During your stay at a four star hotel you should expect comfort and relaxation in a stylish and charming location. Service should be of a good standard and there should be a wide range of facilities at the hotel to keep you entertained.

Beds should be comfortable and well made up, you would not be wrong for expecting a TV included in your room with a decent range of channels. Bathrooms should be clean and luxurious, including a bath and a shower, as well as complimentary toiletries. Hotel airports should not be noisy despite their location, soundproofing should be expected in all rooms to enhance your stay.

There should be a 24 hour room service menu, including a continental breakfast and, for airport hotels, an early morning option for early risers. For resort hotels expect an expansive, decently furnished balcony.

Facility wise, there should be an elegant reception area manned constantly by well trained, smartly presented staff who practise courtesy at every turn. Ample elevators should run to very floor, and bellboy services should be available for luggage delivery.

You should be able to access a usable gym at any hour of the night or day, and some establishments will have both indoor and outdoor pools. Outdoor pool areas can be expected, often surrounded by dining service and outdoor waiting. There should always be a poolside bar decorated with lots of lush greenery, as well as one or two Jacuzzis for cooling off in. Lobby bars are often included in the hotel, but if you are too tired to leave your room you can expect twenty four hour room service. Internet access is a high priority in business centres, and can be expected for twenty four hours a day, as well as having the option to use wi-fi.

There should be at least one main restaurant offering a good range of international cuisine, as well as a less formal caf or bistro venue for a quick snack at any time of the day.

Car parking should be extremely secure and ample within a four star hotel. A complimentary valet can also often be expected. There should be an on-site concierge with a good local knowledge of the area to offer recommendations for dining, entertainment and sightseeing.

The entire hotel should be pervaded by a good level of hospitality, and suffused by an overall air of luxury, spaciousness and ease that makes guest relaxation its focal point. Staff should be finely tuned, expertly supervised and well motivated to deliver a premium product to a whole range of very disparate guests. That is essentially the measure of any successful four-star hotel.