© Mandarin Oriental, New York

Mobil Travel Guide uses stars to represent levels of quality, including its famous FIVE-STAR AWARD certification, which represents a "level above" other rating systems.

Unlike other travel sites, which can vary wildly in their consistency and their assessment of service and value, the Mobil Travel Guide inspectors make unannounced visits to every rated property. The Guide has rated hotels and restaurants since 1958—longer than any other site or company.

Unlike many other inspectors, Mobil Travel Guide doesn't call ahead or warn managers and staff that they're on the way.

There are two types of inspections:

• Facility inspection—Every property gets a visit from a facility inspector, who uses a checklist to evaluate cleanliness, physical condition and location. This inspection results in a Mobil One-, Two- or Three-Star rating. Spas are the only exception—the minimum standard for a Mobil spa rating is three stars.
  
  
• Service evaluation—Based on the facility inspection, properties that might qualify for a Mobil Four Star or Five Star Award certification will receive a visit from a second, this time incognito, inspector. This inspector makes an anonymous visit and performs an incognito evaluation based on more than 500 service standar­ds. During service evaluations, inspectors keep a low profile and do not reveal that they represent the Mobil Travel Guide.

The term "­service" can seem pretty subjective, but the staff at Mobil Travel Guide use checklists, stopwatches and recorders to make their findings as accurate as possible. For hotel ratings, inspectors spend three days and two nights at the hotel, interacting with staff, having a drink at the bar, ordering room service, visiting the spa and taking advantage of other services that a standard guest would encounter.­

Inspectors respond "yes" or "no" to criteria in a range of classifications, such as graciousness, efficiency and luxury. These classifications include more than 500 criteria that assess staff appearance, behavior and skill level as well as food quality, housekeeping and concierge services, to name a few. For every "no" answer, a hotel loses points, and there's very little grey area. For example, luggage is delivered to the guest's room in 10 minutes, or it is not - there's no middle ground. Inspectors also write pages of commentary during the evaluations.

Spa and restaurant evaluations follow a similar pattern. Both use the same classifications as hotel evaluations, with a few additions. Spa evaluations include the technical execution of the actual treatments, and restaurant evaluations include criteria that rate the food quality and the restaurant's ambiance.

© The Inn at Little Washington

Inspectors have more than just an eye for detail, they are constantly observing the facility, the staff and how other guests are being treated. A service evaluation starts before the inspector's stay even begins, as it includes the process of making a reservation. And the inspection ends after the inspector leaves the property.

Many online rating systems judge a property's amenities as the main criteria for a higher rating. Mobil Travel Guide's standards include amenities, but quality of service is the determining factor in their final rating. A property with an exceptional facility and amenities but only average service will not be certified as a Mobil Five Star Award property.

Standards for Mobil Five Star Award certifications are exact, and few properties meet them. Within the industry, these awards are highly coveted and highly respected. Of the more than 8,000 hotels Mobil Travel Guide rates, ­only around 41 achieve Mobil Five Star Award status. On the restaurant side, only 15 establishments have a Mobil Five Star Award. Only three spas have achieved the rarified air of Mobil Five Stars.

The Mobil Travel Guide Star rating system is definitive. They give you the true picture of whether or not a property is for you. Whether you're traveling for business of packing up the family for a road trip, the Mobil ratings will help guide your choices that will fit best within your lifestyle.

Download the complete Mobil Travel Guide ratings criteria for Hotels, Restaurants and Spas.