How we rank hotels
The short version
Every ranking on this site is built from live booking rates, verified guest review data at scale, property specifications and published editorial coverage, then ordered by editorial judgement against five fixed criteria. No hotel pays to appear and no hotel pays to be removed.
The five criteria, and what each one weighs
| Criterion | Weight | Evidence considered |
|---|---|---|
| Room product | 25% | Room size, layout, privacy, condition, view and the difference between entry rooms and higher categories. |
| Service | 25% | Patterns in verified guest feedback, service consistency, complaint handling and the practical support a hotel provides. |
| Location | 20% | Access, setting, surrounding noise, transfer time and how well the position serves the reason for the trip. |
| Food and beverage | 15% | Restaurant range, breakfast, consistency, published menus and recurring guest feedback on quality and price. |
| Value | 15% | The live rate against the room, facilities, service and closest credible alternatives for the same dates. |
The five weights add to 100 percent. Editorial judgement decides how the evidence is applied, but the criteria do not change from hotel to hotel.
Where our numbers come from
- Live Booking.com rates through our affiliate integration.
- Aggregated guest scores from Booking.com and Tripadvisor.
- Specifications published by each hotel.
- Public editorial coverage from named publications.
Rates are rechecked when a page is updated and each page carries its own verified date. Rates move, so the price shown is evidence from that date rather than a promise of the price you will see later.
What we have experienced first hand, and what we have not
The airport lounge visits and luggage testing described on this site are first hand. Hotel rankings are built from research rather than a stay at every property. If a page includes a genuine first hand exception, it is named on that page. We do not imply a stay where one did not happen.
How we make money
Luxury Hotel Compare may earn an affiliate commission from Booking.com through CJ and from Priority Pass through AWIN. Commission never changes an ordering, and using a link costs the reader nothing. No hotel can pay for inclusion, position or removal.
Corrections
If something is wrong, please use the contact page. We will check the evidence, correct the page when needed and mark the corrected page with the date.
How often this is reviewed
Rates are rechecked when a page is updated and each page carries its own verified date. We also update a page when a material change becomes known, including a closure, reopening, renovation or change of management.