Escape to Puerto Rico: Plan Your Trip: Where to Stay: Understanding AAA Ratings

Hotel Quality Ratings

AAA Ratings
The American Automobile Association (AAA) rate hotels and restaurants using specific criteria, which is judged annually by anonymous inspectors. The AAA and their affiliates use diamonds instead of stars to categorize establishments.

Five Diamonds
Property facilities and operations exemplify an impeccable standard of excellence while exceeding guest expectations in hospitality and service. These renowned properties are both striking and luxurious, offering many extra amenities.

Four Diamonds
Properties reflect an exceptional degree of hospitality, service and attention to detail, while offering upscale facilities and a variety of amenities.

Three Diamonds
Properties show a marked upgrade in physical attributes, services and comfort. Additional amenities, services and facilities may be offered.

Two Diamonds

One Diamond
Properties meet all Listing Requirements. They are clean, safe and well maintained.

Mobil Travel Guide Stars
Hotels must offer a level of experience appropriate to the cost, based on the quality of such items as food, decor, comfort, amenities, service or a combination of the above. The Mobil ratings are slightly stricter than AAA ratings.

Five Stars (luxury hotel)
Here you should find spacious and luxurious accommodation throughout the hotel, matching the best international standards. Interior design should impress with its quality and attention to detail, comfort and elegance. Furnishings should be immaculate. Services should be formal, well supervised and flawless in attention to guests' needs, without being intrusive. The restaurant will demonstrate a high level of technical skill, producing dishes to the highest international standards. Staff will be knowledgeable, helpful, well versed in all aspects of customer care, combining efficiency with courtesy.

Four Stars (first class hotel)
Expectations at this level include a degree of luxury as well as quality in the furnishings, decor and equipment, in every area of the hotel. Bedrooms will also usually offer more space than at the lower star levels, and well designed, co-ordinated furnishings and decor. The en-suite bathrooms will have both bath and fixed shower. There will be a high enough ratio of staff to guests to provide services like porterage, 24-hour room service, laundry and dry-cleaning. The restaurant will demonstrate a serious approach to its cuisine.

Three Stars (middle class hotel)
At this level, hotels are usually of a size to support higher staffing levels, and a significantly greater quality and range of facilities than at the lower star classifications. Reception and the other public rooms will be more spacious and the restaurant will normally also cater for non-residents. All bedrooms will have fully en suite bath and shower rooms and offer a good standard of comfort and equipment, such as a hair dryer, direct dial telephone, toiletries in the bathroom. Some room service can be expected, and some provision for business travellers.

Two Stars (budget hotel)
In this classification hotels will typically be small to medium sized and offer more extensive facilities than at the one star level. Some business hotels come into the two star classification and guests can expect comfortable, well equipped, overnight accommodation, usually with an en-suite bath/shower room. Reception and other staff will aim for a more professional presentation that at the one star level, and offer a wider range of straightforward services, including food and drink.

One Star (low budget hotel)
Hotels in this classification are likely to be small and independently owned, with a family atmosphere. Services may be provided by the owner and family on an informal basis. There may be a limited range of facilities and meals may be fairly simple. Lunch, for example, may not be served. Some bedrooms may not have en suite bath/shower rooms. Maintenance, cleanliness and comfort should, however, always be of an acceptable standard.

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