The Italian Hotel Star Rating System Is A Traveler’s Friend

The Italian hotel star rating system is a valuable resource for anyone planning a first-time vacation in Rome and who wants to know what they should expect.

Making plans for your vacation can be stressful and if you haven’t looked into which hotels you should stay in, you might not know where to start. Luckily, in Italy, and across Europe, there is a star rating system that can help guide you through options for where to stay in Rome. While the system isn’t perfect, there is value in understanding what to expect from a consistent viewpoint, which is a different experience in the US where it seems like these hotels simply make up their star classification without much effort at all.

Is There An Official Star Rating System For Italian Hotels?

There is a star rating system for hotels in Italy that a tourist can (and probably should) use to determine the type of hotel they would like to stay at. These star ratings, unlike in the US, are based on certain established criteria which allows for a consistent interpretation of the level of service one should expect across Italy.

This rating system isn’t perfect, and is considered to be slow in updating the requirements as things change in the industry, but it is objective because it is determined by a third party and is useful for new visitors to Rome, Italy and Europe.

What To Expect From The Italian Hotel Star Rating System?

There are approximately 1,600 hotels in Rome and according to Statista.com, as of 2022, the breakdown of hotels by star rating were:

• 1-Star Hotels: 177
• 2-Star Hotels: 302
• 3-Star Hotels: 620
• 4-Star Hotels: 451
• 5-Star Hotels: 62

But, what does this mean? Based on the number of hotels with a 3-Star rating in Rome, these are the most popular hotels for the typical traveler. You can expect these to be not TOO expensive, but still nice and safe. If you would like to splurge and have more amenities, there are options, and if you are looking to save some money because a pool or breakfast in the hotel isn’t important to you, there are options for these types of hotels as well.

How Do Hotels Get Stars In Italy?

The star rating system for hotels in Italy is managed by public authorities based on a tourism law enacted in 1983, which was at the national level. Following new laws enacted by 2002, the responsibility for classifying hotels moved down to the regional governments. This change was implemented because of the belief that each city and region in Italy had its own unique needs that didn’t really transfer across Italy. The result is that while the ratings for hotels in a region or city is calibrated for visitors to that region, it is difficult to compare across regions. In other words, the star rating for hotels in Rome should be used to compare Rome hotels, but comparing Rome hotels to those in Venice might not be as effective.

Italian Hotel Star Rating System

The Italian hotel star rating system should not be viewed as a way to determine which hotels are “Good” and which are “Bad”, but rather a way to compare amenities and costs across the 1,600 hotels in Rome from the comfort of your home while you plan your vacation. Here are some of the expectations you should have for each of the star ratings.

What Does A 1-Star Hotel Mean In Italy?

This is the lowest rating in Italy and your expectations should be set accordingly. There are very few extra amenities, with the front desk staffed between 12 and 24 hours per day, smaller rooms that are cleaned daily, but linens only changed once a week. You shouldn’t expect breakfast and it is possible that you will not have an en suite bathroom, meaning it is shared and down the hall.

What Does A 2-Star Hotel Mean In Italy?

This is one step higher and your expectations should still be set fairly low. There are still few extra amenities, with the front desk staffed between 12 and 24 hours per day, smaller rooms that are cleaned daily, but linens are now changed twice a week. You should expect to have an elevator, but you still shouldn’t expect breakfast and it is still possible that you will not have a bathroom in the room.

What Does A 3-Star Hotel Mean In Italy?

This is the most popular rating for hotels in Rome and along with the costs, the amenities are a little bit better. You will likely have a bathroom in your room, but it still isn’t required. You will begin to see linens cleaned daily and an even longer workday for the reception desk. The front desk should speak a second language, which from my experience is English, and there should be internet available. Regarding internet connectivity, even when it is offered, you can get varying levels of service there as well, despite how many stars the hotel is rated. In other words, internet availability and quality don’t correlate.

What Does A 4-Star Hotel Mean In Italy?

One step higher and you should expect your towels and sheets replaced daily, laundry service available at an extra fee, onsite parking and an even larger room. You will have a bathroom in your room, and although 24-hour reception isn’t required, it is likely to be available at these hotels. While still not ubiquitous in Italy, air conditioning is available at this level as well.

What Does A 5-Star Hotel Mean In Italy?

This is the highest rating and also includes “5-Star Deluxe” rated hotels. These are the best, and you should expect to pay the most for these. In addition to everything that 4-Star hotels have to offer, you will find a reception desk that speaks at least 3 languages and is available 24-hours a day. These rooms are still larger and breakfast is typically included. Again, air conditioning, an elevator and more amenities will make your stay even more delightful.

Do Most Hotels In Italy Have Air Conditioning?

Being from the US, I can say that in my opinion, Italians have a strange relationship with air conditioning. They don’t like it or trust it and it isn’t very common in Italian homes. For hotels, the requirement to have air conditioning begins at the 4-Star rating level. This is definitely something to consider if you are traveling during the hot summer months or if you are in a city with more mosquitoes, like Rome or Venice.

More About Hotels In Italy

If you enjoyed learning about the Italian hotel star rating system and would like to see how that translates to specific hotels in Rome, here are some additional posts that I think are great examples of places to stay in Rome, depending on your budget:

• Great Hotels Near The Roman Colosseum You Should Consider.
• Amazing Rome Hotels Near Termini Station For Consideration.
• The Best Hotels Near The Vatican In Rome, Italy To Plan For.
• Great 5-Star Hotels Near Pantheon Rome To Check Out.
• Hotels Near Piazza Navona Rome That Are A Great Option.