Scottish Tourist Board Gradings
The Scottish Tourist Board Quality Assurance Scheme uses trained and impartial inspectors
to visit properties every year and provide a 1-5 Star grading that is consistent across Scotland.
You can find links to Tourist Board Web Sites here.
- Five Star means "Exceptional, World Class"
- Four Star means "Excellent"
- Three Star means "Very Good"
- Two Star means "Good"
- One Star means "Fair and Acceptable"
In addition, the STB categorise accommodation under 13 different headings. These are:
- Hotel: Normally meaning a minimum of 20 letting bedrooms,
with at least half having en-suite or private facilities. Will also normally have a drinks licence,
and will serve dinner and breakfast.
- Small Hotel: Normally meaning a minimum of 6 letting
bedrooms and a maximum of 20, with at least half having en-suite or private facilities. Will also
normally have a drinks licence, and will serve dinner and breakfast.
- Guest House: Usually a commercial business with a minimum
of 4 letting bedrooms, of which some will have en-suite or private facilities. Breakfast will be
available and evening meals may be provided.
- B&B: Accommodation providing bed and breakfast,
usually in a private house. Usually accommodating no more than 6 guests, and may or may not serve
an evening meal.
- Inn: B&B accommodation within a traditional inn or
pub. A restaurant and bar will be open to non-residents and will provide restaurant or bar food at
lunchtime and in the evening.
- Lodge: Purpose built overnight accommodation, often close
to a main road. Reception hours may be restricted. There may be associated restaurant facilities.
Car parking normally provided.
- Self Catering: Normally let on a weekly basis and with
facilities to allow self catering.
- Serviced Apartments: Self catering apartments, but with
cleaning provided; and with meals and drinks available.
- Hostel: Provision of beds and sometimes meals and other
services. They are assessed on a scale of 1-3 Stars.
- Campus Accommodation: college or university accommodation
with meals made available during vacations.
- Holiday Park: Offering holiday homes and often touring
and camping pitches.
- Touring Park: Offering touring pitches and sometimes
camping pitches.
- Camping Park: for camping only.
