Comments on: 7 basic standards of excellence needed to merit 5-Stars http://www.consumertraveler.com/today/7-basic-standards-of-excellence-needed-to-merit-5-stars/ The last honest travel site Sun, 12 Feb 2012 00:50:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Travel Stories and News for 7/29/2009 — Kathika Travel Website http://www.consumertraveler.com/today/7-basic-standards-of-excellence-needed-to-merit-5-stars/comment-page-1/#comment-14152 Travel Stories and News for 7/29/2009 — Kathika Travel Website Wed, 29 Jul 2009 15:01:33 +0000 http://www.tripso.com/?p=16771#comment-14152 [...] tripso.com | 7 basic standards of excellence needed to merit 5-Stars The 5-Star hotel and restaurant standards varies for different people depending on personal requirements and expectations. There’s no question that some part of a 5-Star ranking is subjective. But here’s a summary of a few musts and there are additional criteria. [...] [...] tripso.com | 7 basic standards of excellence needed to merit 5-Stars The 5-Star hotel and restaurant standards varies for different people depending on personal requirements and expectations. There’s no question that some part of a 5-Star ranking is subjective. But here’s a summary of a few musts and there are additional criteria. [...]

]]> By: Drew http://www.consumertraveler.com/today/7-basic-standards-of-excellence-needed-to-merit-5-stars/comment-page-1/#comment-14150 Drew Wed, 29 Jul 2009 14:39:29 +0000 http://www.tripso.com/?p=16771#comment-14150 Hapgood-- you would be surprised at what you can find with some of the travel deals going on right now. My "concierge level" room at the 5-star JW Marriott Mexico City was $129 US a night, and that was even back in January. I've booked 'luxury' rooms in Vegas for $29 a night, very nice 4- and 5-star properties in San Francisco for under $100 a night, and even a hotel in NYC for $129 a night. It all depends on where you're going and how much you're going to spend. Being honest, if I can stay at a 'budget' hotel for $70 or a 'luxury' hotel for $100, I'll pick the $100 every time--I know what I'm going to get there, and usually won't be disappointed. Hapgood–
you would be surprised at what you can find with some of the travel deals going on right now. My “concierge level” room at the 5-star JW Marriott Mexico City was $129 US a night, and that was even back in January.
I’ve booked ‘luxury’ rooms in Vegas for $29 a night, very nice 4- and 5-star properties in San Francisco for under $100 a night, and even a hotel in NYC for $129 a night. It all depends on where you’re going and how much you’re going to spend.

Being honest, if I can stay at a ‘budget’ hotel for $70 or a ‘luxury’ hotel for $100, I’ll pick the $100 every time–I know what I’m going to get there, and usually won’t be disappointed.

]]> By: Hapgood http://www.consumertraveler.com/today/7-basic-standards-of-excellence-needed-to-merit-5-stars/comment-page-1/#comment-14129 Hapgood Tue, 28 Jul 2009 15:19:24 +0000 http://www.tripso.com/?p=16771#comment-14129 I wouldn't know, since I'm apparently so unsophisticated that a decent two-star or three-star hotel suits me just fine, thank you. I don't know who the intended audience for this article is, but I suspect that for the majority of readers who pay for lodging out of their own pockets, the sort of accommodations you describe are but an "impossible dream," especially in this economy. I wouldn’t know, since I’m apparently so unsophisticated that a decent two-star or three-star hotel suits me just fine, thank you. I don’t know who the intended audience for this article is, but I suspect that for the majority of readers who pay for lodging out of their own pockets, the sort of accommodations you describe are but an “impossible dream,” especially in this economy.

]]> By: Drew http://www.consumertraveler.com/today/7-basic-standards-of-excellence-needed-to-merit-5-stars/comment-page-1/#comment-14098 Drew Mon, 27 Jul 2009 16:35:48 +0000 http://www.tripso.com/?p=16771#comment-14098 I agree completely that it's the little touches of luxury that make a hotel worth 5-star status... Back in January, I went to Mexico City for the first time, and stayed at the JW Marriott down there. (Caveat here--I have been Platinum Elite with Marriott for 3 years now.) My flight from Houston to Mexico City was delayed taking off by approximately 25 minutes due to problems with passenger communication (which could lead me into a completely different rant, but I digress). Right after I cleared immigration and before I could get my luggage, I received a call from the hotel asking me if I was ok, and where I was, as their driver was waiting to pick me up. (Mexican Immigration had actually been relatively efficient, and I was only about 15 minutes past my scheduled pickup at that point). That was a pleasant surprise. Upon arrival at the hotel, I was actually taken right past the front desk, and my check-in was done in my room via a concierge. My room had very obviously been made up based upon my Marriott preferences (extra pillows, extra towels), but the surprise was a case of Diet Coke and a nice assortment of sugar free snacks (I am diabetic, which is NOT in my profile, but I have asked about refrigerators for medication and healthier options for eating in the past--so apparently, Marriott keeps track of those things). The staff there bent over backwards to make things nice--any time we needed anything, we either had the item or a way to get the item in a matter of minutes. If we wanted restaurant recommendations, we always got an excellent list. In fact, we went to dinner one night at a recommended restaurant that ended up being several miles from the hotel. The car service from the hotel took us there and then was there when we finished (!), with no cost to us. THings like that, in my opinion, make a 5-star property! I would not hesitate to call the JW Marriott Mexico City a 5-star hotel. I agree completely that it’s the little touches of luxury that make a hotel worth 5-star status…

Back in January, I went to Mexico City for the first time, and stayed at the JW Marriott down there. (Caveat here–I have been Platinum Elite with Marriott for 3 years now.)
My flight from Houston to Mexico City was delayed taking off by approximately 25 minutes due to problems with passenger communication (which could lead me into a completely different rant, but I digress). Right after I cleared immigration and before I could get my luggage, I received a call from the hotel asking me if I was ok, and where I was, as their driver was waiting to pick me up. (Mexican Immigration had actually been relatively efficient, and I was only about 15 minutes past my scheduled pickup at that point). That was a pleasant surprise.

Upon arrival at the hotel, I was actually taken right past the front desk, and my check-in was done in my room via a concierge. My room had very obviously been made up based upon my Marriott preferences (extra pillows, extra towels), but the surprise was a case of Diet Coke and a nice assortment of sugar free snacks (I am diabetic, which is NOT in my profile, but I have asked about refrigerators for medication and healthier options for eating in the past–so apparently, Marriott keeps track of those things).

The staff there bent over backwards to make things nice–any time we needed anything, we either had the item or a way to get the item in a matter of minutes. If we wanted restaurant recommendations, we always got an excellent list. In fact, we went to dinner one night at a recommended restaurant that ended up being several miles from the hotel. The car service from the hotel took us there and then was there when we finished (!), with no cost to us.

THings like that, in my opinion, make a 5-star property! I would not hesitate to call the JW Marriott Mexico City a 5-star hotel.

]]> By: Amy http://www.consumertraveler.com/today/7-basic-standards-of-excellence-needed-to-merit-5-stars/comment-page-1/#comment-14097 Amy Mon, 27 Jul 2009 16:34:25 +0000 http://www.tripso.com/?p=16771#comment-14097 Oh, I thought you were writing about the AAA 5-diamond requirements. In either case, what makes a hotel five-star for me is having something I cannot experience anywhere else but there. The decor has to be themed, down to the uniforms. Any employee, regardless of position, must be highly knowledgable of the property, the surroundings, and anything I need. I should never ask twice, or even once in some cases. Oh, I thought you were writing about the AAA 5-diamond requirements. In either case, what makes a hotel five-star for me is having something I cannot experience anywhere else but there. The decor has to be themed, down to the uniforms. Any employee, regardless of position, must be highly knowledgable of the property, the surroundings, and anything I need. I should never ask twice, or even once in some cases.

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