To not want to stay in a 3 star hotel

[Cheekycheeky12]

Am I being really snobby, anybody stayed in a 3 star hotel? Looking for holidays for the summer and not used to the summer holiday prices as my daughter is now in year 1, DH says I’m being ridiculous and should just appreciate a holiday.

Don't go by stars go by reviews on Tripadvisor and similar sites.

Don't be swayed by star ratings. We are currently in a four star in Rome. Vastly different from the four star we stayed at in Tuscany. In fact the three star in Lake Garda was the best of the lot. All are clean but for me little touches such as tea/ coffee making facilities, complimentary water, toiletries readily available, places to hang towels, enough charging points etc matter ........ some hotels have thought things through more than others

I’m the same if I’m going on holiday I like my accommodation to be really comfortable.

I think it depends. If you're going on holiday with someone and you need to agree on a hotel, it's fine to say you'd like to focus on 5 stars or "nothing below a 4" or similar. But if you're refusing to even consider a specific hotel because it's 3 star, then possibly YABU - at least take a look. As others have said, what qualifies for a specific star level varies by country. If you need certain amenities, make sure you have those - someone posted recently about being disappointed by a few five-stars in France, because the facilities that made them five star in the first place (they are allowed to be as grotty as they want, as long as they tick the boxes which of course will include health and safety standards) were closed/removed for COVID but the hotels only get evaluated every five years.

Incidentally, I'm staying in a 3 star right now and it's a gorgeous old colonial building, nice renovated rooms, and all the amenities I wanted. But there's no lift, which is needed to be a 4-star where I am. There's apparently no way to put in a lift without significantly altering the original structure, and the owners don't want that.

I’d literally rather not go on holiday than go somewhere that isn’t very nice. It’s not a holiday then is it

It depends what you want in a holiday. To sit by a resort pool all day then no a 3 star won’t do you. A clean functional place to stay that has all the basic covered to use as a base of operation to then go out and explore from perfectly fine

Your better off checking reviews than stars, go on trip advisor etc usually the stars don't match, only on the odd occasion do the hotels usually live up to the star they are given

Another one who lives near the Clarendon mentioned above, and can confirm it's not somewhere I'd to stay on holiday. It's essentially a pub with rooms, and the pub is really not very nice.

(Feel free to disbelieve me! But waving across the heath to @IShouldBeSoLurky )

Agree with everyone else to ignore the star ratings, think about what you actually want from a hotel and look at reviews.

What I want from a hotel is a comfy bed, cleanliness, wifi, sometimes aircon and sometimes stylishness/a view. Not necessarily, depending on the trip I can be happy with a Premier Inn.

What I don't need at all is the sort of stuff a 5* gets you - a gym, spa, concierge, restaurant I won't use, toiletries I won't use, etc.

Usually a family run 3* with a stunning view, or period features plus attention to detail is what you are after.

I've just got back from a 3 star all inclusive adult only in marjorca.

It had more amenities than I thought a 3star would have (spa, gym, hot tub, sauna etc)

The rooms were super clean but the communal areas were grubby :(

Food was "ok'

Location made it worthwhile

Am I being really snobby, anybody stayed in a 3 star hotel?

Not snobby, just vulgar and lacking in judgement, if you measure the quality of something by such an arbitrary ranking. It sounds as though you don't know much about good hotels or good service.

I know of several London hotels which are very clean, comfortable, safe, offer quiet comfortable rooms etc, which have fewer than 3 stars. One place I stay in regularly is like coming home - they know me, always upgrade my room, and generally make me feel welcome and looked after. OI doubt it even has one star, yet it is cleaner than most ranked hotels and offers good old-fashioned service and no, I'm not giving its name

Everyone looks for different things.

This would be idyllic for me and probably not even a 1*

I’ve always gone off the stars on trip advisor rather than the official rating, there are some lovely 3 star hotels! 😁

The older I’ve gotten the higher my standards have got so no, I wouldn’t stay in a 3 star unless it was a girls night, hen do etc.

Thank you! I feel a bit mean now actually as it is something of a local institution. But still… just no.

But staying in a 3* doesn't mean that it's not nice, or even very nice. It can be wonderfully comfortable, luxurious, well-located or an historic building.

I agree that staying in shitty places isn't a holiday, but come on now - not having a gym, or a pool, or a concierge, doesn't equal shitty.

I didn’t say it did. I said I’d never stay somewhere that wasn’t as nice as my own home.

it isn’t personal to you you know, I haven’t said I wouldn’t stay at your house or something, but I’m old enough now that I only want to stay in reallt lovely places with some luxury. I have done plenty of backpackers, hostels, premier inns, 2/3 star guest houses in my younger years and now want a proper king sized bed and good room service

I would if it was over 4.5 on Tripadvisor.

I think it’s the largest category, isn’t it? So a huge range of hotels, some of which are really nice, others less so. I’ve stayed in some lovely character three star places abroad, which I certainly prefer to a bland four star. Character properties aside, I think the difference between a three and four stars is a certain level of polish and whether or not you have particular amenities. I certainly wouldn’t expect a three star to be grotty.

We recently stayed at a guesthouse that wasn’t in the star system, but I mentally pegged it to a three star - comfortable, had a pool, character, but lacked the polish of a higher star property and there was no on-site restaurant. It was lovely and I was quite pleased we chose it over a larger four-star hotel that was quite a bit more expensive but didn’t look nearly as charming.

I've stayed in some lovely three star hotels - they've had lovely pools, decent food and been in a food location.

Others have been horrendous. Tatty carpets, awful food, no facilities whatsoever - you just need to do your research.

Like others have said, it also depends on what you want from a holiday. City break - I don't really care as long as the rooms are clean and comfy, the shower is hot and they do good breakfast - but for a resort based holiday it's different and I'd be a bit fussier as I'd be spending most of my time in and around the hotel.

The last 3* I stayed in was in Lanzarote - all-inclusive, adults only, two pools, hot tub, right on the beach with decent enough food, comfy beds and within spitting distance of loads of decent bars and restaurants. It was cheap too and I'd go back any day!

You LITERALLY SAID "so would never choose a 3 star place for a holiday"

Star rating is based on what facilities the hotel has and not the quality of it. You get extra stars for having meeting rooms, conference centre, gyms etc. Just read the reviews and use that as a guide.

"now want a proper king sized bed and good room service"
Both of which are available in many 3* hotels

Then you go ahead and book them and I’ll continue with my way which suits me just fine!

OP The secret to happy and successful holidays with children is to ensure they are happy. If the 3 star is nearer a play ground, the beach, has a pool - just book it. You will hardly be in the room anyway and money saved can be spent on activities. Some hotels without a lift can’t get a fourth star for example.
Often higher stars are to do with dining rooms and cuisine and trust me with a young child you aren’t going to get your money’s worth out of that!
car parking and TVs in rooms are also a priority.
Enjoy your holiday x