London 4****star hotel

[trastevere]

A couple of days ago my wife and daughter booked and paid for ,on the internet, a two day stay at a 4**** star hotel. They got a discounted rate and the total cost is just under �200 room only. Breakfasts would be 4x �15 payable to reception. Today my daughter looked up the hotel on Tripadvisor.co.uk and, horror of horrors, without exception the numerous submitted reports stated that it was the worst hotel ever, tiny damp rooms no hot water filthy, broken lift, rude staff etc. etc and the list goes on. The lift for example seems to be out of order for the best part of a year. If these reports did not have an element of truth in them they would be libellous. We have since found out that this hotel has neither a bar or a restaurant.My question is this. Who awards the star rating? Clearly a hotel without a bar or restaurant cannot qualify for 4***stars. Likewise IF it it such a disgraceful smelly dump how can it warrant 4****stars. With the exception of just one 5*****star hotel, my home city of Manchester has only a handful of 4****star hotels. All are considered fit for royalty and,indeed, are 'posh' My wife and daughter both fear the worse and the edge has been taken off the excitement of their theatre/shopping foray. Their fears may be unfounded, BUT, if this hotel's Tripadvsor reports are accurate, can action be taken by Trading Standards for the misleading use of 4****star rating?

[Buenchico]

For hotels in England, an establishment would normally advertise the rating awarded to it by the ETC (or by the AA and/or RAC, who apply the same standards):
http://www.fweb.org.uk/dean/visitor/accom/symb ols.html

Chris

[auntiebertie]

Personaly i would never book a hotel without reading TripAdvisor first - but that is a bit late for this advise isn't it.
Why can't you cancel? Most hotels allow cancelation up to 4pm on day of arrival, but it depends on the rate you purchased.