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Good Accommodation Guide

Quality

The Good Accommodation Guide to Accommodation Quality Standards – Quality Assurance Standards throughout the UK and Ireland. Star Ratings, Diamond Ratings, Gold and Silver Awards, National Accessibility Standards, Pennant and Key Ratings for good hotels, guest houses, bed and breakfasts, B&B’s, self catering cottages, farmhouses, pubs, inns, chalets, motels, travel lodges, caravan parks, campsites, touring parks and holiday parks in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

The Good Accommodation Guide to Quality Assurance Standards

The Good Accommodation Guide – Hotel, Guesthouse, B&B, Bed and Breakfast Quality Standards throughout the UK and Ireland.

New ratings are your sign of quality assurance giving you the confidence to book accommodation that meets your expectations.

The year 2000 saw the introduction by the English Tourism Council, AA and RAC of “Harmonised Quality Standards” for serviced accommodation. The symbols of Stars for hotels and Diamonds for guest accommodation will be common to the schemes that now inspect to the same standard. Properties are visited annually by trained, impartial assessors and inspected before being awarded a classification that is standard across all three organisations. This will enable you as the visitor to easily recognise the classifications and be able to book your accommodation with confidence, secure in the knowledge that it has been checked and rated for quality before making a booking.

The English Tourism Council gives Gold and Silver Awards for both hotels and guest accommodation who have achieved the highest levels of quality within their rating. While the overall rating is based on a combination of facilities and quality, the Gold and Silver Awards are based solely on quality.

The England for Excellence awards run by the English Tourism Council also represent the highest level of tourism standards and details of nominees and winners can be found.

If access to accommodation is an important criterion, because you are a wheelchair user or have difficulty walking, you will find establishments who participate in the National Accessibility Scheme.

When you’re looking for a place to stay, you need a rating system you can trust. Using a simple one to five rating, the new system puts greater emphasis on quality and is based upon research, which shows exactly what consumers are looking for when choosing accommodation.

England Ireland Scotland Wales

The Good Accommodation Guide to England Accommodation Standards

Hotels – Star Ratings

Hotels are given a rating of one to five Stars – the more Stars, the higher the quality and the greater the range of facilities and level of service provided.

A brief explanation of the Star Ratings is outlined here and shows what is included at each rating level (note that each rating also includes what is provided at a lower Star rating)

Practical accommodation with a limited range of facilities and services, and a high standard of cleanliness throughout (75% of rooms will have en-suite or private facilities). Friendly and courteous staff. A restaurant/eating area offering breakfast and dinner to you and your guests. Alcoholic drinks served in a bar or lounge.

Good accommodation offering a personal style of service with additional facilities, normally including a lift. More comfortable bedrooms (all with en-suite or private facilities and colour TV).

Often a larger establishment with more spacious public areas and bedrooms, all offering a significantly greater quality and range of facilities and services. A more formal style of service with a receptionist. A wide selection of drinks, light lunch and snacks served in a bar or lounge. Room service for continental breakfast and laundry service.

Superior comfort and quality. All rooms with en-suite facilities. Spacious and well appointed public areas, and a strong emphasis on food and drink. Experienced staff responding to your needs and requests. Room service for continental breakfast and laundry service.

Spacious and luxurious offering accommodation, extensive facilities, services and cuisine of the highest international quality. Professional, attentive staff, exceptional comfort and a sophisticated ambience.

Guest Accommodation – Diamond Ratings

Guest Accommodation, which includes guesthouses, bed and breakfasts, inns and farmhouses and other establishments not eligible for hotel standard, is rated from one to five Diamonds. The scheme puts emphasis on quality with a minimum requirement of facilities applying to all Guest Accommodation covering areas such as cleanliness, service and hospitality, bedrooms bathrooms and food quality. Progressively higher levels of quality and customer care must be provided for each of the one to five Diamond ratings.

A brief explanation of the Diamond Ratings is outlined here and shows what is included at each rating level (note that each rating also includes what is provided at a lower Diamond rating)

Clean accommodation, providing acceptable comfort with functional decor and offering as a minimum, a full cooked or continental breakfast. Other meals, where provided, will be freshly cooked. You will have a clean, comfortable bed, towels and fresh soap. Adequate heating and hot water available at reasonable times for baths or showers at no extra charge. An acceptable overall level of quality and helpful service.

In addition to that provided at One Diamond: A sound overall level of quality and customer care in all areas.

In addition to that provided at Two Diamond: Good quality, comfortable bedrooms; well maintained, practical decor; a good choice of quality items available for breakfast; other meals provided, will be freshly cooked from good quality ingredients. A good degree of comfort and customer care.

In addition to that provided at Three Diamond: A very good overall level of quality in all areas and customer care showing attention to your needs.

In addition to that provided at Four Diamond: Ample space with a degree of luxury, excellent quality bed, high quality furniture, and excellent interior design. Breakfast offering a wide choice of high quality fresh ingredients; other meals, where provided, seasonal local ingredients. Excellent levels of customer care anticipating your needs.

Self-Catering Accommodation – Star Ratings

The ETC has a brand new Star rating scheme for self-catering accommodation. Ratings are awarded from one to five Stars for facilities and equipment.

All accommodation must be clean and comfortable. A summary follows:

Acceptable overall level of quality with adequate provision of furniture, furnishings and fittings.

Facilities and equipment as for One Star, plus: Good overall level of quality.

Facilities and equipment as for Two Stars, plus: 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 and a microwave oven.

Facilities and equipment as for Three Stars, plus: 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.

Facilities and equipment as for Four Stars, plus: 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.

Holiday, Touring and Camping Parks

ETC Scheme

For the year 2000 the ETC has re-launched the ratings scheme for holiday parks, touring parks and camping parks awarding a rating of one to five Stars based on the quality of service, cleanliness, environment and facilities provided.

Acceptable quality standard

Good quality

Very good quality

Excellent quality

Exceptional quality

Rose Awards are given to high quality caravan parks that provide a good proportion of first class holiday caravans for hire.

AA Pennant Scheme

The AA awards pennants on 4-point scale to touring caravan and camping parks according to their style and the range of facilities they offer. Town and Country Pennant Parks offer a fairly simple standard of facilities.

3-Pennant Parks offer a greater degree of comfort, with modern or modernised toilet blocks.

4-Pennant De-Luxe Parks will be of a very high standard, with good landscaping, natural screening and attractive park buildings.

5-Pennant Premier Parks are of an award winning standard and will be set in attractive surroundings with superb landscaping.

National Accessibility Scheme

The English Tourism Council and National and Regional Tourists Boards throughout Britain types of places to stay, on holiday or business, that provide accessible accommodation for wheelchair users and others who may have difficulty walking.

The Tourist Boards recognise three categories of accessibility:

Accessible to all wheelchair users including those travelling independently.

Accessible to a wheelchair user with assistance.

Accessible to a wheelchair user able to walk short distances and up at least three steps.

The Good Accommodation Guide to Ireland Accommodation Standards

Quality Standards for Ireland

At present, Ireland does not conform to the “Harmonised Quality Standards” for hotels and guest accommodation used by the English Tourism Council. The majority of hotels and guesthouses in this guide are members of the Irish Hotels Federation or the Northern Ireland Hotels Federation and the descriptions of these premises which follows will help you to choose the most suitable accommodation.

Hotel Classification

One Star
Here you can enjoy the comforts of a pleasantly simple hotel where a warm welcome prevails. These premises offer all the mandatory services and facilities to a satisfactory standard, necessary for a most enjoyable and relaxed visit. Some guest rooms have a private bathroom with a bath or a shower.

Two Star
These are more likely to be family operated premises, selected for their charm and their comfortable facilities. All guest rooms have a telephone and most have a private bathroom with a bath and / or shower. Full dining facilities are available, representing excellent value and good wholesome food.

Three Star
These range from small, family operated premises to larger, modern hotels. Guest rooms are well decorated with the emphasis on comfort and all have a private bathroom with a bath and / or shower. Some hotels may also have colour TV, direct dial phones, hairdryers, tea / coffee facilities and room service. Many hotels also have leisure facilities, car parking, and safety deposit boxes. Restaurants offer high standards of cuisine in relaxed and hospitable surroundings. Table d’hote and / or a la carte dinner menus are available.

Four Star
These include contemporary hotels of excellent quality and charming period houses renovated to very high standards complete with all modern comforts. All guest accommodation is luxurious with suites and half available in most cases. Restaurant facilities provide excellent cuisine and service for the discerning diner. Table d’hote and / or a la carte lunch and dinner menus are available.

Five Star
These include Ireland’s most luxurious hotels, all of which are of high international standard. They range from elegant, stately castles to prestigious country clubs and top class city hotels catering for both the business and tourist visitor. All guest accommodation is luxurious and spacious suites are also available. These fine hotels boast of some of the country’s best restaurants and offer table d’hote and / or a la carte lunch and dinner menus. Exceptional service and a personalised welcome are the custom in these hotels.

Guesthouse Classification

One Star
These premises meet all the mandatory requirements for guesthouses and offer simple accommodation, facilities and services to a satisfactory standard. Restaurant facilities are available in some guesthouses.

Two Star
Half or more of the guest rooms have private bathroom with bath and / or shower. Guesthouse facilities include a reading / writing room or lounge area for residents’ use. Restaurant facilities are available in some guesthouses.

Three Star
All guest rooms have private bathroom with bath and / or shower and direct dial telephone. Guesthouse facilities include a TV lounge, travellers cheques are exchanged and major credit cards are accepted. Restaurant facilities are available in some guesthouses.

Four Star
This is the top classification for guesthouses in Ireland. Guest accommodation includes half suites and all guest rooms have private bathroom with bath and / or shower, direct dial telephone, colour TV and radio. Room service offers full breakfast. Many premises provide dinner, with table d’hote and / or a la carte menus. Guesthouse facilities include car parking, safety deposit boxes, and fax.

Hotels and Guesthouses may have the symbols, U, N, R, P, CR for the following reasons:

U Under the terms of the classification scheme premises may opt to remain unclassified and will be shown U in this guide. Of course these premises meet all the mandatory requirements for hotel / guesthouse registration.

N These are premises that have recently registered with Bord Failte / Northern Irish Tourist Board but, at the time of entering the website, have not been long enough in operation for their standards to be fully assessed.

R These premises were undergoing major refurbishment at the time of going to creating this guide. Their classification will be assessed when the work is completed.

P Applied to Bord Failte / Northern Ireland Tourist Board for registration at time of entering the website.

CR Classification Rescinded – At the time of registering these types of accommodation the classification of these properties had been rescinded and the registration was under review by Bord Failte.

The Good Accommodation Guide to Scotland Accommodation Standards

Quality Standards for Scotland

Hotel, Guest Accommodation & Self-Catering

The different types of accommodation from hotels and Bed & Breakfasts, through to Inns, Lodges and Self-Catering, are all in keeping with a new simple system. The grading system gives you a clear indication of ambience, cleanliness, hospitality, accommodation standard and food.

Holiday, Caravan & Camping Parks

Holiday, Caravan & Camping Parks are assessed for the standards they provide for guests in all areas of the park such as cleanliness, customer service, quality of pitches, children’s play areas and leisure facilities.

The True Stars of Scottish Hospitality

Exceptional, World-Class

Excellent

Very Good

Good

Fair and Acceptable

The Good Accommodation Guide to Wales Accommodation Standards

Quality Standards for Wales

Hotels and Guest Accommodation

The stars are your guide to quality. The star grades apply to all serviced accommodation and places which score highly will have an especially welcoming atmosphere and pleasing ambience, with high levels of comfort and guest care, paying special attention to detail. This new star grading scheme should not be compared with previous crown ratings.

Exceptional quality, with the highest standard of furnishings flawless service and meticulous guest care

Excellent quality, with a high standard of furnishings, service and guest care

Very good quality in the overall standard of furnishings, service and guest care

Good quality in the overall standard of furnishings, service and guest care

Fair to good quality in the overall standard of furnishings, service and guest care

Please note that the star grade takes into account the nature of the property and expectation of the guests, therefore a farmhouse is just as entitled to five stars as a hotel, as long as the facilities are of the highest quality.

Self-Catering

This type of accommodation is graded according to its decoration, furniture and equipment and not to the range of services. This then allows smaller accommodation to achieve a higher grade, although what it offers may be limited in facilities.

The Dragon Grades

Grade 5 Excellent

Grade 4 Very Good

Grade 3 Good

Grade 2 Approved

Grade 1 Standard