Our Rating System

Our accommodation starts at the 3* level. Unless there is a special reason to do so, we would never include a stay anywhere without a decent level of facilities and a good standard of cleanliness. As EXPERTS in the countries we cover, our ratings are an objective judgement to assist in making the right choices for you.

Luxury

There are very few hotels in our ‘luxury’ category. Hotels in this category must have absolutely everything anyone could want and really be aiming for the stars. These hotels generally go well above and beyond and they would always be at the very top end of the market. These are for clients looking for that extra special place.

Deluxe

Deluxe hotels would have a superb level of service, very comfortable and usually spacious bedrooms, excellent food, great design and character. For us, when we visited, these places all had the ‘wow factor’. A deluxe hotel should satisfy the criteria of the most discerning clients.

Superior

This is our first really ‘upmarket’ category. It might be a beautiful tiny hotel with very limited facilities or a 5* resort hotel with all the trimmings; but any hotel in this category will be a well-run establishment with very comfortable rooms, a strong service ethos and excellent food.

Comfort

This is what we would describe as our standard category. These will be decent 3/4* hotels providing a really good level of service. We would generally expect them to be providing a little something extra, whether it is character, service or excellent facilities. 

Value

This is our lead in category. There will generally be a no frills approach and while some will be characterful, some will do exactly what it says on the tin – provide a clean, comfortable and good value place to spend the night. These places are normally 3* hotels, but in areas where there is little choice or if it is a very good place, it may be what would generally be described in Asia as a ‘guesthouse’.

Eco/Outsdoors/homestay:

This category covers gorgeous eco lodges in the jungle, comfortable safari camps, very basic homestays and dreamy, but simple, beach cabanas. These places defy conventional categorisation: what is communing with nature to one person may be terrifying bugs to another! Many of these places are very comfortable and the service generally of a very high level – but a guest staying at any place in this categorisation must read the website review carefully and/or talk to us and be sure to have understood what they are letting themselves in for!