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)

To be fair, I wouldn't have booked a hotel room with a glass bathroom door, frosted or not! Eurgh! I like a bathroom to be private, and I don't understand the recent trend for having showers/baths/loos being practically in the bed, and entirely exposed.

But also, the hotel was completely out of order.

You shit in front of your partner during sex? Well, it takes all sorts, I guess.

I wouldn't knowingly book one of those rooms (or one with a bath in the bedroom ffs - why). I can see why you were unhappy.

It really puzzles me that this type of bathroom exists. I don't believe at some point hoteliers carried out market research and discovered that most people want to be able to see the person they are with (whether that is a partner, relative, friend or colleague) using the toilet or even the shower. If they do and the other person agrees, they can just go into a traditional bathroom together. But most people don't want that or there would be more glass enclosed bathrooms in people's homes.

What makes it even more baffling to me is that glass enclosed bathrooms must be more expensive to install than private bathrooms. Glass is more expensive than plasterboard. To then add the cost of a mechanism to make the glass temporarily opaque and more like plasterboard is nuts.

Maybe over time, a long time, it saves the business money because glass doesn't have to be repainted. I'm not sure how great a saving that would be taking into account the additional time spent on housekeeping as glass can't just be wiped the way paint or tiles are, and the additional wear and tear on their public toilets.

Sorry, to have gone off on a bit of a tangent on your thread OP, but this trend really irritates me.

Glad to see a strong consensus on privacy in the Bathroom. 30 years together and 3 children birthed together and times of sickness when we had to be with each other during extreme bodily functions to provide care. But neither of us would want this set up what so ever. We have bathroom privacy at home and would expect and want it in a hotel. It's difficult to understand which designers thought this was a good idea. Any system of turning it opaque is going to break at some stage. All systems used regularly by the public end up broken.
At least not liking this isn't another example of being out of touch with modern society. All our adult children said they would hate this too.

I have seen, during Rightmove searches a few houses with "open plan" ensuites aka shower, basin and toilet in the bedroom....or separated by a waist height wall.....
No idea why, it seems a horrendous idea for multiple reasons!

People are different, can you imagine? Not nice to throw shade on people who are different from you. Try opening your mind a little.

I'd really hate this and didn't know it was a thing but I would actively avoid any hotel with this set up. Can't see it being profitable. Yet another reason to read the TripAdvisor reviews before booking.

Are all The Village hotels like this?

I stayed in one with my teenage daughter who was horrified by the glass bathroom. I had no idea the door was supposed to go opaque though! If I'd known I would have complained too! The room was absolutely tiny. Just a bed and had to squeeze round it. I think this one was around Southampton. Eastleigh maybe?

We always stay in a premier inn now!

YANBU if the hotel are stupid enough to fit these doors then they can offer a much better compensation for ruining your stay. I would imagine the majority of us definitely would not laugh it off. Bathrooms should offer complete privacy end of! Baffles me why anyone would want glass doors on a bathroom tbh

Sure … if the room was free! As a paying customer I have a reasonable expectation of privacy on the loo as has been standard since the 19th century!!! If I didnt get what I paid for I would expect a full refund.

Pursue it as a small clam?

I don’t think you were unreasonable at all! And I’d still make a point of it after the stay, honestly.

Yes, some people may not care, that is besides the point - they are trying to make it sound like it’s no biggie when they are making you pay for a room that isn’t like it’s been advertised. Simple as that!

Why do people some people seem to find it laughable that most people would want privacy in a bathroom? I have Ulcerative Colitis, have had it for many years, also been married for many years, I would absolutely hate not having privacy in the bathroom - my bowel movements can be explosive, very noisy etc, my husband is not a stupid man, he knows this happens to me and is very considerate. Even without this illness I would not like to share an 'open' bathroom with my husband, I'm not stupid, I know he pees and poos etc but I don't need proof!

My friend has IBD and has to poo sometimes around five or six times within a fairly short time. We have shared hotel rooms in the past and I know she would be mortified having to use a bathroom with glass doors, opaque or not.

I wouldn't want to hear or see her and I wouldn't want her to see me either.

I bet these posters find toilet humour funny as well.

I think the freaks who dreamt this travesty up, plus those who thinks it's no big deal, should be forever forced to only ever use public toilets with glass doors, no opacity function. Let's everyone see them sat on the shitter with their kecks round their ankles, on display, if they think it's such a great idea. Then again, the perverts might enjoy that. Ugh.

Also, I find the idea of sharing what we do in the bathroom a 'low bar' for the respect we show our partners, we can't even afford someone privacy to use the loo in peace? most odd!

That’s not cool. I wouldn’t want to see my husband having a dump through the glass.

Exactly @MrsPenelopeBridgerton , I find my husband rather sexy even after all these years, seeing him take a dump might ruin the illusion.😂

We have had some hard things to deal with in life recently (friends being very unwell) so maybe it just feels like a first world problem to me. I would be a bit mortified and then think to myself - if you can’t cope with a 💩, how do you manage to navigate the difficult issues in life, illnesses, deaths, caring needs. Husband and I both work with people who pass away too early which I think always puts so much into perspective. You probably would manage it too if it’s necessary - just much prefer not to which I absolutely concur with!

You are definitely not being unreasonable. I've been with my husband for 20 odd years and wouldn't want him to see me in the bathroom. I certainly wouldn't want to see him. No thank you! 🤣

I think what upsets me about glass (or non existent) bathroom walls is that it removes any element of choice. If you don't mind seeing your partner shitting and wiping then you can leave a bathroom door open, or be in the bathroom at the same time. If, however, you DON'T want that luxury, then glass walls remove your ability to not see.

Asking someone to avert their eyes or go for a walk is beside the point. You should have the choice. I have a downstairs bathroom with no window (it has a light well) and for ten seconds I considered replacing part of the wall with glass bricks to improve the lighting situation. Then I realised that, even seven feet up, I didn't want someone to be able to peer in.

But when you're paying for a hotel room - for Valentine's Day, no less - you shouldn't have to 'manage' navigating taking a shit and feeling mortified because your partner can see you through the glass if they don't avert their eyes!

The hotel rooms on that instagram are anxiety-inducing just to look at! What the hell is wrong with the designers?

Please name and shame this hotel so I never ever book it

This is my idea of hell

I also believe some people think this is acceptable or to just "celeotape a towel up" what a stupid suggestion

I think a massive difference here is you and your husband are married. Probably seen each other in a few compromising positions he's most likely watched a baby leave your body

This was their first night together a romantic evening that they paid a lot of money for

It wasn't a performance piece in a dodgy club off the red light district in Amsterdam

I've been married twenty years, given birth in front of my husband more than once and hope we still have another forty or more years ahead of us. I also hope none of those years involve either one of us pooing behind glass in a hotel in front of the other.