Grading Information

What does Grading mean for you?

When choosing your holiday accommodation, look for the Cymru / Wales quality mark of Wales' official, nationwide quality assessment scheme, then you can be confident that it has been checked out before you check in.

Is there any difference between Visit Wales and other grading schemes?

All the national assessing bodies (VisitBritain, VisitScotland,Visit Wales and the AA) now assess holiday accommodation to the same criteria and award one to five stars.  The stars reflect the facilities and overall quality of the experience. 

Please note this is a new grading scheme for 2008.  The criteria have changed since the old Wales Tourist Board scheme.  Grades may therefore be different from previous years due to new scheme requirements.

REMEMBER the accommodation will almost certainly be the same
- the grading scheme has changed

How do we assess properties ?

Our Quality Wales team of professional assessors normally visit each property every year.,  Visit Wales is the premier assessing agency for accommodation in Wales, checking out over 5000 places every year. In the case of properties handled by self catering agencies the frequency between visits can be longer as Agents have responsibility for checking standards too.

What do our star ratings mean?

Our star ratings made easy:

Simple, practical, no frills	Well presented and well run	Good level of quality and comfort	Excellent standard throughout	Exceptional with a degree of luxury

Does a lower star rating equal less quality?

Many lower star rated accommodations may still offer high quality, but do not meet all of the facility and service expectations for the higher star ratings. 

Always check with the establishment before booking – they will be only too pleased to help.

What categories of accommodation are there?

Accommodation differs in style.  To help you make your choice, the new rating scheme includes a “designator” to describe the style of accommodation you can expect - for example:

Self Catering: cottages and apartments where you can experience home from home comforts

Touring Park: welcomes touring caravans, trailer tents and motorhomes.

Camping Park: welcomes visitors with tents.

Holiday Park: where you can rent a caravan holiday home, timber lodge or chalet.

Hotels: the standard term used for most establishments of this type, but you may also see a range of alternative descriptions which relate to a particular style or size of hotel, as follows

Small Hotels: refer to businesses which offer a range of hotel services and are differentiated by the number of rooms available – normally less than 20 – used at the discretion of the hotel owner.

Country House Hotels: have ample grounds or gardens in a rural or semi-rural location, with emphasis on peace and quiet.

Town House Hotels: are in city/town centre locations offering  high quality with a distinctive style.  High degree of personal service.

Metro Hotels
are found in city and town centres, offering full hotel services, but no dinner.  They will be within easy walking distance of a range of places to eat.

Budget Hotels: are always part of a large ‘branded’ hotel group offering clean and comfortable en suite facilities, 24 hour reservations and a consistent level of facilities.

Guest Accommodation: encompasses anything from one-room bed and breakfasts to the larger places found in our coastal resorts, which may offer dinner and may be licensed.

Bed and Breakfasts: accommodate no more than six people.  It’s like staying as a special guest in someone’s home.

Farmhouses: also offer bed and breakfast and sometimes dinner, always on a farm.

Guest Houses: tend to have more than three rooms and may offer dinner to their guests.  Some may be licensed.

Restaurants with Rooms: are just that.  The restaurant is the main business and they will be licensed.

Inns: are pubs with rooms which serve food in the evenings, as well as breakfast.

Campus Accommodation: Quality Wales’ campus scheme covers the universities and colleges that are able to accommodate visitors during the vacation periods on a bed and breakfast or self catering basis.  Often the rooms are en suite and there will be plenty of single rooms, ideal for large groups.

Hostel Accommodation: accommodation is often in shared rooms with bunk beds. May be family rooms - could be restricted access – either catered or self catering facilities

Group Accommodation - predominately group bookings in shared bedrooms. May offer meals or self catered facilities.

Activity Accommodation: usually but not exclusively group bookings associated with provision of accredited activities on site or nearby.

Backpacker Accommodation: similar in style to a hostel, but may be run on less formal lines. Often more appropriate for independent travellers – may not accept family groups.

Bunkhouse Accommodation: rural accommodation which can be booked by groups or individuals. Services and facilities may be limited but will include a self catering facility.

Camping Barns: not star rated – this is simple rural accommodation, often referred to as “stone tents”. Roomy and dry – usually need to bring your own sleeping bags.