A Return on Resorts
Resorts are not that hard to understand, as most of their functions are fairly obvious. One of the most useful tool is the "Reviews" window, as it shows you what recent guests liked (or not) about your resorts.
The only requirement for a resort to be operating is having a "Front Desk" (you actually don't have to hire somebody to operate it, as your sim can do it) and at least one "Tower" (the "Cabin" being considered a "Tower"). So, an all VIP suites luxurious hotel doesn't work, as you are required to have at least one tower.
This said, there are two achievements (potentially three), that require you to operate a Resort.
Running a zero stars resort is somewhat harder that one might think. First of all, serving no food annoys your guests, but serving spoiled food makes them even angrier, so I suggest having at least one buffet table of "Spoiled" "Lunch" (Select the cheapest quality, and keep changing it until it is foul enough). Also, guest tend to like resorts to be clean and shinny, so fire all cleaning crew, and make sure none are ever on duty. Also, grab with you all sort of garbage your sim may find, ("Rummage" through trashcans if you have to) and litter your facility. Guests also like an operated front desk, so make sure not to hire someone, and only operate it once on a while, to allow new guests to check it. Like I also suggested, once on a while, having a "Mean" sim get physical and starting a "Fight!" with guests also annoys them, so make sure to do so.
You may have to pay a close attention to review too, because, sometimes, you may end up having a strange sim leaving you a half star or a full star rating, which will temporarily raise your resort rating to half a star, hence ruining your efforts.
On the other hand, running a five stars resort is a lot harder. Not only do you have to do the opposite of everything I just wrote, you need to make sure all their other needs and expectations are met. That means having a large chlorinated pool (large enough for your clientele, for which no gauging what so ever is provided besides feedback), having enough "Hot Tubs" (again, no gauging other than reviews), having a "Dive Bar" (or "Poolside Bar", a snacks kiosk, the maximum number of sim you can hire for "Cleaning Crew", a "Front Desk" operated around the clock (though other amenities can be left unattended during the "Graveyard Shift"), a firewalking pit, enough food, at maximum quality (Fairly easy, you need a table of each, otherwise some guest will complain. As a result, your sims may eat on location and you'll still have enough food for a huge clientele.), optionally, a salt water beach on the lot (only replaces a pool at lower ratings, once you hit three stars or more, some guest will be specifically asking for a pool (or worst, indoor pool), and some will be disappointed if you don't have a beach), and a fully upgraded tower. Higher rating require either the modern "Luxurious Tower" or "Spanish Pavilion" tower
Once again, you may end up with some hard to please guest that will leave a four stars with no other explanations, possibly making your rating fall to four and a half stars, thus ruining your efforts.
