10 hotel bathroom fantasies

by Karen Fawcett on April 2, 2009

For some, hotel rooms with big beds, fluffy pillows and amenities are important. Others find their lodging pleasure in the bathrooms. Well, what used to be known as bathrooms. You remember – a toilet, a sink and a tub for a shower or bath.

It’s no longer sufficient for hotels to have free business centers, WiFi, Bose iPod docking stations, lush Continental breakfasts and a mini-store where some supplies may be purchased. Now the bathroom should be grand enough that you can invite people for a party.

Here are my 10 secret hotel bathroom fantasies:

1. A huge tub (preferably with a Jacuzzi) plus a separate clear glass floor-to-ceiling shower stall with multiple jets and a rain shower spray. Preferably, it should be big enough for two people.

2. Enough hot water that you can sit or stand forever and the pressure is super strong.

3. How about a flat screen TV visible from every angle?

4. Naturally  – a telephone. And please, a clock.

5. A powerful hairdrier.

6. Two sinks — it’s hard to share. Please include good lighting and a no-fog magnifying mirror.

7. More towels and washcloths than you can possibly use– the thicker and fluffier the better. So much for the green movement.

8. Robes – who wants to pack their own?

9. Designer toiletries and they shouldn’t be the mini-mini size.

10. Flowers in the bathroom in addition to the bedroom.

I remember when I was pleased to find a super clean bathroom, a high voltage hairdryer and water faucets that were correctly marked and turned in the right direction.

Clearly, those days are a thing of the past. Bring in the luxuries, giant mirrors and elegant marble décor. And yes, would the housekeeping staff leave candy or some cookies at night.

In Europe, I always found a bidets. But, they are a luxury that I’ve only used to cool champagne and to wash underwear and pantyhose.

My bathroom fantasies sound terrific to me and to other hotel dreamers. But I’m certain I’ve forgotten some of the true nitty-gritty necessities. Plus, I’m certain you have your own fantasies. Feel free to add them.

Karen Fawcett is president of BonjourParis.

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Tagged as: bathroom, bathroom amenities, hotels, linens, travel

  • SirWired

    I will ask one question that maybe the European readers can answer… why do European hotels not provide washcloths? This caught me by surprise on my first trip to England; a hand towel makes for a very awkward and heavy washcloth.

    SirWired

  • http://www.GreenDragonArtist.com Christy

    Actual counter space to put things in the bathroom. Several times I’ve been sharing a bathroom with, say, my husband, and there is NO place to place toiletries – the toilet has towels on the back, and the sink is a standalone item – no place for the deoderant, brush, etc., we all need.

  • Matthew B

    The last hotel room I stayed in had a jacuzzi, but there is no way I would ever use a hotel room jacuzzi. I owned a condo once that had a jacuzzi. Periodically I would fill it up, put in a special chemical and run it for half an hour to clear the accumulated gunk out of the pipes. Given that it was just me using it about once a week, it accumulated a fair amount of hair, and other gunk. I sincerely doubt that any hotel room cleaner has time to thoroughly clean a jacuzzi after each guest checks out. So a jacuzzi in a hotel room is at best a waste of space, at worst a health hazard.

    A lot of your suggestions are great for a couple on vacation. As a rule, I stay in hotels mostly for work. In this situation I want a decent shower, preferably not over the bath, plenty of light to shave by, a decent sink, and halfway decent soap, shampoo, conditioner and moisturizer, as well as enough towels for my stay. I really don’t need a phone, clock or flowers in the bathroom. And everything should be clean.

  • Isembard

    I’m still getting trying to process the fact that you used a bidet as a sink and actually put food stuffs (champagne) in it. Gag. Not that different from using a toilet for these purposes.

  • Dean

    I found the towel warmers common in better English hotels quite nice. It is wonderful to use a warm towel coming out of a shower. Also, some of the bathroom floors have warmers in them (Belgium in particular) which are quite pleasant on bare feet during the winter. Gosh, I sound pretty soft for a guy born in Minnesota!

  • Laura Townsend Elion

    Karen:

    If this is the hotel bathroom of your dreams, try the Prince of Wales hotel in Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON Canada. I’ve stayed in one of the sutes there, so I can’t vouch for other types of rooms, but that bathroom has everyone one of your requirements above. The whole place is fabulous and the town is charming, too. Just watch out for crowds during the Shaw Festival.

    I agree on the additions of the towel warmers and heated floor tiles. If you really want to relax, a great sound system is a good feature, too.

    If anyone is collecting lists of hotels with the best pools, this one makes my list as well, along with the spa pool at a sister property, the Pillar and Post. Link:
    http://www.vintage-hotels.com/niagara-on-the-lake/spa/pillar-and-post.php

  • Susan Ruckstuhl

    I recently stayed in a hotel called th “encore” in Los Vegas. The bathroom was amazing. I did take 2 baths a day. Morning and night . This bathroom was huge. It had a Jaccuzi, seperate shower with multiple shower heads, a flatscreen tv, seperate stall with toilet with a door(!) , 2 sinks, It made the room much more special and cozzy for 2 people .

  • http://www.connectionsforwomen.com Alice

    Oh this is so great and funny. I once stay in a hotel in Australia that the shower was big enough for 5 people with jets coming from every angle. I think I took the longest shower of my life. It spoiled me and now every hotel I stay at is judged by that standard.

  • http://www.connectionsforwomen.com Genny

    It is nice to dream. I remember when as well. Now if the shower has good water pressure I am happy. And we always request more towels as soon as we check it.

  • Ed F

    two comments:
    (1) on the subject of wash cloths (or face flannels, as they are generally referred to here in the UK) people don’t use them in their homes so they don’t have them in their hotels either. People usually just soap up and rinse off. And showers aren’t as nearly as prevalent as baths in people’s homes.

    (2) For the grand bath, try some of the rooms at The Enchantment Resort in Sedona. The baths vary from a separate bath/shower room to a huge space with bath, walk-in shower, and the double sink as requested.

  • Jim

    If these are your hotel bathroom “fantasies,” then honey, all I can say is, you have no imagination.

  • Levi

    A mirror.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_PYXVVVSSOFVHYMVTFHHJZ7B2YU Brett Aitken

    Thanks for sharing the information.. This will help people in making the bathroom look superb as they can use such accessories.. I was wondering to know from where one can buy such stylish tubs?
    corner bathtubs

  • http://www.thebathtubreview.com/walk-in-bath-tubs.htm walkin bathtubs

    These are really some great fantasies. My fantasy is to have all these features in my home bathroom. Nowadays with all the facilities and modern style bathroom fittings its not a very difficult task to make your home bathroom a dream bathroom.

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