What does it get to be a five-star resort? Here is what star scores seriously mean

CNBC Travel examines the this means driving lodge star scores, no matter if travelers can rely on them in the age of the world wide web, and the most important discrepancies concerning 4- and five-star lodges.

Ever notice that the identical resort can be rated three-, four- and even 5-stars? Which is the scenario with Singapore’s iconic Marina Bay Sands.

The rationale is due to the fact companies — from guidebooks to sites — use various expectations to consider resorts, with some relying exclusively on on the net assessments to set their star score.

CNBC Travel sat down with Capella Singapore’s Yngvar Stray and HotelPlanner’s Tim Hentschel to communicate about which star rankings make any difference, and what travelers can hope from a 1-star to a 5-star stay.

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Flying without a Real ID? You may owe — or more — starting Feb. 1

Travel

Flying without a Real ID? You may owe $45 — or more — starting Feb. 1

January 31, 2026

Travelers wait in a long security line at John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, California, May 7, 2025. Allen J. Schaben | Los Angeles Times | Getty Images Travelers, be warned: Starting Feb. 1, you may need to pay a fee of $45 or more for going through airport security checkpoints without a Real ID […]

Travel

Southwest Airlines forecasts surge in 2026 profits after new seat, bag fees take hold

January 28, 2026

A Southwest Airlines aircraft parks at Gate B33 while its tail sticks into the sunlight at Boston Logan International Airport in Boston, MA, on December 22, 2025. Austin DeSisto | Nurphoto | Getty Images Southwest Airlines on Wednesday forecast a surge in 2026 profits well above analysts’ expectations as the carrier overhauls its half-century-old business […]

Travel

Southwest ends open seating after 54 years. Here’s what the last flight was like

January 28, 2026

OVER THE PACIFIC OCEAN — The 112 passengers on this Southwest Airlines red-eye flight from Honolulu to Los Angeles were the last in the airline’s more than 54-year history to scramble for a seat on board. Before dawn on Tuesday, Southwest ended its quirky (or anxiety-inducing, depending on the traveler) open-seating policy in favor of […]