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)

Why? If its the first time together overnight nobody wants to take a dump in full view. 20 years married maybe.......even then, not really palatable 😬

God in what Universe is this a good design idea??? Who puts watching their partner on the toilet on their list of requirements for a romantic weekend away????

I am clearly too old.

I don't think it's unreasonable to book into a hotel with the expectation of being able to have a shit in private. The hotel's customer service was appalling.

Of course some people wouldn't be bothered and for those who don't mind watching each other take a dump, that's fine. But the general expectation of bathroom facilities, even if shared with a partner, is that you can use them in private. If a hotel can't provide you with that very, very basic standard of accommodation, they've fucked up badly.

A big towel (or a sheet) and some ingenuity should fix it, couldn't the maintenance man do something temporary to cover the glass?

In a desperate emergency situation - sure.
In a nice hotel on Valentine's Day - absolutely not good enough!

This.

what type of couples have “seen it all before”?

Im in a long term (12 y) relationship. We don’t watch each other crap. I would have sent him downstairs to the bar

i have been away with friends and had similar set up in hotel rooms .

bring back the good old fashioned wooden door!

Beautifully put! 😆

And I entirely agree with you.

My DH watched our son come into the world…no issue there, medical setting etc. But when it comes to toilet time - nope, leave me in peace.

I’ve been married for 20+ years. DH has seen me give birth 4 times, vomit, suffer food poisoning, be prepped for and recover from emergency surgery and has had to help me stagger to the loo and accompany me whilst I pee post surgery, but there is not a chance in hell I’d be happy with him watching me take a pee much less anything else in these circumstances

She's definitely not.

Why does this even exist as a thing? Who wants that?

Some arty farty designer thought this would be a great idea. For whom though, did anyone demand it apart from fetishists?

I once stayed with a friend and the bathroom/bedroom was completely open plan. Fortunately we were able to swap rooms to one with a private bathroom

No she isn’t! I don’t want to see my partner of many decades having a crap and wiping his arse!

I hate those rooms. Even with frosted glass, the light still spillsinto the bedroom, disturbing the other person's sleep if someone uses the bathroom in the night.

Who wants a blurred outline of their loved one on the loo? Why did anyone ever think this is a good and stylish idea?

YANBU but tbh hotel workers generally have their hands tied in these situations, there’s usually very little they can do and their orders are generally to forward you to customer service (which will probably also wear you down).

I’ve worked in a hotel (budget chain though) before and it was ridiculous.

I hate this set up and would never choose to stay in a room like this, but this wouldn’t have ruined my stay really. Mistakes happen, things break, that said though my husband & I have had 2 children together so at this point I don’t think a glass wall to a bathroom would even register😂

I mean I wouldn't want an audience while using the toilet however you could, like others have said asked them to tape a sheet in front of the glass or something. If they're fully booked they're fully booked. Stupid idea though that type of glass, why not just use the smoky glass permanently. Why do you want to be looking at a toilet even when it's not in use? 😂

No way would i have stayed. I’d have wanted a full refund. Ltr here too and no chance, nope.

So based on the hotel’s reply, if you weren’t a couple it would’ve been unacceptable and they would’ve done more? I’ve never been in a relationship where I would happily poo in front of my partner. I think I would’ve asked for a bedsheet that I could put over the door (or me, if I had to!) because I can’t relax enough to poo in a communal toilet

Do a charge back on your card and leave a very harsh factual review.

I'm more concerned that people automatically assume their partner is going to watch...... :)

It's not a great situation for sure, full refund though seems a bit over the top. I assume the rest of the hotel/room/food etc was ok?

Agree with previous posts, put a towel or a sheet up and don't watch!

What a ridiculous concept to begin with. Who in their right mind? And yet…

Please leave a factual review. This is the kind of detail I’d appreciate being given a chance to swerve when I’m searching for a hotel.

Was this feature listed on the room description?

Oh God, I didn't even know this was a thing. It's like something from my toilet nightmares that I have frequently. I don't want people to even see an outline of me when I'm on the loo. Our local shopping centre had doors where you could see the people inside, blurry, but still. Why? Thankfully they've changed to proper doors now.

Oh no she isn’t.

This place is like a pantomime these days.