Daylight was disappearing in Midtown Manhattan, even though there were cars honking and clanking 25 floors below my room. Royal Sonesta Benjamin New York It signaled that the night was not over yet. Taking this as a sign to get comfortable, I settled into my king-sized bed, opened a can of caramel popcorn, and pulled out the menu for pillows from my bedside table. Was I a back sleeper? Stomach sleeper? Side sleeper? Did I want a pillow that would prevent snoring or a pillow that would play a lullaby as I fell asleep? To reduce back pain, I decided on a six-foot body pillow. Five minutes later, a smiling attendant brought it to my door and gently handed it over, wishing me a good night’s sleep.

Unlike ultra luxury Oh New York Soon, this housekeeper was impersonal and my pillows would not be fluffed and prepared for turndown service; I had to do this part myself. But it had all the support of a full-service hotel, with everything from in-house dining to the aforementioned pillow menu to excellent customer service. The Benjamin also recently underwent a renovation: Its lobby was renovated to resemble a cigar box (think warm leather, dark wood, onyx floors). The hotel’s 209 residence-style rooms and private suites, replete with kitchenettes, have also been redesigned and now feature herringbone floors, angled headboards, lounge seating and sleeper sofas. And with a price starting at $458 per night—cheap compared to New York City’s top-end luxury options (a nearby hotel was $1,860 the same evening)—a hotel like the Benjamin was great value for money.

While I love extravagant hotel experiences, I’m not the only one considering the price tag of luxury travel these days. Luxury hotel room prices have skyrocketed over the past five years due to demand, supply chain issues and labor costs, and as prices skyrocket, value is becoming a greater concern even among affluent travelers. And on some trips, I’m a truly luxury traveler who wants all the trappings of a five-star stay (I’m looking at you, Hoshinoya Kyoto), there are other trips where I want something nice, but overwhelmingly Beautiful. (After all, I won’t be coming to my hotel much on this visit.)

There is a renaissance in the four-star hotel category. Four-star stays have the highest conversion rates, according to a 2018 study from Hotelchamp, which helps hotels increase online bookings. almost twice that five star hotels (transformation means the percentage of visitors who come to the website and complete the booking). So what exactly makes a four-star hotel and when is it better than a five-star hotel?

Contrary to popular belief, There is no single independent body that oversees hotel rating systems; Countries around the world have their own versions; Therefore, a four-star hotel in Marrakech may look different from one in Munich. as Mark Ellwood wrote “Think of these as the travel world’s answer to the Golden Globes: starry and intriguing, but open to abuse,” he said of Afar in 2023. In simpler terms: There are many systems shaped by different factors.

The two most widely used rating systems in the United States are AAA Diamonds and Forbes Travel Guide, which are five-star rating systems focused on luxury properties. When the latter was launched in 1958, it was known as the Mobile Travel Guide, developed for drivers on the road. At the time, this was the first five-star lodging rating in the United States. In April 2024, another entrant into the space, Michelin, announced its Key rating system consisting of one, two or three Keys; Online travel agencies like Expedia and Booking also have their own rating systems based on reviews.

In February 2024, Forbes said, 66th annual Star Awards. Of more than 2,000 properties worldwide, 340 were awarded five stars, 600 were awarded four stars (more than any other category), and 503 were awarded “Recommended” or three stars. To determine star levels, an official Forbes investigator visits anonymously and evaluates 900 criteria across service, facilities and “guest experiences” and explores a series of questions in categories such as efficiency, courtesy and etiquette, personalized service and staff appearance. (Facilities and service make up about 75 percent of the rating.) The resulting score is then converted into a composite score. Five-star hotels must have a rating of 90 or higher and “deliver an exceptional experience and consistently deliver a highly customized level of service.” Four-star hotels have a score of 82 or higher and are considered “exceptional hotels that offer a high level of service and matching facility quality.”

“Extraordinary features, “delivering a high level of service and matching facility quality” is all well and good in hotel lingo. But what does this mean in practice? Typically four-star hotels – known as “upper class” or superior hotels-there are quite big Rooms include luxury bath products, high-quality linens, bathrobes, minibars, slippers and high-speed Wi-Fi; 24-hour room service, spas, and excellent on-site dining options are common, as are pools and classes. (In other words: A guest should ideally be able to get everything they need at a four-star hotel.) The location is generally prime and close to the city’s major attractions. Prices, of course, depend on numerous factors such as market rates, room sizes, season and experiences.

But ratings have become muddier over the past decade, says Chekitan Dev, a professor of management at Cornell University’s Nolan School of Hotel Administration, citing a “nice creep” that has begun to proliferate at all star levels. “One starts to look like two, four starts to look like five,” Dev says. “This situation is further complicated by boutique hotels, often four-star, which defy the step-by-step classification of standard systems by creating their own blend of service and comfort.”

For example, senior vice president Kelly Grumbach Travel with CareA luxury travel agency shows off its boutique in New York City Nine Orchards as an example of what he calls “four-star luxury.” The difference, he says, is in the food and beverage options; Corner Bar and Swan Room, located in a former bank teller’s office; lively, stylish and full of local people; This helps travelers feel like part of a city. “If we recommend a four-star hotel to our five-star customers, there must be a compelling reason beyond the affordable price point and room, such as a memorable and experiential component,” Grumbach says. For example, Marriott’s Autograph Collection Hotels partnership Together with Fotografiska, the Museum of Photography hosts artists to produce original works that are exhibited in museums and hotels around the world.

CEO of Wurzak Hotel Group and Moxy St. Pete’s owner Jake Wurzak says he takes that component into consideration when determining what to serve guests. “There is a growing demand for three- to four-star hotels that offer not just accommodation but an immersive experience, and the response has been phenomenal,” he says, referring to the brand’s rooftop bar and podcast studio designed to draw guests outside to its rooms and livelier common areas. Brian Jaymont, global brand leader for Moxy Hotels, agrees, saying the four-star brand, which is part of the Marriott portfolio, “challenges the status quo in traditional and commercial hotel accommodations.”

“Not all four-star hotels are created equal,” says Grumbach.

Check out Afar list One of the best four-star hotels in New York City.