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)

YANBU @Hotelhorror I would HATE this. Married 30-ish years here, and have lived with DH for 35 years, and like fuck do I want to see him having a shit, and wiping his arse. And I don't want him watching ME having a shit, or a shower, or getting dressed or anything. Just because you're married/a couple, that doesn't mean you don't want privacy.

We have a lock on our bathroom door at home, and often have the door locked .. Unless we're just having a quick wee, or cleaning our teeth, or doing something else quickly. A poo, or a shower, or anything 'intimate,' and we want privacy. I think it's very odd to NOT want privacy actually!

I don't give a stuff if he has seen me breastfeeding our DC when they were babies, and was there when I gave birth, and has seen me be sick/throw up now and again.... I mean, so what? What has that got to do with anything?

'Oh my husband saw me breastfeeding our children when they were babies, and was there when I gave birth, so I don't mind him seeing me having a shit and wiping my arse, and wiping my fanny with my towel after I've stepped out of the shower?' WTAF?! 😆These comparisons are batshit and nonsensical! As someone has said, it's a bit of a weird kink to want to see your partner on the shitter, and washing and drying themselves intimately in the shower!

Thank you for this reply! I'd use it in the middle of the night too, for a wee, while DH was asleep or barely awake. That would be fine. It's the other end of toileting that I just --- Or, tampons or whatever. Nope.

DH was there for all my labours, but he didn't deliver the babies. But even if he had - labour is different. You're right, of course - he's a grown up and he knows my body works the same way his does, and he wouldn't be watching. But still.

It's not a situation I've ever been in, so maybe if it came to it I'd be fine. But I shudder at the thought, from where I am now!

A hard no. In the same relationship for 24 years. Would not be comfortable what-so-ever. What a stupid set up. 100% with you OP.

That is not the point. Surely you can see that?

OP, I agree with you totally. Leave a scathing review on trip advisor, on Google maps AND log this with the website that has been specifically set up to deal with issue - something like BRING BACK DOORS or similar. Use the website to blacklist crap hotels and use it to locate hotels with proper bloody doors to bathrooms.

Here it is:

bringbackdoors.com

Who would invent such a stupid pointless thing that is bound to go wrong?

All the posters who are saying they'd happily st in front of their DH have missed the fact that this was your first weekend away together

Exactly. At the point when you are still hoping they imagine you are some kind of aberrant paragon who never needs to, let alone witnessing it.

And as for the staring at the other wall, what kind of bizarre social interaction is that? Please look away, I am taking a dump/wiping my butt/douching my vagina/removing a tampon just several metres from you and in full sight should you happen to glance my way.

Wouldn’t bother me with now DH after 20+ years, but wouldn’t have been happy with that in the early days of the relationship.

Just tell them not to look or put a towel over the door. OP you're blowing this out of proportion

We had a hotel like this in china. Went to reception & half our tour was there to sort the same issue. Including a couple with a teenage DD 'who doesn't need to see her father on the loo'. They provided curtains with suction cups as it had obviously been a huge issue. Otherwise we would have just looked away.

It's unpleasant, but I've seen enough weird and ridiculous hotel rooms (cheap travellers usually, lol) to not let it ruin my stay!!

Well I wouldn't want an IBS flare up in that hotel room that's for certain.

Horrific. I’d hate this. Been married a while but still wouldn’t want to see each other on the loo or doing other private things. Sometimes just a few mins alone is needed too.

You stayed in a budget village hotel, hardly a romantic get away. Just a cheap bed for the night so I wouldn't be too surprised that something was broken.

Personally I wouldnt be bothered- but have changed my husband when he was in hospital unconscious and noone else was available
Also have to toilet him post seizures
However I would still kick up a fuss& as it's not as advertised and therefore not getting the service I paid for.... So deffo complain!!

Also, those acts are acts of emergency. This was supposed to be a romantic weekend and the hotel a pleasant experience, not a mend and make do with duct tape kind of thing.

She's too busy staring at the opposite wall to see anything I think!

What exactly did you expect them to do if there were no other rooms available. There was a door to the toilet - the other person could have just watched TV, closed their eyes or done anything to avoid watching the person using the facilities. Complete non issue.

I don't understand why more and more hotels are introducing this set up. I have had to share rooms with hotel colleagues/friends etc due to room mix up/flight cancellations etc. This is the thing of nightmare for me.

In fairness to the hotel though the odds are they cannot build a room out of thin air if they are full booked and most likely they had to call an outside company to do a repair. Normally onsite staff do not have the authority at the time to discount/refund other than a small amount at the time.

You have put in a formal complaint. Follow it up in a day or so giving them a deadline to response and then do a follow up with your credit card/bank.

That's just mean and rude.

No they don't cost the earth, but I've just checked the website and they also aren't advertised as budget army barracks type accommodation. It says "stylish rooms." Well, having to take a dump in front of someone isn't exactly many people's idea of "stylish."

And the loved up couple coming through the doors, hand in hand and gazing into each others eyes don't look as though they are thinking "Can't wait to see your expression as you release the kraken."

@Hotelhorror OP, when you make your complaint, ask if all the staff toilets are open glass. Not just in the hotels, but at Head Office too.
If not, why not?

I don't understand why more and more hotels are introducing this set up.

It's like most things these days. Same rationale as to why 100grm chocolate bars are now 90 grams.

Cost cutting and corner cutting wherever they think they can get away with it. And a lack of pride in what they are offering.

Pictures are on the website and its a well known low budget hotel. Loads are located next to motorways for people travelling for work. Their target audience isn't romantic nights away. Its a bed in a room on a budget.

Stylish rooms is referring to the decor in the room, not the size.

I'm not referring to the size either. I'm referring to the fact that a toilet in the room isn't stylish decor.

Ultimately it was what it was but I don't think it is unreasonable of the op to expect the opaque feature wouldn't work if it was supposed to.

Could have asked for an extra bed sheet and used that as some kind of cover.

YANBU

We once stayed in a very nice hotel (€2,500 per night). The room was a suite so it had a bedroom and a bathroom which joined by an open arch. In a glass box room off the bathroom was the loo.

I thought it was gross to 1. Have to touch a handle to get to the sink and 2. Be able to see someone in the toilet? Why was this a thing? Why would you want this? Why is there more than one hotel with glass box loos? It never occurred to me they might be a way to miss the glass but I do not think you are unreasonable to be annoyed by this.