Stars are often used to give ratings to services and products, and typically the system consists of 1 to 5 stars. 1 is the lowest, and 5 is the best—5 stars good, 1 star bad. So if a movie got a rating of 4 stars, you might be willing to give it a try, and if a restaurant received a rating of 2 stars you might consider eating somewhere else. After all, even if watching a movie and eating out can both potentially be negative experiences and a waste of money, a bad movie can be something to laugh about while food poisoning isn’t.
The star rating system is arbitrary, and there’s no standard star system that everybody uses. The way that the rating work can differ from country to country, within a local district, from different services and personal preferences. Restaurant and movie ratings may also make use of other symbols like letter grades or icons. But despite the flexible nature of rating systems, hotels almost always use a star rating and it’s well established that 5-star hotels are the most luxurious and provide the most quality services. 1-star and 2-star hotels aren’t necessarily to run down and overrun with rats, but the provisions will be limited. A 1-star hotel will provide you with the basic necessities like a bed and bathroom, essentially providing you just with a place to stay. 2-star hotels will offer additional services like a phone and a TV. 3-star hotels will provide room service, valet parking, a fitness center, a pool, and breakfast, sometimes lunch and dinner as well. 4 stars have more furnishing and dining and entertainment options, and finally 5-star hotels are the whole shebang with jacuzzis, concierge, gourmet food and the like. You don’t just stay at a higher-end hotel; you enjoy more accommodating services that make your visit a comfortable and entertaining experience.
But of course, to enjoy all of the extra perks you’ll have to pay, literally. 5-star hotels are much more expensive than standard hotels, although some might argue that you actually save money by booking trips at luxurious hotels. This is because you’re getting a lot considering the amount you’re paying. Overall, however, if you consistently stay at 5-star hotels, you’ll definitely spend more money than you would be if you consistently booked standard hotels. So you might consider a 5-star hotel only when you want to splurge and indulge yourself, which we should all do once in a while.
