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Accommodation Ratings

All the accommodation featured on Visit Hampshire has been quality assessed by either VisitBritain* or the AA, or has recently applied for a rating and is awaiting assessment. If you choose to stay in any of Hampshire's quality-assessed accommodation, you can be confident that it has been checked out before you check in.

Star ratings

The national assessing bodies (VisitBritain* and the AA) now assess hotels and guest accommodation (including B&Bs) to the same criteria and award one to five stars. The star ratings reflect the overall quality of the experience. A quality score is awarded for every aspect of the experience including the comfort of the bed, the quality of the breakfast and dinner and, most importantly, the cleanliness and the warmth of welcome.

Hotels

Hotels have to be licensed, offer dinner at least 5 nights a week and have all rooms en suite or with private bathrooms.There are different hotel categories including: Hotel, Small Hotel, Country House Hotel, and Budget Hotel.

Guest accommodation

Guest accommodation categories are: Bed and Breakfasts, Guest Houses, Inns, Farmhouses and Restaurants with Rooms. They tend to be personally run by the owners.

The new star ratings are designed to meet the greater expectations of consumers with regards to quality and facilities. Higher ratings are therefore more difficult to achieve than under the old diamond scheme.

Gold and Silver awards for Hotels and Guest Accommodation

Silver Awards recognise exceptional quality at all levels and Gold Awards are given to the very 'best of the best'.

Self-catering

For self-catering accommodation, the layout and design of the accommodation and the range and quality of the kitchen equipment is assessed, as well as the quality and comfort of the bedrooms and bathrooms and most importantly, the cleanliness.

Holiday, touring, and camping parks and holiday villages

Enjoy England awards star ratings reflecting the overall quality of the park from one to five stars - five stars being reserved for parks of exceptional quality.

*VisitBritain is the national tourism agency, marketing Britain worldwide and England in Britain. Quality is a major element of VisitBritain's strategy. Accommodation assessments are undertaken by Quality in Tourism on VisitBritain's behalf.