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Original poster

To think the hotel were out of order with valentines stay/room?

582 replies

Hotelhorror · 17/02/2026 13:30

I had a night away booked with my boyfriend on Saturday (the first time we had stayed overnight with each other).

It was a modern hotel with a glass window to the bathroom which was supposed to turn opaque when a button was selected. It was apparent this wasn’t working.

We went downstairs to reception to ask for it to be fixed, receptionist said they’d send someone to take a look. Maintenance man came up and said it was a common issue but he didn’t have the part needed (and wouldn’t have it until midweek) so he accompanied us back to reception again saying they’d give us another room.

The receptionist said there was no alternative rooms available as the hotel was full due to valentines and when this happens, couples have ‘seen it all before so just laugh about it’ and enjoy their stay.

I said this wasn’t acceptable and asked for the manager - who did appear from the back office but basically doubled down and said there was nothing they could do. She did offer us a voucher for a drink each in the bar (really!!) as a ‘goodwill gesture’.

As we had traveled some distance we decided to stay, and used the communal loos in the reception area whenever there was a need (luckily there was no need to in the night).

I found them thoroughly dismissive and am awaiting a response to my formal complaint to head office.

AIBU to find these customer service standards appalling?

Image attached of what I mean (this isn’t mine but from another review of same hotel of people unhappy with the set up)

To think the hotel were out of order with valentines stay/room?
OP posts:
Edenmum2 · 17/02/2026 16:12

Tiswa · 17/02/2026 16:07

What is it advertised as though? I mean if you book a room with a glass wall that can be turned opaque you have to expect this could happen - it is all about how it is advertised and the terms and conditions

we nearly booked a hotel we loved but the glass wall in the bathroom so we didn’t book it simple as

Well if it’s supposed to be able to turn opaque then it wouldn’t be an issue at all would it?? That’s the whole point

allthingsinmoderation · 17/02/2026 16:12

BrownSharpie · 17/02/2026 13:32

You’re being ridiculous.

i don't think it unreasonable or ridiculous to want a private toilet/bathroom in a hotel room.
There may be many valid reasons why someone would want or need this facility.

Ooodelally · 17/02/2026 16:12

Been with my partner over 25 years and we’ve both managed to never see the other take a shit yet! I think you’ve been treated very shabbily and I hope head office do better than the hotel manager!

Edenmum2 · 17/02/2026 16:11

Why would anyone want this? Talk about taking any romance out of life. Defo ask for a full refund OP

Dogmum74 · 17/02/2026 16:10

If someone farted in bed on my first night away with them as a new couple, there would be no second night away

GlosGirl82 · 17/02/2026 16:10

This would drive me insane, ruin the stay - I would demand a full refund. Married 22 years - do NOT want to see my husband that way…

Dogmum74 · 17/02/2026 16:08

Not being ridiculous at all! I wouldn’t take a dump in front of my husband let alone a boyfriend I was spending the first night with, nor would I want to see him!

IdentityCris · 17/02/2026 16:08

7238SM · 17/02/2026 13:34

Its a weird set up having a clear window onto a loo, even with the option to make it opaque (which I realise didn't work).

If it was such an issue, why didn't you ask for some cello tape and a towel and stick of over the glass?

Edited

Don't be silly. That wouldn't even work. And why should people have to fight with that sort of nonsense when they're paying lots of money for a functioning hotel room?

MimiGC · 17/02/2026 16:07

I will be on the lookout for hotels who are trying to cut corners and squeeze ‘bathrooms’ into bedrooms. That glass partition appears to be about a foot away from the bed. Totally unacceptable. I’d rather stay at home.

IdentityCris · 17/02/2026 16:07

LoyalMember · 17/02/2026 15:53

Why on Earth would they watch, ffs...? Just look away or something. Unless you're double incontinent, or bleeding torrentially, how many times are you really going to be busy in the loo?

Show quote history

But what if they wake up in the middle of the night? You can hardly wake them up just to tell them not to watch. Ditto if one of you goes out of the room and comes back when the other is in mid-poo.

Tiswa · 17/02/2026 16:07

What is it advertised as though? I mean if you book a room with a glass wall that can be turned opaque you have to expect this could happen - it is all about how it is advertised and the terms and conditions

we nearly booked a hotel we loved but the glass wall in the bathroom so we didn’t book it simple as

Dliplop · 17/02/2026 16:06

Blueyrocks · 17/02/2026 14:42

If anyone who'd be ok with this could please - genuine question - tell me how they're ok with this? At what stage of the relationship did it become ok to poo in front of each other? Did you feel embarrassed the first time? I'm genuinely asking, because I think I do err too far on the other side - I honestly think I'd be reduced to tears by this set up, if there wasn't a toilet at reception to use.

I’d have my partner face away while I was using it and trust him not to look. Put the fan on for noise and smell. Would you be worried yours would look or just the idea he could look if he wanted?

BoxingHare · 17/02/2026 16:06

They could have stuck paper to it. I'd hate this too. Who the fuck wants a view of the bathroom when they're in a nice hotel, before you get onto being able to see other people in it?

IDontHateRainbows · 17/02/2026 16:05

Jeez what happens if either of you fart in bed?

auserna · 17/02/2026 16:05

BrownSharpie · 17/02/2026 13:32

You’re being ridiculous.

I imagine she didn't want to watch her new boyfriend depositing his "brown Sharpie" or vice versa. Totally understandable.

IdentityCris · 17/02/2026 16:04

Moonnstarz · 17/02/2026 13:58

I don't see what else they could have done at the time if no rooms were available, but I would have expected a significant refund.

As a minimum they should have rung round other local hotels, and covered the cost.

Contrarymary30 · 17/02/2026 16:03

Hotelhorror · 17/02/2026 13:30

I had a night away booked with my boyfriend on Saturday (the first time we had stayed overnight with each other).

It was a modern hotel with a glass window to the bathroom which was supposed to turn opaque when a button was selected. It was apparent this wasn’t working.

We went downstairs to reception to ask for it to be fixed, receptionist said they’d send someone to take a look. Maintenance man came up and said it was a common issue but he didn’t have the part needed (and wouldn’t have it until midweek) so he accompanied us back to reception again saying they’d give us another room.

The receptionist said there was no alternative rooms available as the hotel was full due to valentines and when this happens, couples have ‘seen it all before so just laugh about it’ and enjoy their stay.

I said this wasn’t acceptable and asked for the manager - who did appear from the back office but basically doubled down and said there was nothing they could do. She did offer us a voucher for a drink each in the bar (really!!) as a ‘goodwill gesture’.

As we had traveled some distance we decided to stay, and used the communal loos in the reception area whenever there was a need (luckily there was no need to in the night).

I found them thoroughly dismissive and am awaiting a response to my formal complaint to head office.

AIBU to find these customer service standards appalling?

Image attached of what I mean (this isn’t mine but from another review of same hotel of people unhappy with the set up)

I would not be happy either . Not very romantic . My H had never seen me on the loo so saying people have seen it all before is ridiculous. I would also complain.

DeftGoldHedgehog · 17/02/2026 16:02

This is just lazy building and cost cutting in the guise of something customers apparently want or "don't mind".

Why would anyone not choose to have a proper separate bathroom with actual walls? Plus people share rooms with a parent, a child, a platonic friend, a sibling- all manner of relationships where you don't want to see even a hazy outline of someone going about their ablutions.

We had an odd one in Greece, not glass but kind of a wooden blind construction around the bathroom. Unless you carefully closed it you could get eau de morning poo wafting through delightfully. Very romantic.

DallasMinor · 17/02/2026 15:59

Between kids and partner and dogs, I’m not sure I could shit if someone wasn’t watching me.

IdentityCris · 17/02/2026 15:59

Aislyn · 17/02/2026 13:36

Why not just turn off the lights if you are so bothered? It doesn't seem like something worth making a big deal of. What are you expecting?

You don't think people might need some light to check, for instance, that they've wiped properly?

hypnovic · 17/02/2026 15:59

Email for full refund on site managers wont do this but the bigger bosses do. I got a full refund as I refused to back down after a noise in the room kept me awake all night on site offer was 50 quid discount

jessycake · 17/02/2026 15:58

I’ve been married over 40 years and wouldn’t like it either , they should have the parts in stock if it is a common problem . I have no idea why any hotels think this is a good idea .

Applecup · 17/02/2026 15:57

MooMoo74 · 17/02/2026 15:54

😂😂😂😂 I mean if you can’t use the toilet in front of each other then.. Iv got news.. the relationship isn’t for you. As adults this is ridiculous.

Don’t be silly. People can have long happy marriages without watching each other take a dump.

Namechange568899542 · 17/02/2026 15:56

Also unsure what relevancy people whose partners have had to help them in a dire medical emergency has. Almost everyone has dealt with someone else’s poo/urine/vomit/blood at some point when there’s been no other choice. There’s a difference between someone stepping in and seeing stuff because their other half physically needs help and having to watch someone go for a general shit during a romantic weekend getaway in a hotel that you’ve paid a premium for because the privacy screen is literally broken. And again, hotel rooms aren’t just for couples. If you wouldn’t be satisfied with seeing aunt Dora have a shit then this isn’t acceptable either.

PistachioTiramisu · 17/02/2026 15:56

It sounds an absolute nightmare OP. Wherever I go to the loo, I want a door which firmly shuts and preferably is thick enough to muffle noise too. My DH is terrible for leaving the bathroom door wide open when he needs to go - I really do not want to hear anybody urinating - it's not pleasant.

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