| Hotels in UK: Classes of Accommodations | | | | anonymously by tourist officers to be inspected for a |
| Hotels and Guest Houses | | | | diamond rating of between one and five stars. This is |
| You will find a significant difference in both price and | | | | intended as a guide to the quality of accommodation |
| facilities between hotels and guest houses in the UK. | | | | and food on offer. |
| Hotels usually offer breakfasts, lunches, teas, dinners, a | | | | As private homes, including farmhouses and working |
| licensed bar and a range of services and facilities to | | | | farms, B&Bs tend to offer a very personal |
| suit individuals, families and often business groups. | | | | welcome, and an insight into British ways of life in |
| Country house hotels will often add recreational | | | | different parts of the country. Breakfast is intended to |
| facilities in their grounds such as golf, tennis, swimming, | | | | fill you and will often include bacon, eggs, fried bread, |
| health spas, gyms and attended play areas for | | | | tomatoes, even fried potatoes and local additions such |
| children. Top league international hotels in London and | | | | as black pudding. Or you can enjoy a 'continental' |
| major cities offer comprehensive amenities and | | | | breakfast: cereal, bread, toast, tea, coffee and juice. |
| services for business and holiday guests, and a choice | | | | Hostels |
| of first class and luxury accommodation. Guest houses | | | | There are many hostels located all over England, |
| may not have bars or offer lunch or teas, but will have | | | | Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Hostels vary in |
| television and sitting lounges. | | | | style and amenities but they offer bedrooms with |
| In England and Wales, the AA, RAC (the largest UK | | | | between two and six beds for young people, families |
| motoring organisations) and the English Tourist Council | | | | and groups. They usually provide substantial |
| have come together to provide an overall star for | | | | breakfasts and dinners at low prices and have |
| hotels and diamond rating for guest accommodations, | | | | communal kitchen facilities if you prefer to cater for |
| including bed and breakfast. Hotels have between one | | | | yourself. |
| and five stars; guest accommodations between one | | | | The main hostel organisations are the Youth Hostel |
| and five diamonds. In Scotland and Northern Ireland, all | | | | Association (YHA), the Scottish Youth Hostel |
| tourist accommodations are also graded regularly to | | | | Association (SYHA) and Hostelling International |
| provide a clear indication of the level of facilities you | | | | Northern Ireland (HINI). You do not have to be a 'youth' |
| can expect. | | | | to stay because there is no upper age limit (in Scotland |
| Bed and Breakfast | | | | the lower age limit is 5). But you do have to be a |
| Bed and breakfast accommodation, advertised by the | | | | member of the YHA or SYHA, which involves paying |
| famous 'B&B vacancies' sign, is mostly in private | | | | a small annual membership fee. There are also a |
| homes and the emphasis is on bedrooms rather than | | | | variety of independent hostels offering |
| on facilities such as a bar or restaurant. They are | | | | accommodation. Staying in hostels is traditionally |
| often the least expensive form of guest | | | | popular with people pursuing backpacking, walking, |
| accommodation although prices vary between those in | | | | cycling or generally exploring outdoor pursuits. But |
| the most popular holiday locations and those offering | | | | there are also hostels in many towns and cities, which |
| stopovers 'en route'. | | | | enable members to enjoy good basic accommodation |
| Thousands of bed and breakfasts have been visited | | | | on a low budget. |