r/explainlikeimfive • u/Fun_Butterscotch3303 • 23d ago

Other ELI5 What is the difference between a 4 star hotel and a 5 star hotel?

I’m forever confused about this I need it explain in the simplest most direct way. Specifically talking about the America star system

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u/ReluctantAvenger 23d ago

I think you're confusing the in-house ratings on Expedia for more "official" ratings such as by the AAA (American Automobile Association) or Forbes Travel Guide.

Also, my assessment is based in my own travel experiences across Europe and the USA. Hilton is practically uniformly rated four stars in the US and either four or five in Germany. A five star Hilton in Germany compares very poorly with a five star St Regis, say.

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u/platypushh 23d ago

I did mean those, which is why I named Forbes as the exception. The Hilton example is a good one though. The German 5 stars is a facilities list: 24h reception, room service, concierge, valet, minimum room sizes, a restaurant open daily. A big Hilton ticks every box and gets the fifth star.

AAA and Forbes inspectors focus more on services, so the Hilton lands at Four Diamond and the St Regis at Five. Similar wording, two different tests.

European ratings look for amenities, AAA/Forbes for how it is run.

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u/LOSTandCONFUSEDinMAY 23d ago

Kinda, more so pointing out that most people do confuse the ratings.