Of course, first of all draw attention to the number of "stars." This is a general rule - as their stars, more (the "Crown", "solnyshek", "key", "moon", etc.), the higher class of hotel. (We are talking about a hotel, not the so-called "house guests" or other categories of accommodation - there is very different classification of this see below). 

But always remember that the three-star hotel in Germany are not adequate to the hotel with the same number of stars, such as in Egypt or Turkey. In addition to characters, the hotel is expressed by words or letters: for example, in Thailand, taken to mean the hotel ** - Budget (B), *** - Medium (M), **** - Standard (S), **** - First Class (F), *** ** - Deluxe (D).
Now, some hotels are very high level of assumed the additional category of "luxury" or "deluxe" (eg *** ** Deluxe - the level above normal *** **).
Of course, you can always distinguish the different categories of hotels in mind - beauty and the size of the building. But it is clear that these are only external differences. But the concept of "level of the hotel is the mass of components:
overall improvement - it is the amount of space (halls, conference rooms), the presence and quantity of restaurants, bars, cafes, etc., interior decoration, the availability of elevators (new / old, fast / slow, etc.).
Room Equipment - (furniture - modern, quality, etc.), square rooms, comfortable furniture, bathroom fittings, cleanliness, functionality, lighting, etc.
services - the regularity and frequency of cleaning rooms, changing bed linen and towels, a careful attention to the guests, good stuff like shokoladok on the pillow, etc.

At the present time "star" hotel classification adopted in almost all European countries except Greece, Albania, the CIS countries and some of the islands.

In the Greek letters used categories of hotels. For example, the letter A indicates a **** Hotel, B - ***, P - **. There is also a category D (Delux) - hotels of this category are equal to European *** ** hotels.

In the Baltic countries is also widely used by "star" system (sometimes instead of stars painted crown). But it must be remembered that the mere number of stars, though, and says a lot, however, does not give a complete picture of the level of the hotel - should study the detailed cryptograms (characters), each of which denotes a "option" to the hotel (sauna, swimming pool, shop, exchange office, tennis court, etc.).

With regard to hotels in Russia - according to experts, only about 50 hotels across the country can qualify for the category of *** to *** **. Indeed, to clearly visualize what the hotel category ***, **, to visit Moscow Hotel Baltschug Kempinski Hotel, Metropole, "" Savoy, "" Palace Tverskoy Marco Polo "," Olympic Penta Renaissance "- they are completely match the world standard *** **.

The rest do not meet the strict requirements of the classification. Therefore, can be attributed to other categories of accommodation - the so-called "house guests" (actually, this name has been circulated in Italy, Spain and the UK, but not in Russia, but to call them as you can and we have). They correspond to the level of 1-3 stars, but this is not a star hotels!

In the United Kingdom to denote a class of hotel used by the star. In doing so, even at the hotel class * You can live quite comfortably, if you do not need to surround himself with great luxury - everything you need to stay in the room is. To refer to the category "family hotels" (a tiny hotel, owned by one family) - uses symbols, "diamonds", but for apartments (private apartment, where you can prepare food, etc.) - "keys."

Ireland hotel classification system is the same as in Britain, and the level of accommodation and service at the same level.

In Scotland, hotels, family hotels and apartments are classified under the same parameters as in the UK and Ireland. In Wales, the exclusion - apartments, they are not classified by the number of "stars" or "keys." Here, using plates with the image of dragons and the numbers from 1 to 5 - the corresponding figure, which indicates the category of apartments, is ticking.

In France, you will not find the hotel category *** ** - there is just **** L (ie luxury). This hotel **** L is equal in all characteristics to the hotel *** ** in other countries, and in the hotels category "2-3" stars "prefer to stay for tourists who chose hiking and do not pretend to find location - but good conditions, even in these hotels.

In Italy as in France, as there is no *** ** hotel. But if France Hotel **** L **, *** correspond to hotels in other countries, in Italy category ****+ - this is the same ****, but the hotel offers a "higher class of service (the price that pleasure, the same as in the category ****).

In Turkey, despite the strong desire and a genuine effort to improve the comfort of their hotel, there is still room category *** is considered "fair", **** - acceptable, **, *** - good, but no more. Hotels category ** no great demand, and many travel agents do not even offer and do not sell them to tourists.

In Spain, the standard used in Europe for the stellar classification - from * to **. *** Better not to risk it and do not live in the hotels of category "1-3" star. "

In Malaysia and Indonesia to the "stellar classification, but the level of service much higher than in Europe - **** hotel category can be safely equated with ***, ** European hotel.

In the United States and other countries, America does not enjoy the European classifiers. The level of service and prestige of the hotel is determined by entering the hotel to the hotel chain. The most expensive and exclusive - "Hilton", "Marriott", "Radisson", "Forte", "Kempinsky", "Holiday Inn", "Intercontinental", "Ramada", "Maritim", etc. The trademark of these companies - a reliable confirmation of the high level of service.