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

[Hotelhorror]

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)

It’s cheaper probably. And ( some) men and designers like it because it’s ‘edgy’ or for more nefarious reasons. On the design front, it’s a good illustration of ‘design over function’. On the sex front, perhaps an illustration that sexual wants ( predominantly of men) are given priority over all else.

Above there are some posters who don’t have an issue with this arrangement. I have met people like this who are definitely not in any way pervy - they just seem devoid to me of any sense of privacy and just don’t ‘get it’. It takes all kinds …

However hotels, you’d think, would want to cater to the commonest denominator. It’s amazing to me to compare the several ( very expensive) hotels I’ve stayed at to the Premier Inn room design and realise that the last is often far more functional and comfortable, albeit far less attractive looking in terms of design. Too many hotels, in addition to the no private loo abomination, have such low level lighting that you can’t see to do your make up or work, a useless old hairdryer, no decent mirror etc etc…. At least Premier Inn does not have these flaws, whatever else it may lack !

I dont think it unreasonable to expect a private toilet in a hotel room even if its advertised as a glass wall with opaque feature or not.
if something malfunctions in a hotel room you expect it to be resolved or adequately compensated for.
Eg: Aircon not working ,maintenance fix it or move you rooms or offer compensation.
Opaque door facility not working, maintenance can't fix it.cant move room due to full occupancy ,offer compensation (a free drink at the bar isnt proportionate.)

Not ridiculous at all and this happened to me on honeymoon! we complained and got a suite in the end but they weren't happy. Cant believe people thinking this will be OK. Horrifying enough if you've been with them for a long time but the very first time!! Horrendous. No idea why any designer thought this would be a good idea

It is her first night away with a new boyfriend.
It's not ridiculous AT ALL to expect a hotel room where you have privacy to use the loo, it's normal.

There is absolutely not a hope in hell that I would be ok with that, nor would DH of 35+ years.

I do not understand why hotels think this looks good or that people want it.
Some of you may be ok with it but who actually prefers this kind of set up?

No no no. I'm with you OP. Regardless of how long I'd been with someone, I would absolutely hate this.

What? I have never heard of this set-up and I've stayed in a lot of hotels. How awful! I have been married for over 20 years and no way I would have tolerated this. Me and DH somehow have managed to negotiate and thrive within a relationship in which we don't see each other on the loo, not once has it happened. He has never even seen me having a wee (except maybe in the distance and partially behind a tree while in the wild!)

People are different, sure, but I don't get the disdain and "that is ridiculous" comments meted out to those of us who do not chose to share our ablutions in this way. It is perfectly normal to want some privacy. With a new boyfriend I would have been beyond horrified.

I am not some kind of prude, I've had lots of relationships and quite a wild sex life in my time. I am also a medical professional who has seen people in every possible state. I will still not be going to the toilet in front of anyone.

I don't want a bath outside the bathroom either

You are not alone: https://bringbackdoors.com/

In your view

I know many couples who don't and won't use the toilet in front of each other (and me and DH are one of them)

And it's not ridiculous. Some people like privacy and just because you don't mind there's no need to be rude

Could you not have just looked the other way while the other one used the bathroom? Or stepped out of the room?

I’m afraid that relationship advisory role really isn’t for you…

I’ve been with DH 37 years, he’s watched me push out 5 babies, and I STILL don’t want to shit in front of him! And guess what? Our relationship has survived and will continue to survive this “ridiculous” modesty of mine.

It’s not just about my own privacy: I don’t want to see/hear/smell DH shitting and wiping his hairy arse either.

Ignore MooMoo. It's half term.

OP I don’t think you are wrong here at all. Yeah maybe had you been together 20 years you would laugh but I can understand it probably made your first proper night together awkward. Even if one of you left the room or whatever would have been weird.

the receptionist downplaying it was out of order to but then take it nicely that you look like you have been together forever kind of thing.

This was their FIRST night together. Nothing kills romance faster than taking a massive shit in full view of your new partner.

I've been with mine for 9 years and we can wee in front of each other but I'd never do a poo. It's disgusting.

I’ve stayed in some ‘boutique’ hotels where they maximise the space and the toilet with sliding glass door is probably 18 inches from the bed.

even if everything is working properly with lights etc, it’s still too close for comfort, especially for a romantic occasion.

i have ended up using the hotel communal toilets in this situation too.

These ablution-exposing rooms are becoming more and more common in hotels throughout the UK and Europe. There must be something in it for the hotel (probably allows them to get away with a smaller space because the glass makes it feel less closed in) because no-one I know, even if married for 20 years, seems to find it as sexy as the set-up seems to imply.

Even those roll tops baths in the middle of the room, which might look opulent, are a totally impractical and unsexy faff. Maybe if you are actually clean and simply want to drape yourself seductively in a bubble bath as some kind of foreplay, but if you actually want to shave your armpits or rinse off the bubbles (because they are bad for both your skin and your genitals) it just becomes an ungainly spectacle comparable to watching a cow turn round in a milking stall. On one occasion I let go of the shower over bath attachment and soaked DH's suit that was on the bed and suffice it to say he was not seduced in the least.

I know some people are saying they avoid booking these rooms but I have often had them sprung on me with no warning whatsoever. It's awful if you have dc in the room too. I find they are in the worst possible taste. Let people wash, defecate and urinate in private.

Quite right, I always take sticky back plastic and paper on romantic getaways.

Yes, we cross-posted but I think its a cheapskate way of maximising space under the pretence of providing risque facilities too.

It gives me the same ick as I would experience being shown to one of those hideous 1970s honeymoon suites with red shagpile carpet and a heart shaped bed that you see on those American road-trip type for after a Vegas wedding. Tacky to the max.

Just tell the other person not to look. Or step into the hall while you go if it bothers you that much. I can’t believe you went to the main toilet every time you needed to go.

Originally voted you are being unreasonable as I thought you meant the window above the sink. Thinking no on can see you from outside.

Then realised you meant the panel between the toilet and the room 😳 O hell no. Why would anyone ever want that to be see through. Strange design

Doesn't sound like there was anything they could do to resolve the issue that night. But I would want a much greater refund than a free drink each

I've been in a room like that twice and tbh even if the opaque works it's still not great!
Luckily once was with my sister and once by myself
And i was more upset about my sister seeing me naked when getting in/out the shower as she's VERY judgemental

Everything is about profit now, it’s awful , especially big cities where the hotels don’t need to rely on reviews etc because they never run out of guests, some people just want a bed in a good location at a reasonable price for one or two nights and nil interest in the facilities .
tbh I’d probably prefer a vegas 70s shagpad than one of these bang your leg on the bed every time you move around in your room

And i was more upset about my sister seeing me naked when getting in/out the shower as she's VERY judgemental

I'm sorry, but as I know that type of sister very well (my cousins with each other), this made me howl with laughter! Yup far better the lust-goggles of a red-blooded man than the cold-blooded appraisal of a judgy sib!

Yes and at least those shagpile shag pads would most likely have a private loo.