A checklist, not a verdict
Classification is a facilities audit. Room sizes, lift counts, restaurant numbers, staffing ratios on paper. A property that meets the list gets the stars whether or not anyone enjoys staying there.
What the grades really mean
Three stars promises a clean room, hot water and a restaurant. Four adds a business centre and room service hours. Five adds a swimming pool, multiple restaurants and twenty-four hour service.
None of that describes whether the air conditioning is loud, the corridor smells of damp, or reception answers the phone.
The five-year gap
Certificates run for five years. A hotel inspected at its best can coast on the rating long after the carpets go. Always check the certificate date, usually displayed near reception.
What to read instead
Recent photographs from guests rather than the hotel, and reviews that mention specifics. Vague praise means nothing; a complaint about a particular room number is usually true.
