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Open plan bathrooms in hotel rooms - UGH

122 replies

rookiemere · 31/01/2022 11:58

So looking to go to Tenerife in October with DH, DS16 and his pal also 16.
Thought I'd found a perfect hotel, only to find that the bathroom HAS NO DOOR OR WALL Confused. This is a newly decorated room in a 5 star hotel, so assume it's the new thing.

But who on earth wants to see their DP doing their ablutions, never mind if it's not actually your Significant Other you were sharing with ? DH and I were discussing it and even if you were on your own we'd want a separate room to contain the toilet smells from the rest of the room.

Has anyone else encountered this? Tis very annoying as the hotel was perfect in all other respects ,but I'm now back to the drawing board.

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thenightsky · 31/01/2022 13:14

I gave up trying to find a hotel in Mexico because every single one I picked had exposed bathrooms. I want to share with adult mates or teenage ds, so I gave up on Mexico totally.

Exhausteddog · 31/01/2022 13:16

I've seen a few houses with this type of set up in the master bedroom and even the toilet is just part of the room as in no wall or door.

I know lots of MN find ensuite bathrooms unacceptable, I think they're fine (we have one at home) but agree with everyone else that an "open plan" ensuite is quite horrendous for all the reasons listed. Occassionally me or DH might brush our teeth if the other is in the shower and both are OK with that. But I absolutely don't want him there when I'm going to the loo, changing or rinsing my menstrual cup, doing my bikini line.
As well as the issues pp have said -
Noise and smells from bathroom/toilet
Noise from extractor or running the bath
Light "pollution" when others are asleep
Steam from bath or shower

rookiemere · 31/01/2022 13:18

Ironically we may end up staying in cheaper accommodation as less likely to have renovated bathrooms.

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Clymene · 31/01/2022 13:20

When my children were little, I used to sit in the bathroom with the door shut reading while they went to sleep. If they could see me, they would have just hassled me endlessly.

And the D&V bug is a good point. If you can shut a solid door in a solid wall, it gives you a modicum of privacy

parietal · 31/01/2022 13:21

horrible. the bathroom should definitely be a separate room with a proper solid door. And as for that shower - you'd be pretty visible to everyone in the room, and have no where to keep a dry towel to wrap yourself up before stepping out.

rookiemere · 31/01/2022 13:26

When I have a bath on holiday it's so I can totally relax in solitude. Not have DH yapping at me or getting ideas because I'm naked in water.

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Woeismethischristmas · 31/01/2022 13:28

@DillDanding

We stayed in a hotel in Barcelona where the shower overlooked the bed. We liked it, but I can see many people would be uncomfortable with it.

As long as the toilet is separate, I think it’s fine. I really don’t want to watch my husband taking a shit.

The B hotel next to the bullring? I liked it too but very much a couples weekend.
jytdtysrht · 31/01/2022 13:30

I'd be happy with that with dh

But a bit weird for the teen and his friend

Drivingish · 31/01/2022 13:32

That's nuts, having the sink in the main room is fine and I can see some people's attraction to a bath in the room too but showers and toilets should always ALWAYS be behind a solid door & wall because of moisture, lights at night and smells/sounds!!

seasonalsnowflake · 31/01/2022 13:32

Awful. I'm with you OP.

Sadly it's not a new thing. Many many years ago DH and I treated ourselves to a night in the Sanderson in London. It was supposed to be really special! However the bathroom was a glass box in the corner of what was very obviously an old office. It was extremely un-special in every way.

Looking at the website that particular hotel doesn't seem to have changed much in the interim!

Clymene · 31/01/2022 13:34

Unless it's an adult only resort, I can't see who this is going to appeal to. Maybe they're trying to discourage the family market?

BruceAndNosh · 31/01/2022 13:35

Never has a "Comfort Room" been so inaccurately named.
It should be a Discomfort Room.

rookiemere · 31/01/2022 13:35

@Clymene both hotels are aimed pretty much at the family market. In fact I selected them as only 5 star hotels that weren't so adult oriented.

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DJSteves · 31/01/2022 13:36

Bathrooms in the Shangri La in the Shard are like this. Lovely bath with a view but a semi frosted door for the toilet and shower.

rookiemere · 31/01/2022 13:37

@Exhausteddog we have an en suite as well and it's great for nightly wees, but it would be vile without the wall and door.

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rookiemere · 31/01/2022 13:37

Is it some sort of young person fetish thing ? I mean who actually wants this.

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MangosteenSoda · 31/01/2022 13:39

This has been around for ages. Often a windowless bathroom with a huge glass wall opening onto the bedroom. There’s usually a blind which makes it ok, but perhaps not if sharing with a friend.

I viewed a flat once where the en-suite was separated from the master bedroom with a glass wall, but the sliding door was wooden (so not see through). Bizarrely, the sink was situated behind the door, meaning the toilet was facing the glass. I think the idea was that the person using the shower or toilet had access to the rather nice view from the main bedroom window. Maybe that’s fine if you live alone, but it was being sold by a couple Confused

Thirtytimesround · 31/01/2022 13:44

I booked this once by accident in Italy. 5* hotel, very swanky - apart from the loo opposite the bed.

It was awful. We’d each step outside into the corridor when the other was using the loo but there is still smell.

Not a sexy break. 🤨 We left after a couple of nights.

But who on earth designed this?? The room was huge! So much room for a wall! I can only assume some people like to watch 🤢

Clymene · 31/01/2022 13:48

[quote rookiemere]@Clymene both hotels are aimed pretty much at the family market. In fact I selected them as only 5 star hotels that weren't so adult oriented.[/quote]
Utterly bizarre. Maybe it's us uptight brits that prefer the sound and smell of our family's toilet habits to be a personal rather than shared experience!

Rainbowbrite2022 · 31/01/2022 13:53

I stayed in a MARRIOT courtyard which had a frosted glass bathroom. You couldn’t see into it.

I stayed in a yotel which the bathroom was in the room at the end but had frosted glass ( not see through) separating the toilet and shower from the room. Both were separate and the toilet was furthest away near the window. So you you had shower cubicle and then the toilet cubicle next to it. Like a wet room but divided into two cubicles.

The sink was outside the cubicles with a Lino floor in front. The rest of the room was carpeted.

Both fine for us as a couple. Maybe not for a family or friends. It does seem more are being built like this.

ABitOfAShitShow · 31/01/2022 13:53

I don't like this either.

Stayed in 1 Hotel in Brooklyn a couple of years ago - fortunately alone, for work - and it had a weird bathroom set up.

If you look at the photo, you can see the cubicles for the shower and toilet and the sink was to the right of that moss thing.

I would have hated it if I was sharing (less the shower, more the loo). It just felt really inefficient too - every time I used it I thought about how it made no sense!

Open plan bathrooms in hotel rooms - UGH
rookiemere · 31/01/2022 13:57

@ABitOfAShitShow what on earth is that moss thing Grin?
Now looking at cheaper older hotel that's not in such a good location on the basis it will have a normal segregated bathroom as opposed to public view peeing , pooing and showering.

I once shared a room with an exhibitionist who would leave the bathroom door open when she was naked on the toilet. She would have loved this modern room arrangement.

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Exhausteddog · 31/01/2022 13:59

If these are 5* hotels, is privacy a poor people's thing? Premier inn always has doors and walls for their bathrooms!🤣

watchtheglitterdustswirl · 31/01/2022 14:00

I once stayed in a nice hotel in Portugal that had glass bathroom walls. The shower wall was directly next to the bed and the toilet was in full view of the whole room.

I was sharing with DH so wasn't the end of the world but I sent him off to the bar when I wanted to use the toilet! I mean who wants to have a spectator for that?! Hmm Grim.

ABitOfAShitShow · 31/01/2022 14:02

[quote rookiemere]@ABitOfAShitShow what on earth is that moss thing Grin?
Now looking at cheaper older hotel that's not in such a good location on the basis it will have a normal segregated bathroom as opposed to public view peeing , pooing and showering.

I once shared a room with an exhibitionist who would leave the bathroom door open when she was naked on the toilet. She would have loved this modern room arrangement. [/quote]
Haha! The new world is made for her!

I've no idea what the moss-thing was! They're like luxury 'eco' hotels though so maybe it's a natural air purifier or at least in keeping with the 'green theme' Grin. Bloody nuts.