AAA Hotel and Resort Ratings

[Pa@okw95]

AAA rating system may be just a little suspect. For example it has OKW rated with 3 diamonds, but also rated 3 diamonds are All Star Music, and All Star Sports, also rated 3 stars is WL and AKL along POR riverside. It has 4 diamond ratings for BCV and BWV. When it comes to ratings of hotels and resorts one must be careful. AAA has the value resorts rated equal to some of the best deluxe hotels on the site. In another post AAA ratings were brought up when posters were complaining about BCV, that it had a 4 diamond rating so the poster must be wrong etc. I just wanted to point out that AAA ratings must be looked at with a grain of salt.

 

[PKS44]

Maybe instead of a grain of salt, a pinch of factual information might help...understanding what exactly the ratings mean clarifies the issue much more....The differences in those ratings have to do with amenities provided..the point of citing the AAA rating for the BCV was in response to a posted question about whether BCV had horrible service-and given the 4 Diamond rating it is highly unlikely that BCV has a systematic service deficit....that was the point of my post..

Here is the AAA definition of their ratings:

3 Diamonds-Properties offer a degree of sophistication, often with additional amenities and facilities. A noticeable upgrade in physical attributes, services and comfort.

4 Diamonds- Accommodations displaying a high level of service, hospitality and a variety of amenities and upscale facilities.


The absence of room service and other factors may be what cost OKW a diamond here....

Paul

 

[Doctor P]

AAA also has different categories and OKW is not generally in the same rating category as the other resorts. Actually, I don't even think OKW is technically rated as a hotel but rather as a condominium resort.

 

[OneMoreTry]

To me a AAA 3* means I will not find bodily fluids on the floor. Other than that it's worthless.

I just got consumer reports this morning. Walt Disney Resorts are not listed as "luxury" but as "upscale." This was unclear because prices were listed about $100 to $250, so could not have included the "Deluxe" Disney Resorts.

In any case they were listed as top of the "upscale" category. I'm assuming that meant moderates and value.

 

[Pa@okw95]

I read what each rating means that is why I felt and still do that AAA ratings are suspect. There is no way that a value resort offers the same amenties, level of comfort, etc that WL, AKL and others have but they all have the same rating. While I have no desire to get into any debate here about what was said about BCV by some, not me, it does seem to me that this furthers my statement that the rating are suspect. I would expect BC to have a 4 diamond rating but BCV not to have the same because of the lack of hospitality, service, and attention to detail that flows from these reports about BCV. I know that sounds a little off because BC and BCV share some of the same like the front desk at check in for example. But when customers are treatel like some have reported at BCV, the ratings are off., That kind of treatment does not belong at a 4 star or diamond resort, it fact it does not belong most anywhere.

 

[PKS44]

With AAA having lots of members ready to file comments about the properties plus their own reviewers I stand by the original assessment that it is not likely that BCV has a systematic service problem as you and others have suggested on these boards...it would not be likely that they could get a 4 Diamond and have the system wide problems you are suggesting...they JUST received the 4 Diamond rating...this is a NEW designation...this is not something from years ago that has not been reviewed recently....now if what you and others say is true and the service stinks (I will know more when I stay there for my first time in 57 days!) then I would expect the AAA rating to change for the worse next year...I will report my own findings and we will see what AAA does
....as for using the ratings to compare WDW resorts --that has never been suggested by me nor anyone else that I know of...this was offered only as evidence that the service complaints at BCV posted here are not likely reflective of the general experience there...and the AAA rating is a relection of that argument and that argument ONLY.

Paul

 

[PamOKW]

AAA calls OKW a "condo" and the other DVC resorts "large hotels"

 

[erikthewise]

AAA ratings are not so much suspect as just a very crude (in the sense of inaccurate) measure of quality. Luxury hotels get 4 diamonds. Budget motels get 2 diamonds. Roach Motels get 1 diamond. Just about everything else gets 3 diamonds. Not much opportunity for careful distinctions there, so don't take them too seriously. Also it's not realistic to expect that every hotel is gone over with a fine-tooth comb; as many have pointed out it often seems to come down to a checklist.

 

[Stitch 03]

As everyone is aware, AAA ratings are partially based on the amenities provided. The ratings are also based upon comparison to similar properties. In the AAA listings each property is indicated by type (motel, motor inn, hotel etc.).

What does this all mean? You cannot compare a 3 star motel to a 3 star hotel. It is like comparing apples to oranges. This is probably why value resorts have similar ratings to some moderates and deluxes. I cannot confirm this, as I do not have a AAA book for Florida available. But you will probaly find that AAA has put the All Stars into a separate category (motor Inn perhaps?).

All this is explained in the front of AAA tourbooks.

 

[PKS44]

Originally posted by erikthewise
AAA ratings are not so much suspect as just a very crude (in the sense of inaccurate) measure of quality. Luxury hotels get 4 diamonds. Budget motels get 2 diamonds. Roach Motels get 1 diamond. Just about everything else gets 3 diamonds. Not much opportunity for careful distinctions there, so don't take them too seriously. Also it's not realistic to expect that every hotel is gone over with a fine-tooth comb; as many have pointed out it often seems to come down to a checklist.

I don't believe there is a 1 Diamond rating for AAA... they don't list on their website- just 2 to 5 Diamonds....

 

[TnRobin]

Other amenities that will get you an extra star with AAA are valet parking, conceirge services, room service, types and number of restaurants, activiites for guest and staff to guest ratios.

The stars are based on availability of these services, not the quality in which the resort provides the service.

 

[Pa@okw95]

Sorry PKs44- AAA one diamond rating is --These establishments typically appeal to the budget-minded traveler. They provide essential, no frills accommodations that meet the bassic requirements pertaining to comfort, cleanliness, and hospitality. End of that.
Stitch 03 AAA lists the all stars as a large hotel as they do WL, Poly and AKL and all have 3 diamond ratings
I would say that anyone that knows these resorts will would not rate the values with the three deluxe I have suggested
PAMOKW-yes OKW is rated as a condo unit with 3 diamonds.
All I started out here to do is to warn everyone that AAA ratings are suspect, end of story.

 

[Mickmse2002]

Originally posted by Pa@okw95

All I started out here to do is to warn everyone that AAA ratings are suspect, end of story.

Point well taken. But then again I think anyone's personal ratings should be suspect.

 

[Dean]

We've had this dicussion before. As noted above, it's simply a case of AAA not having enough ways to differentiate properties for this type of comparison. All you can say is that if AAA rates a property 4 diamonds, they think it's better overall than a 3 diamond place but you don't know how much better and how. You can't say the other way around, that all 3 diamond rated resorts are essentially the same. It's a shame the unofficial guide stopped rating the resorts, I found this far more helpful.

 

[kweaver]

My advice before staying at any hotel...check the reviews on tripadvisor. Now there's always going to be some yahoo who isn't happy with his stay (in one review I read the writer did nothing but complain about the crowds while his trip was in Florida over spring break...duh!)...but if the comments are generally good/great/excellent, I think you are pretty safe.

Then again...I go for deals via priceline and generally take my chances. My best score so far was the Marriott Grand Hotel on Point Clear for $40 a night.

 

[PKS44]

Interesting and worrisome that 22% of the trip advisor reviews were pretty negative (regarding the Beach Club resort not the BCV per se) That seems too high for a place that is supposed to be tops...I am worried. I certainly will not be slow to complain if things start unfolding in a bad way during our trip....

 

[lulu71]

Here'a a link to the AAA website that lists criteria for each of the diamond categories:

http://www.aaanewsroom.net/Main.asp?CategoryID=9&SubCategoryID=22&ContentID=62&