Hotel Classification and Accommodation Types

Many European countries have their own hotel classification. Therefore, a 3-star hotel in Poland can be very different from a 3-star hotel in France. Since 2009, within the EU, efforts have been made to standardize classification, and currently, the "HOTELSTARS UNION" organization is working on this. It has developed hotel star rating standards that are valid in Germany, Austria, Sweden, Switzerland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, and Malta. The number of stars assigned to hotels depends on the total points accumulated. HOTELSTARS UNION has developed a list of specific criteria, some of which are mandatory for a certain hotel category (e.g., an elevator in 4* and 5* hotels), while others are optional and earn points (e.g., air conditioning in the room). Each hotel decides for itself whether to undergo such certification. Here are the main criteria for hotel star classification:

• All rooms have a shower/bath and toilet
• daily cleaning
• color TV with remote control
• table and chair
• soap
• reception
• fax services at reception
• telephone available for hotel guests (not necessarily in the room)
• breakfast and drinks (i.e., presence of a restaurant, cafe, bar, or breakfast room in the hotel)
• room deposit possible

• Buffet for breakfast
• bedside lamp
• shower gel
• towels
• shelves for clothes in the wardrobe or presence of a chest of drawers
• toothpaste, brush, or razor (may be purchased for an additional fee)
• credit card payment

• Reception operates at least 14 hours a day. The administrator can be reached by phone 24/7. Staff speak a foreign language (English/German).
• porters available
• seating in the lobby (armchairs or sofa)
• possibility to order drinks to the room (or presence of a mini-bar)
• telephone in the room
• internet access in the room or hotel lobby
• heater and hairdryer in the bathroom
• full-length mirror
• luggage rack
• sewing kit
• shoe cleaning services (or equipment for this), laundry and ironing
• extra pillow and blanket upon request

In 1, 2, and 3-star hotels in Europe, a full-fledged restaurant is not mandatory. The main thing is that the hotel can offer its guests breakfast; for this, hotels have small kitchens and eateries that operate only in the morning.

• Reception operates at least 18 hours a day. The administrator can be reached 24/7.
• lobby with seating and a bar
• buffet breakfast
• room service (Room Service)
• mini-bar in the room or 24-hour room service
• armchair/small sofa and coffee table in the room
• cosmetic products in the bathroom (shower cap, nail file, cotton pads, etc.), additional mirror, usually magnifying
• internet access
• „À la carte“ restaurant

Room Service - this is service in rooms. In each hotel, the set of services included in Room Service varies; typically, it's the ability to order drinks and food from the restaurant directly to the room. In some hotels, room service may include hairdresser services, masseur, etc. Room Service is a paid service; typically, an order placed this way will be 15-30% more expensive. „A la carte“ restaurant - this is a regular restaurant where dishes are ordered from a menu and served by waiters. In most cases, to have dinner or lunch in such a restaurant, you need to book a table in advance.

• Reception operates 24 hours a day
• doorman or valet available
• concierge - whose duties include providing hotel guests with everything necessary and fulfilling various requests.
• spacious lobby with a bar
• personalized welcome gifts for guests (flowers or a fruit basket in the room)
• mini-bar and 24-hour room service
• cosmetic products in the bath (packaged in small bottles)
• internet in the room
• safe in the room
• ironing services (within 1 hour) and shoe cleaning
• turndown service (Turndown service)

Turndown service is found in the service descriptions of many five-star hotels. Let's understand what this service entails. Turndown service - this is the preparation of the room for sleep; it is lightly tidied, curtains are drawn, lighting is dimmed, the bed is turned down (bedspread and decorative pillows are removed, and one corner of the duvet is folded back), towels are changed if necessary, and a chocolate or other treat is placed on the bed (most often, on the pillow). Recently, many hotels have been bringing cookies and milk to the bedside table as a treat. Currently, these criteria are valid only in 9 European countries; in the others, a system developed by the local ministry or tourism department is applied. Besides hotels, there are other types of accommodation that are not classified by star rating. These include: Hostels (Hostels) - these are dormitories; hostels typically have two types of rooms:

• private rooms (Private room) with or without a toilet
• shared rooms (dormitory - dorm) - this is a room with several beds, most often bunk beds. Each guest pays not for the room, but for a bed.

Guest houses or pensions, often called Bed and Breakfasts (B&Bs) or Guesthouses. This is a small private hotel; typically, the owners live on the ground floor, and the other rooms are rented to guests. Apart-hotels - their main difference from regular hotels lies in the rooms. They are apartments consisting of one or more rooms with a kitchen. As in regular hotels, rooms here are regularly cleaned, linen is changed, etc. Apartments - a regular apartment rented daily or for a long term. Typically, cleaning in this case is done by the guests themselves or for an additional fee. Motels - small hotels located by the road. Room entrances are from the outside.