About us And How we rank Resorts

Luxury Resort Bliss is a media company that specializes in reviewing luxury resorts around the world. We provide in-depth and honest reviews of some of the most exclusive resorts in the world, with a focus on rest, relaxation, and luxury.

See also The Review System

Welcome to Luxury Resort Bliss!

Our expert team leaves no stone unturned to bring you the most authentic resort experiences from every corner of the world. 🌳🏙️🏖️ We harness the power of AI primarily for editing, ensuring our content is as precise and reliable as possible.

About the writers

Welcome to our website! We're passionate about all things travel, and we're excited to share our insights and experiences with you.

💼 We cherish our independence! ✈️ Our travel recommendations are carefully researched, bias-free, and genarally powered by human expertise. 

 We're proud to deliver meticulously researched, completely unbiased resort recommendations.

Every review and recommendation you read is derived from our team of dedicated travellers and hospitality experts. They've walked the grounds, sampled the services, and lived the experiences to bring you the most authentic, reliable information possible. 🏡🌄🏝️

Remember, we always encourage you to do your own research. Cross-check our findings with other sources, stay updated on the latest resort changes, and consider multiple perspectives to ensure you make the best possible decision. 🕵️‍♀️🔍📚

Thank you for visiting our site, and happy travels!

Journey with Us: Unbiased, Expert Resort Reviews You Can Trust"

contact page

When it comes to selecting the top resorts, we employ a balanced approach that combines both qualitative and quantitative evidence. Our process includes an analysis of comprehensive video reviews that offer an in-depth look at the resort's experience. Simultaneously, we adhere to a structured methodology to evaluate resorts based on various data-driven parameters, ensuring our selections are grounded in thorough research and objective criteria. In choosing the best resorts, we rely on both qualitative evidence in the form of video reviews and quantitative evidence in terms of the process we follow to choose resorts. 

The details, the attention to detail, the destination, the location in that destination, the quality of service, eco considerations, and the reputation of the resort sourced through other holidaymakers are all considered before any resort is added to our lists.

And then we don't include any resorts unless they score at least three out of five across at least three platforms and this is backed up by independent evidence. Mostly we stick to resorts which score at least 4 or 4.4 out of 5. In the rare cases we include other resorts, this is usually because 

Staff often make the difference

We wanted to make a site that gave real insights into what it is like to stay at resorts, and that's why we have on the ground video reviews from people who have stayed at each resort.

Each video review is chosen because it represents the resort more accurately or provides insights you don't usually get in the cookie cutter approach to resort reviews, which are often created in content factories. In contrast, I come from working around resorts and have long been an advocate for providing the guest experience. I've also seen a lot of misleading content created and wanted to create something more authentic. That's why when you see a review for all-inclusive resorts, for example, you know a lot of research has gone into providing the most accurate list for each destination.

The Star Rating System

Often we will also talk about four and five-star resorts. The star system is  created by independent organizations like AAA, Forbes, Hotels.com, Expedia etc. Some of these rating factors include hundreds of variables, and we  use a combination of all of them. We use an amalgam which rates resorts with one star is the lowest rating, and five stars the highest score:

One-Star Rating

One-Star Rating

One star: We don't usually include basic accommodation with small rooms, as sometimes these do not even include ensuite bathrooms or even daily cleaning. If we ever start a backpackers review, then you might start to see one-star properties. These provide the simple necessities, as the song goes.

Two-Star Rating

Two stars properties are very occasionally included. Usually these are resorts in old towns and the like, where there are a lot of very historic old buildings with renovation restrictions. Although only two stars, sometimes these can offer an outstanding experience and include basic breakfasts, 24-hour reception, cleaning, and the like. Usually these are included because they offer stunning locations and are better than some other resorts in the area. Simple and sweet. 

Two-star resorts are sometimes included because of the destination

Three Star Ranking

Three stars usually is the starting point at which : a typical hotel will have three stars and offer room service, ensuite bathrooms, daily cleaning, a desk or table, and Wifi. This is a standard hotel experience that most travelers expect unless they’re on a strict budget.  

Four Star Ranking

Four Star Ranking

Four stars resorts offer a range of facilities like swimming pools, gyms, bar and restaurant. These will often have valet parking, lobbies and fancy rooms. You should not have to worry about the speed of the internet, (but sadly the reality is this is not always the case). These are comfortable all round and packed with amenities.

Five Star Ranking

Five stars is usually as high as we will go and refers to those exceptional properties, often but not always at the top end of the market. You can expect luxury, which means more comfortable beds, big clean modern bathrooms, exceptional service and attention to detail. Generally, Iconic stand-out properties are five star.

Five star can mean different things on different platforms. On Hotels.com, it refers to service standards like excellent lobbies, concierge, stylish rooms, elegant intimacy while on Expedia the expectation is for gourmet dining, luxury spa, polished service, and elegant decor.

Michelin refers to five star simply as exceptional, while Forbes requires properties to have an Iconic quality with flawless service and amazing facilities.

Highest Hotel Ranking

While there are, a few hotels that promote themselves as six star, seven-star and even 10-star hotels and resorts (properties on the Gold Coast, India and Dubai come to mind) we like to keep it real. While there are potentially  enormous differences and levels of service between five-star resorts, that category itself recognizes this.  One ranking factor is that five star are iconic properties, and that should satisfy the marketing departments in these hotels. 

After thousands of property reviews, I've noticed the hotels and resorts that call themselves six or seven-star properties are not always the most outstanding, and this should get called out when you see it.  

Highest Hotel Ranking

The review system

Rating systems have been tried and tested, refined and improved. But they do rely on gatekeepers. We have always thought the travelling public and as discerning as the rating agencies. But ratings platforms are also influenced from time to time, and that's where we come in as somewhat of a moderator creating lists of the better resorts. 

A better rating/ Ranking system

We do like to provide a real video of a human that has stayed at each of the resorts we review. But sometimes we can't always tell if they have been sponsored, and in other occurrences only the promotional video of the resort itself is worth watching. That is why we almost always also include a TripAdvisor link and encourage potential visitors to go and look at the photos of the resort as part of due diligence. 

This video details a little more about how ranking, rating and due diligence work together: 

Video from BYBA Travel Network: How Hotels Are Rated Stars | Explained...The Difference Between 3, 4, and 5 Star?

It isn’t always easy to discern a good resort from a bad one from simply looking at the reviews. I found there is often a disparity between the review’s resorts get to what you see in real life. Sometimes I also suspected from my time working in the resort industry that hotels would host guests for getting good reviews. My wife and I then teamed up to Start Luxury Resort Bliss to give an accurate representation of what was happening in an industry often whitewashed by spectacular advertising which glosses over the reality of what was happening in the real world.  

Rather than paint everything rosy to sell holidays, we provide videos from the guests who stay at the destinations you are interested in. The result is a gritty but realistic depiction of what you might expect to find. In my time working in hotels, I too often found guests were often let down because they had been built up to have unrealistic expectations of their vacation. And while it is important to look forward to your vacation, it is better when those expectations are managed by realistic expectations, not persuasion and coercion. And while we maintain it is up to you and for you to take responsibility to ensure what you are booking  is what you need, we want to keep it real to ensure you have the best chance to choose the best experience possible. 

Contact us

Alternatively contact the head writer and Partner: Ricky Wright at Communication Generation for more.

Disclosure: Through affiliate links, Luxury Resort Bliss funds its explorations of opulent vacation spots and high-end all-inclusive resorts. Your support helps maintain our commitment to luxury travel expertise.

Welcome to Country

This website is produced Down Under. 

Luxury Resort Bliss acknowledges the Taribelang people: Traditional Owners of the land on which this website is created. I pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging. I celebrate the stories, culture, and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders of all communities who also work and live on this land.

Disclosure: At Luxury Resort Bliss, our affiliate links help fund our expert insights into the finest all-inclusive resorts and sought-after luxury vacation spots. Your support is appreciated!

Recent Articles

• 
• 
• 

1. Best Beaches Resorts: Your Ultimate Guide to Luxury Beach Vacations

   Jul 11, 24 10:05 PM

   
   Explore top Beaches Resorts in Turks & Caicos and Jamaica. Find detailed insights to choose the perfect luxury beach getaway for families, couples, and adventure seekers.

   Read More

2. Unplug and Unwind: Luxury Resorts Where Digital Detox is Encouraged

   Jul 11, 24 10:04 PM

   
   Discover the top luxury resorts around the world that promote digital detox, offering serene environments and unique experiences to help you unplug and unwind.

   Read More

3. Resort Royalty: Famous Figures and Their Favorite Luxury Resorts

   Jul 11, 24 10:03 PM

   Explore luxury resorts favored by celebrities like Kim Kardashian and George Clooney. Discover exclusive services and memorable stays that make these retreats special.

   Read More

Disclosure: Affiliate links on Luxury Resort Bliss help us bring you comprehensive content on luxury getaways, five-star accommodations, and world-class resorts. We appreciate your support!