| Are the mentions "2 star" and "3 star" hotel on travel | | | | - Design of bathroom facilities |
| websites reliable? Should you rely on the French rating | | | | - Phone system |
| system? Written by the Senior Editor of a renown | | | | - Electrical equipment |
| Paris guide, this article clears up the issue, and | | | | - Elevators |
| suggests 4 proven steps to increase your odds to | | | | Each requirement varies from one star category to |
| pick the right hotel. | | | | another. |
| Travel forums are gold mines of information if you | | | | You can download the full list of criteria and a clear |
| care to review the postings of enchanted and | | | | explanation of each at |
| disgruntled travelers coming back from abroad. | | | | Subjective quality vs. objective quantity |
| As Senior Editor of Paris-Eiffel-Tower-News.com, I | | | | The French rating system does not take into account |
| often peruse these forums to find out about the | | | | subjective quality criteria. |
| concerns voiced by fellow travelers headed to the | | | | And because of this limited approach, it does not |
| 'City of Lights'. | | | | guarantee your expectations will be fulfilled. |
| Among the postings which keep coming back, one | | | | First, there are keen differences in perception between |
| stands out from the crowd: what does a 3-star rating | | | | populations. For example, American travellers are used |
| really mean? Travelers tend to be confused by the | | | | to larger sizes of rooms and beds than the average |
| many star-rating systems in use. I felt the subject | | | | room and bed sizes offered in Parisian hotels. This can |
| called for an educated explanation. | | | | be a source of disappointment. |
| The meaning of stars in the US | | | | Moreover, the French rating system does not measure |
| First of all, let's be clear: there is absolutely no | | | | service quality - cleanliness, absence of smells, staff |
| relationship whatsoever between the number of stars | | | | attitude, speed of service, etc. |
| commercial travel sites award to hotels, and the hotel | | | | It may thus be chancy to base your hotel choice solely |
| rating system in use in France. | | | | on the French rating system. |
| The core business of commercial travel sites is to sell | | | | The safer bet |
| you hotel rooms, flight tickets, car rentals, and cruise | | | | To afford the best chances to pick the right hotel in |
| packages. They purport to guide your choice by | | | | Paris I recommend the following 4 steps: |
| awarding stars to the products they peddle. | | | | - Have a basic understanding of the French rating |
| When you book a room on such sites, a significant | | | | criteria (seeabove link to download them) |
| portion of your money goes to the travel operator | | | | - Check guests' reviews on |
| which presents the hotel - up to 50% on well-known | | | | - Visit the hotel's own website |
| websites. | | | | - Do not hesitate to e-mail your questions to the hotel. |
| For this reason alone, you could reasonably ask | | | | Many travellers use to write reviews on the hotels |
| yourself: are these ratings unbiased, or tainted by | | | | they stayed at. No hotel satisfies 100% of its guests |
| corporate greed? | | | | throughout the year, so both extreme judgments and |
| To make matters more complicated, each travel | | | | moderate opinions can be found on this open forum. |
| website uses its own rating method. Consumer | | | | My advice: favor moderate reviews with some flesh |
| Reports published an enlightening article on the topic in | | | | on the bones. They will usually give you a useful |
| its November 2005 issue. | | | | picture of what to expect from the hotel - good and |
| In other words, the number of stars awarded by | | | | less good. |
| commercial travel sites is not a fully reliable yardstick | | | | Visiting the hotel's website will usually allow you to see |
| for selecting a hotel. | | | | multiple views of its rooms and bathrooms. I insist on |
| The meaning of stars in France | | | | visiting the hotel's own website since it usually is the |
| The French hotel rating system works on a completely | | | | place which offers the greatest number of photos. |
| different set of rules. | | | | Lastly, e-mailing your questions to the hotel owners |
| 1.It is a standardized system: meaning, all hotels across | | | | may or may not get you an answer, usually depending |
| France are categorized on the same unique basis. | | | | on the proficiency of the receptionist in your language. |
| 2.The rating system was not born out of mercantile | | | | Receiving informative answers to your questions is a |
| purposes: it was framed by the French lawmakers | | | | good sign that the hotel cares for his prospective |
| without any concern for profit. | | | | guests. |
| 3.Last but not least, the French hotel rating system | | | | Following these 4 steps should help you minimize the |
| does not measure quality. Instead, it uses 22 | | | | risk of being disappointed during your stay in Paris. This |
| measurement criteria to assess the presence or | | | | is no guarantee though. Remember that cultures differ |
| absence of certain features in the hotel. | | | | from each other, and your expectations of service |
| Among the main criteria used: | | | | might not be fully understood. In such case, |
| - Room sizes and numbers | | | | communicate with the owner. They are usually keen |
| - Room soundproofing | | | | on serving you to the best of their means. |
| - Heating and air-conditioning | | | | Have a safe and pleasant trip to Paris! |