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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To book a hotel just so I can have a shower?

149 replies

honeyandbutterontoast · 04/12/2022 22:36

In the middle of bathroom renovations. Now been ten days without a bathroom. We have a toilet we can flush with a bucket 🤢but that’s all.

Ive been strip washing in the kitchen every day so I know theoretically I am not dirty but I feel disgusting. I’ve managed to wash my hair once in the sink, not that successfully and that feels minging too.

A cheap hotel for a night (eg two days of showering!) would be at least £50 and really can’t afford it (bathroom gone way over budget), but we have at least another week of this and I’m not sure I can bear it!!

OP posts:
Muchtoomuchtodo · 04/12/2022 23:32

*Monmouth

Asiama · 04/12/2022 23:33

I have had the same issue and drove to a motorway service station to shower. It was clean and free. Is there a service station you could drive to?

PurpleButterflyWings · 04/12/2022 23:36

@honeyandbutterontoast 10 days in - and still in the middle of renovating the bathroom? How bloody big is this bathroom? Confused We had a complete bathroom installed from scratch, (including all the tiling) done in five days. Why is it not done yet?

Original poster
honeyandbutterontoast · 04/12/2022 23:38

It’s not a big bathroom 😏
Just seems to be delays all the time for one reason or another. Like I say I’m trying to stay calm about it all but it is starting to get a bit much.

OP posts:
poefaced · 04/12/2022 23:40

Motorway service station idea seems good, if the staff are willing to give you a key to locked showers.

There’s a cycling community that helps people out with showers.

www.warmshowers.org

SleepingStandingUp · 04/12/2022 23:45

I'd do it. And I'd sleep there so I could middle of the night pee easily. Do you have a 0% credit card you can put it on? Or ask anyone if you can borrow the money and pay it back after Xmas? If you were my sister I'd happily lend you money for a, shower in your circs

Riverskye · 04/12/2022 23:45

Any cheap Airbnb rooms nearby? Depending on where you are just a room in a shared house can be really affordable.

Longtimelurkerfinallyposts · 04/12/2022 23:46

Most hotels/ guest houses/ pubs with rooms/ camp sites would probably let you pay a smaller amount (a day-rate, much less than an overnight booking costs) to use a private shower room for an hour.

Many workplaces have showers nowadays - lots of companies have installed them for people who commute by bike - as have some councils. They're routinely installed in most large new-build office buildings nowadays. I even know of libraries that have showers. And mainline railway stations. And climbing walls/ centres. If you're near a canal or marina check out boaters' facilities.

If you don't have any of the above near you, I'd be inclined to ask a neighbour (or use the power of MN to find someone local) but there are maps online, - eg www.smartmotorhome.co.uk/showers or www.searchforsites.co.uk/ - which are aimed at long-distance drivers and motorhome owners, so feature service stations etc. If you have a car you could drive to one of these places.

KhaleesiOfChaos · 04/12/2022 23:54

I bet the local pool's shower facilities are better than strip washing in a kitchen for 10+ days!

Beggars can't be choosers - you say you can't really afford the price of a hotel, so go to your local pool and have a shower for a 5th of the price of a hotel.

MK85 · 04/12/2022 23:54

I often book nights away in hotels for the shower simply because I live in a rented home and my shower is utter sh*te. Hardly any power and oil heating is the only source of heating water and its never warm. Very stressful.

BobDear · 04/12/2022 23:56

PureGym offers daily membership if you have one locally
Might be worth explaining your situation to a local hotel and asking the manager if you can pay for a shower
Are you near an airport? They often have showers you can pay to use?
Otherwise, I'd either suck up the £50 or do a local swimming pool. It might be a bit manky, but water is water and as long as you wear flip flops - you'll be able to wash and condition your hair (although probs not shave).

closingloop · 04/12/2022 23:59

Try a campsite - a neighbour has one and had someone in your situation paying £1/shower for each family member. Far cheaper than a hotel.

Upwiththelark76 · 05/12/2022 00:04

Go to your local pool . Even if it’s grotty you are only showering and washing your hair.

Catmatdat · 05/12/2022 00:08

i had two months without a shower. Did it outside…. It’s probably how I can tolerate the cold now

Eastie77Returns · 05/12/2022 00:09

Missing the point of the thread but £50 for a hotel sounds great value to me. When we had our bathroom renovated we had stay in a hotel and the cheapest one locally was £125. That was the 2 star budget option!

I think you should just bite the bullet and book a room as the swimming pool / gym suggestions are not working for you. Plus you’d presumably get a good nights sleep in a dust free environment and maybe a cooked breakfast in the morning.

plinkypots · 05/12/2022 00:11

Half day spa package will cost less and it will be glorious.

HeyThereDelilahhh · 05/12/2022 00:15

What about a hotel day spa pass? Around here you can find decent spa access and use their facilities for around £20? Typically a bit nicer than some gyms and cheaper than hotel room overnight?!

Original poster
honeyandbutterontoast · 05/12/2022 00:18

Hadn’t thought of day spa but I can’t stay for long anyhow would only be to use the shower!

Have looked online at pool and there’s no space available till 4.30 tomorrow to book a swim, will try calling tomorrow to see if I can just pop and have a shower without booking swimming.

OP posts:
lap90 · 05/12/2022 00:23

Try class pass - gym class plus a nice shower = win.

sashh · 05/12/2022 00:38

Gym? Swimming pool? Even some motorway service stations have showers. Campsite? Hostel/Youth hostel.

Lots of cheaper options than a hotel.

Although if you do go for a hotel take loads of smellies and candles and have shower followed by a bath, followed by a shower.

IntheSnowySnowyMountains · 05/12/2022 00:38

Sending empathy: no boiler here. Hoping for end of this week or next for the replacement,

Our friends let us use their flat while they were away till a week ago. Bit of a pain as it 15 mins away,but wasn't too bad. Couldn't move out because of cats.

I got a shower at physio and DH is showering at work. Going to my friend's again tomorrow to do my hair. Cannot manage it over the sink, bad back.

In between there have been lots of kettle boiling for sink showers, and dry shampoo. I would have asked my hairdresser for a wash and dry if my friend hadn't offered.

SiobhanSharpe · 05/12/2022 00:47

TBH we did exactly this, bathroom and ensuite were taken out and were being refitted at the same time, we have a downstairs loo but that was it.
Booked a cheap chain hotel, had the most wonderful shower, washed hair, good night's sleep, showered again in the morning and went home. Totally worth it.

We were without bathrooms for about three weeks, they finished the bathroom first and the ensuite a few days layer. I wasn't happy but that was the way the plumber said it had to be done. (And they're like gold dust...)
To be fair he did a good job. But it wasn't cheap.

lapasion · 05/12/2022 01:06

Any chance you’re near a major railway station? Some of them in London and other cities have showers.

Airbnbs and hostels might be cheaper than a hotel.

EL0ISE · 05/12/2022 01:30

Most local authority sports centres have pay as you go classes ( with changing room access obv ) or swimming pools . Shouldn’t be more than a fiver.