Diamonds rate hotels and restaurants around the world, ranging from 1 to 5, and are awarded by the American Automobile Association (AAA). Founded in 1902, it is a U.S. federation with more than 57 million members to whom it offers financial services, credit, roadside assistance and travel information through maps, routes and tourist guides.

They are only given to a select group of hotels, representing less than 3% of the 32,000 hotels reviewed each year in the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. Among the examined features are cleanliness, comfort and safety, as well as décor and the extent of services and facilities.

There are 5 categories

Like the stars, the AAA rating is based on categories ranging from One to Five Diamonds, which are indicators of the quality of service, facilities and amenities available to guests and customers at each establishment.

1 Diamond Award

Single-diamond establishments meet the basic requirements of comfort, cleanliness, and hospitality

2 Diamond Award 

Two-diamond establishments offer better amenities and design than those with only one diamond, and of course this is where we begin to see that the cost is higher, but still moderate compared to those with a higher diamond rating

3 Diamond Award 

In these three-diamond establishments, more attention has been paid to style and décor. There’s more amenities and services and so  the price goes up a bit more.

4 Diamond Award

Four-diamond establishments offer refined and elegant luxury accommodations, with a high degree of hospitality, service and attention to detail, which starts to cost quite a lot, but every dollar you pay is worth it in luxury and comfort.

5 Diamond Award 

We have here the jewel of the crown. Five-diamond establishments are a dream come true with super personalized service and luxurious facilities. They are simply luxury accommodations that pay a lot of attention to service and comfort. They offer customized services and amenities. Nothing can go wrong, nothing can be out of place, dirty or misaligned, so much so that establishments that have 5 diamond, must meet some very peculiar criteria: The staff must call guests by their name and the phone at reception can not ring more than three times. Guests needs must be anticipated, there’s 24 hour room service. The architectural design, decoration and lighting should be stylish and tasteful. Amenities should be luxurious: branded bath kit, slippers, bathrobe, welcome floral arrangement, separate bathtub and shower, CD and DVD player, etc. Accessibility facilities and amenities to support the disabled. The property must have an environmental conservation program. The maintenance of the property must be impeccable and of course all those who have contact with the customers directly or indirectly must make them feel better than if they were at home. We are really talking about special, dreamlike places! Designed for those who know that every dollar they spend (and surely they are thousands) is worth every service purchased! 

AAA inspectors visit 1,200 hotels and restaurants weekly in the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean, and only 0.3 percent of the nearly 59,000 properties inspected annually earn a Five Diamond rating.