Sure Signs of Where to Stay

 

The English Tourism Council's new Star ratings will help you choose the accommodation that's right for you. Assessors have been visiting flats, house, cottages and services apartments on your behalf assessing quality, including comfort, space, facilities and most important of all, cleanliness. The brand new quality rating system is easy to use and is based on extensive research. So when you choose a Star-rated property you can rest assured that your expectations will be met or even exceeded.

The English Tourism Council (ETC), in response to consumer demand, has created new rating standards for accommodation in England. This includes Hotels and Guest Accommodation, using Stars to represent Hotels and Diamonds for Guest Accommodation, which includes Guest Houses, Inns, Farmhouses and Bed & Breakfast. Self-Catering is represented by Stars and Caravan Parks are also represented by Stars. The Automobile Association (AA) and Royal Automobile Club (RAC) also use the same rating scheme for serviced accommodation. The new ratings put even greater emphasis on quality. Now, when you see an AA ETC or RAC sign showing Stars or Diamonds, you will know that the accommodation has been visited by qualified, independent assessors. It is that simple and that easy to find quality accommodation to meet your expectations.

The brand new quality rating system is easy to use and is based on extensive research. So when you choose a Star-rated property you can rest assured that your expectation will be met or even exceeded. Your quality guide: At you will find: Acceptable overall level of quality. Adequate provision of furniture, furnishings and fittings. At you will find: (In addition to what is provided at One Star) Good overall level of quality. At you will find: (In addition to what is provided at Two Star) Good to very good overall level of quality. Good standard of maintenance and decoration. Ample space and good quality furniture. All double beds with access from both sides. Microwaves. At you will find: (In addition to what is provided at Three Star) Excellent overall level of quality. Very good care and attention to detail will be obvious throughout. Either access to washing machine and drier, if not provided in the unit, or a 24 hour laundry service. At you will find: (In addition to what is provided at Four Star) Exceptional overall level of quality. High levels of decor, fixtures and fittings, together with excellent standards of management efficiency and guest services. Excellent range of accessories and personal touches. How to choose the Star rating that is right for you Quite simply, the more Stars, the higher the overall level of quality you can expect to find. Establishments at higher rating levels also have to meet some additional requirements for facilities. All properties have to meet an extensive list of minimum requirements before they can be considered for a Star rating. From there, increased levels of quality apply. For instance, you'll find acceptable quality at One Star, good to very good quality at Three Star and exceptional quality at Five Star. All Star-rated properties will provide the following before they can be considered for a Star rating: High standard of cleanliness throughout Pricing and conditions of booking made clear Local information to help you make the best of your stay Comfortable accommodation with a range of furniture to meet your needs Colour television (where signal available) at no extra charge Kitchen equipment to meet all essential requirements

Places to stay that show one of the three signs shown below care about Accessibility. When you see the Tourism for All arch with one of the three symbols, you can be sure that the establishment has been throughly assessed against demanding criteria. The English Tourism Council has hundreds of accessible properties in its scheme, and the three different categories will help you to choose the one that suits your needs. Category 1 Accessible to a wheelchair user travelling independently Category 2 Accessible to a wheelchair user travelling with assistance Category 3 Accessible to someone with limited mobility, able to walk a few paces and up a maximum of three steps.