Ultimate Guide to AAA Diamond Ratings

Ever wonder how the hotel rating system works? Is there really a difference between Two Diamond and Three Diamond hotels? Is a Five Diamond hotel worth the money? Decoding the AAA rating system can help you figure out how to get the most for your money.

What Hotels Are Rated?

AAA rates hotels in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Notably, hotels do not pay to be included in the ratings but can apply for a rating. To become AAA Approved, the hotel must meet 27 basic requirements covering comfort, cleanliness, and safety.

Upon approval, AAA sends anonymous raters to evaluate the hotel and assign a diamond rating from one to five. Currently, approximately 32,000 hotels are AAA Diamond rated.

What if the Hotel is Not Rated? Is That Bad?

Hotels that are approved but not rated by AAA appear with an FYI symbol instead of a Diamond rating. This may not be negative; the hotel may simply be too new to be rated or may be undergoing significant renovations. However, it could mean that the hotel did not meet the criteria for an AAA Diamond rating.

Does the Diamond Rating Affect the Room Rates?

Sometimes, but not always. Typically, a One Diamond hotel is much less expensive than a Four Diamond hotel. Between the Two, Three, Four, and even Five Diamond hotels, however, there exists a wide range of prices. A lower AAA Diamond rating does not guarantee a lower room rate.

Four Diamond or Five Diamond—What’s the Difference?

Achieving an AAA Five Diamond rating is quite challenging, with fewer than 100 hotels making the list. The primary distinction lies in the service. For example, in a Five Diamond hotel, you would expect a personalized greeting upon arrival and an escort to the front desk, as well as turndown service without having to request it, which may include fresh ice and a gift such as chocolate.

In general, the AAA Diamond rating system evaluates the service, amenities, and décor of each hotel. Below is an overview of what you can generally expect from each Diamond rating level, featuring example hotels from around the Walt Disney World area:

AAA One Diamond

No-frills accommodations for the budget traveler:

• Basic building and landscaping
• Guest rooms with functional furniture, a wall-mounted TV, a clothes rack, a couple of bars of soap, and a pack of tissues
• Telephone, vending, and ice machines
• Examples: Motel 6 Orlando-Kissimmee Main Gate East

AAA Two Diamond

Still affordable and low-frills, but with added design and amenities:

• Good curb appeal, landscaping, and lighting in the parking lot; covered drive-up entry
• Coordinated décor and furnishings with seating in the registration area
• Sundries at the front desk
• Food court, restaurant, or at least continental breakfast
• Guest rooms featuring inexpensive furniture, a TV in view (with remote), partially enclosed clothes racks, and a vanity area outside of the bathroom
• Examples: Disney’s Pop Century Resort; Best Western Lakeside

AAA Three Diamond

More attention has been paid to style and décor, alongside enhanced amenities and services:

• Better curb appeal, landscaping, and lighting in the parking lot; porte-cochere entry
• Carpet, wood, or tile floors with accent rugs; more seating in the registration area; luggage carts
• Small gift shop
• Swimming pool, hot tub, and an exercise room
• A full-service restaurant or food court (or an expanded continental breakfast) along with a lounge
• Larger guest rooms with coordinated furniture and décor, improved bed linens, blackout drapes or shades, closet with hangers, TV on a credenza with remote and movie channels, coffee maker, two-line phone, video games, wall-mounted hair dryer, shampoo.
• Internet access, elevator, valet laundry, telephone, vending, ice machines
• Examples: Nickelodeon Family Suites, Holiday Inn Express Lake Buena Vista, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.

AAA Four Diamond

More attention has been paid to style and décor, and amenities and services have been added:

• Excellent curb appeal, landscaping, and lighting in the parking lot; impressive architectural features; added security
• Upscale décor and furniture; excellent quality flooring (marble, wood, granite, etc.); ample seating in a larger registration area; bell desk; better luggage carts
• Upscale gift shop
• Swimming pool with food served poolside, hot tub, steam room, exercise room with state-of-the-art equipment and lockers
• At least one upscale, full-service restaurant and a lounge
• Larger guest rooms with upscale or designer furniture and décor, excellent bed linens, comforters with duvet covers, closet with wood hangers, luggage racks, oversized desks, and a mini bar
• High-speed Internet access, service elevators for staff, valet laundry
• Examples: Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Gaylord Palms Resort, and Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress

AAA Five Diamond

A much higher level of service is necessary for Five Diamond status, and the facilities must be luxurious; fewer than 100 hotels qualify.

• Stunning curb appeal and architectural features; extensive landscaping; valet parking
• Antiques and paintings; live floral arrangements; highest quality flooring (polished marble, stone, distinctive tile); concierge area
• Upscale shops
• Swimming pool with attendants; full-service spa; exercise room with customized fitness programs
• Multiple upscale full-service restaurants and a lounge
• Elegantly appointed guest rooms with high-quality furniture; outstanding linens and comforters; multiple pillow choices; robust amenities;
• Example: There are none in Orlando. The closest is The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota