On a cycling tour, the path you take is often more important than the destination - so the quality of the track is very important. Missing waymarks or sandy terrain can really detract from your experience.

If the quality of your tour is important to you, the star rating issued by the ADFC can help you choose a route. Quality is graded in stars from one to five, with criteria assessed from the cyclist's perspective: low-traffic routes score highly, as do those that offer excellent services including places to stay and places to eat. Bed & Bike accommodation and shelters are also factors.
The ADFC also takes into consideration how easily cyclists can access the route using public transport. Its research leaves no stone unturned: are there up-to-date maps and information including a website? Is the path wide enough? Are cyclists impeded by bollards or barriers? (Points are also deducted for sections where you have to push your bike.) Are signposts correctly positioned? Has the route been well planned? After all, diversions through the countryside just for the sake of it and monotonous scenery quickly lose their appeal.