We verify luxury TM

Forbes Travel Guide is the global authority on luxury hospitality. Our professional inspectors travel the world to assess the finest hotels, restaurants, spas and ocean cruise ships based on hundreds of exacting standards that determine our coveted annual Star Ratings.

We inspect every hotel, restaurant, spa and cruise ship in person, visiting anonymously as a typical guest. No one can buy a rating under any circumstance. Every Star Rating is earned through our objective, independent process.

While we assess both service and facility, our Star Rating system emphasizes service because a great experience goes beyond how the surroundings look — how the visit makes you feel is what you will remember most.

Our inspectors are traveling the globe now to prepare for our 2025 Star Rating announcement on February 12, 2025.

We are the only independent, global rating system for luxury hotels, restaurants, spas and ocean cruise ships.

We verify luxury. Our highly trained inspectors visit every property we rate, evaluating based on up to 900 objective criteria. Our hotel stays span a minimum of two nights.

We pay our own way. No one can buy a rating; all ratings are earned through our objective inspection process.

While we inspect both service and facility, our Star Rating system emphasizes service because your experience goes beyond how your surroundings look — how your visit makes you feel is what you will remember most.

We started in 1958 as Mobil Travel Guide, and we created the original Five-Star rating system for hospitality.

Five-Star
These properties deliver an outstanding experience and consistently offer a highly customized level of service.

Four-Star
These are exceptional properties, offering high levels of service and quality of facility to match.

Soon To Be Rated
As our highly trained, incognito inspectors work to assess properties, our editors check them out ahead of time and provide a sneak preview of what to expect.