.



What is 5 star to one is not to another.It is, indeed, entirely subjective. For me, in addition to all ofthose things that you have listed, I would addthe 'quality of the chocolate'at turn down service.



kind regards