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Hotel star ratings have been around for decades. "Five stars" means doves serenade you in the shower. "One star" translates into vibrating beds and a $5 deposit on all ice buckets. In short, the more stars, the better. But beware the rub. Many different rating systems exist in the U.S. Choose the wrong one and you could be in for a sleepless night. As this article from USA Today points out, nearly all major travel sites have their own ways of ranking hotels. For example, there's no definitive answer on whether the Super 8 in Sioux City merits one star or two. Expedia says two. Orbitz says two. However, the rebels at Priceline say one. It all depends. You may be best off using AAA's system. Their official magazine explains "some online services are notorious for handing out stars liberally," while rankings from AAA and Mobil have (according to AAA, anyway) more stringent requirements. No matter where you go, or what system (if any) you use, keep in mind that one man's palace is another man's pit. That should help you minimize the unpleasant surprises. Happy travels!
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