About
Who is behind S Grade
S Grade Hotels is an independent index of the world's finest hotels, and a travel advisory for travellers who book at the very top of the market. We bring together what the strictest hotel inspectors say about a house, and help you choose the right one for your trip.
Why S Grade exists
On review sites, almost every luxury hotel scores 9 out of 10. Anyone can award five stars, by rules of their own. For travellers booking at the top of the market, that leaves no reliable measure. So S Grade does not rely on guest reviews. It relies on the judgement of professional, independent hotel inspectors: Forbes Travel Guide and MICHELIN Keys, complemented by three further classifiers. The first two decide a grade by a fixed rule: S, A or B.
The rule in full: Grading System
Who we are
S Grade Hotels was founded by Tim Schander in Bonn. We work as an independent travel advisor of Fora Travel, which means we book directly with the houses and can explain which benefits and options are available for your stay.
How booking through us works
- 01
Request
You tell us your destination, dates and what you have in mind, using the form on every hotel page.
- 02
Advice
We reply personally within one working day and tell you, before anything is confirmed, what applies to your stay.
- 03
Booking
The booking is made through Fora directly with the hotel, at the hotel's own rate.
How we earn
When you book a stay through us, the hotel pays a standard advisory commission. Your rate is the hotel's own, the same as booking direct. We charge no fee.
What we don't do
- No house pays to be in the index, and none pays for its grade.
- We award no stars of our own and pass no judgement of our own on houses. The grades rest on the inspectors, not on our taste.
- We do not promise lower rates than booking with the hotel direct.