Most hotel comparison and booking sites offer some type of standard star rating as well as contributions from visitor reviews. Both methods can provide valuable input to help you in making your hotel selection. Here are some of the things you should be aware of when looking at these reviews and ratings.

First, there is no international, universally accepted rating system for hotels. The organizations and criteria used to rate hotels can vary from country to country and from organization to organization. Typically though, in the United States, the generally accepted system involves rating a hotel on a scale from 1 to 5 stars, with 5 stars being the most luxurious. Most websites and organizations apply these star ratings independently of one another but there will usually be some common trends. For instance, a 4 or 5 star hotel is going to offer more quality and amenities than say a 1 or 2 star hotel. Typically, the lower end of the spectrum applies to smaller motels or economy hotels. The middle ratings usually include hotels that are not as cheap as the 1 and 2 star hotels, but offer many more amenities and usually better quality services. Once you get into the 4 and 5 star range, the prices will definitely increase exponentially but you are often paying partly for the experience and atmosphere.

User reviews can often be even more helpful than any kind of standardized rating. By looking at recent comments by other travelers you might find out that a hotel was recently being reconstructed, or that the fitness room has been out of service for the past year. User reviews are often more up-to-date and can be extremely helpful in the decision making process. By weighing a healthy balance between standard ratings and user reviews, you can rest more assured of getting a good night's sleep that matches your expectations prior to booking your stay.