How the #1 was chosen
One set of questions for every contender, answered in words rather than numbers.
First, take the casino away
We pictured each contender with its gaming rooms locked and asked a blunt question: is the place, minus its tables, still a reason to book a flight? Plenty of famous resorts fell at that point, because without the gaming floor they offer little more than a large block of bedrooms and a car park.
The questions we asked
| Question | What a convincing answer looks like |
|---|---|
| Does the building matter? | History, architecture or setting that gives the stay a character of its own. |
| Is the destination worth seeing? | A place you would visit anyway, with things to do and good food close by on foot. |
| Are the rooms a pleasure? | Light, quiet, well-finished interiors and an outlook that makes the morning better. |
| Is there plenty beyond the casino? | Restaurants, a spa, gardens, a bar or a rooftop that fill a day with no wagering at all. |
| Is getting around simple? | Trains, lifts, walking routes or transfers close at hand, so no car is needed. |
Why we skip scores
A score pretends to a precision that judging a hotel cannot deliver. So we write out the reasons, add a list of travellers who might be happier elsewhere, and let you test our argument against your own plans.
Why we accept nothing
No hotel, owner, agency or tourism office can buy a mention on poonersystes. The link to the hotel is plain, with no tracking or affiliate code, and the site has no booking engine from which to earn.
Rechecking the choice
Every twelve months the verdict gets reopened, and earlier if the hotel announces major works, changes hands or closes. The date shown on the home page marks the most recent check.