Information covers hotels, motels, farm holidays, game park rest camps, caravan and campsites and supplementary accommodation such as beach cottages, holiday flats and bungalows. Rates should always be confirmed at time of booking. It is forbidden by law to levy service charges, although phone calls may be charged for. All hotels are registered with the South African Tourism Board, which controls standards. The National Grading and Classification Scheme was introduced in 1994.
Participation is voluntary.
Hotels are graded 1 to 5 stars according to the range of facilities on offer plus an optional classification band grading the level of services and hospitality. Acceptable standard of services and hospitality in addition to the required facilities. Each hotel taking part in the scheme will display a plaque indicating the star-rating and the classification band. The accreditation programme now applies to guest houses and bed and breakfast establishments. There are very few towns that do not offer this type of accommodation.