Helpline Question of the Month: Shared bathrooms in hotels — scary, or no big deal?
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"Salsachica" from Atlanta wonders how she should prepare for getting the occasional room with a "shared bath" in Europe...other than worry a bit...
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I'm researching a few hotels and it seems I am a bit late for some of the more popular RS recommended places. Many of the rooms left are not with private bathrooms — but a shared shower/toilet down the hall. (Trip is in September.)
I remember hostel days with college friends years ago, and it wasn't bad because I knew my college mates. Anyone have experiences with shared bathrooms in Europe care to share?
My husband and I are only considering the shared bathroom for places we are staying 1 or 2 nights. Pros: Cheaper price. Cons: Waiting in line and privacy. Is that right? Would love to hear any experiences/advice.
Thanks,
Salsachica
Atlanta, GA USA
Brad
Gainesville, VA
I've done a bathroom down the hall many times. It's like staying with friends or relatives. Most of the time I don't notice other people at all, either I'm up and out early or I have the bathroom to myself. You almost always have a sink in your room for the majority of your morning/evening routine.
Pension and B&B owners regularly tell me I'm a great guest. Why? Because I clean up after myself. When I use the shower, I wipe up behind myself so it's neat for the person behind me. When I use the toilet, I use the brush to clean up the toilet after I'm done (often necessary due to water usage and pressure in Europe).
Ron
Florida, U.S.A.
Hello Salsachica. What hotel, at what city and country, are you thinking about
Salsachica
Atlanta, GA USA
Lucerne 1 night and Venice 2 nights Pensione Guerrato
Larson
Halifax
I don't have the slightest problem with shared/down the hall bathrooms.
As I'm enjoying that "wee bit pricier than usual" bottle of wine in a great Italian trattoria, or ordering from the ala carte menu instead of the prixe fixe....or even taking a cab to/from the airport instead of public transit...I remind myself that these little luxuries come free of charge courtesy of sharing a bathroom
Tom
Somewhere Else, Moving to...
Only had the experience once, in Poland. It was a tad more inconvenient than having a private bathroom, but the shower and toilet stalls were set up in such a manner that there was barely any loss of privacy.
Salsachica
Atlanta, GA USA
@ Larson - exactly what I was thinking. A little waiting or sharing so I can splurge on other things is not a bad thing. :-)
Bob
Port Coquitlam, BC Canada
We've done the shared bathroom at times, no big deal. Don't forget your travel slippers!
Tim
Knoxville, TN USA
I used a shared bathroom in Zermatt. It was always clean and absolutely no problem.
Erika
Seattle
It's interesting to me that all of the responders so far are men. I stayed in a couple of B&B's in Ireland in 2002 that had shared bathrooms. It wasn't too bad, although waiting for the shower did feel a bit like being back in the dorms in college. And in one place I stayed the bathroom was a floor down from my room, trips in the middle of the night were a bit of a pain. I think I would just make sure the shared facilities are close to your room.
Denise
Lake Forest, CA USA
We have had shared bathrooms many times because we like to stay in "zimmers." As a previous poster said, there is a sink with towels in your room. The bathrooms are generally spotless. Our hostess will often go in afterwards and wipe everything down — they are meticulous. I actually don't remember ever waiting to get into a bathroom. Have fun on your trip!
Salsachica
Atlanta, GA USA
Thanks Erika! I needed a female's input on this one. Travel slippers and possibly those bleach wipes will be in our bags! :-)
I was told that in PG (Venice) the bathroom is right in front of our double room.
esterbrook
san francisco, ca usa
I'm a woman, and I almost always stay in places with shared bathrooms. The only time it was a problem was the morning that I really, really needed to use the toilet and the only available bathroom was in use! But I survived.
Figure one shared bathroom for every 2 or 3 bedrooms. The only "privacy" issue is whether you'll run into anyone else in the hallway as you go to and fro, and you're not going to be walking down the hall naked anyway, are you?
Salsachica
Atlanta, GA USA
No plans of streaking while in Europe :-)
Typically are there places to hang/place your dry clothes? Do they provide towels and or/robe? Or you bring all your own? I guess each hotel is different and i imagine higher end hotels (5*) may provide the robe.
Steve
Pacific Palisades, California USA
1) yes 2) towels are usually in your room
Pamela
MADISON, WI USA
I too have stayed in hotels with share bathrooms. Often you're sharing with only one or two other rooms. The only time I had to wait was when I was staying in the same hotel with my folks and I had to wait for my dad — just like home! I have a very light weight robe that I take with me for treks to bathrooms. My dad used to say that rain coat would serve the same purpose in a pinch. I've never seen a robe in any of the hotels with share bathrooms. You could always ask about that and ask how many rooms share the facilities.
Michael
Des Moines, IA
I prefer private facilities but have stayed in lodgings both in Europe and in the U.S. with a shared bathroom arrangement and haven't had an issue. Some had sinks in rooms, and some didn't. None had robes...all had towels, soap, and shampoo (but even private facility rooms may not provide soap and shampoo). Just wear your clothes coming and going. Most had two rooms sharing, some had more. You can strategize your showering time so that you're in very early in the a.m. or very late in the p.m. to avoid congestion. Still, you're unlikely to have a jammed bathroom. Cleanliness hasn't been an issue for us. I was just in San Francisco a couple of weeks ago in a small, European–style hotel and shared a bathroom with one other room...no problem. Your room rate is typically quite a bit cheaper when you opt for shared facilities. The savings can certainly make up for any perceived inconvenience, especially when you're visiting an expensive city. I say go for it.
Ron
Florida, U.S.A.
In Italy, in an old hotel, a "Private bath" could be less pleasant than a "shared bath". The "Private Bath" could be a rinky dink shower (narrow hose) in a small stall that was put in the small room. There would be wet vapor from the warm water, in the room. Water from the shower could flow out onto the floor in the room. Water could spray out from a place that you did not expect water to spray out from, causing your clothes and towels to be wet. Many old buildings in Italy have improvised plumbing. I experienced all of that at hotels and B & Bs that were good in other aspects, in Italy. An expensive hotel in Venice could have an unpleasant shower and problematic plumbing.
Salsachica
Atlanta, GA USA
Thanks everyone!
I've booked 4 of 6 of my accommodations and 2 are shared bathrooms. Based on your comments, I'm not too worried about the shared bathroom, will bring shower slippers and bleach wipes/spray just in case.
2 more hotels to book. If you have any recommendations for Florence or Rome, let me know. Preferably €125-150.
Paris was our splurge and I may even cancel that to save $ for rail trips.
Ceidleh
Boston, MA United States
Salsachica - you mention the bathroom is directly outside the door to your room in Venice. Sometimes that is as bad as having the shared bathroom too far from your room because you can hear people slamming the door in the middle of the night, toilets flushing, shower pipes creaking early morning, people talking to each other in hall outside bathroom, etc. Bring earplugs if you are a light sleeper.
Definitely bring flip flops to wear in the shower! The oddest experience I had with a shared bathroom in Europe was one place had a unisex bathroom that had 2 separate shower rooms divided by a 10 foot high wall that did not reach all the way up to the 12 foot ceilings. As I shut off the shower and was drying off, I heard a man in the next shower stall over "spanking the monkey" and he made zero effort to be quiet about it. I started laughing which probably made it shrink like a frightened turtle, but it definitely made me glad I always pack my flip flops!
Chani
Tel Aviv
Ask the hotel how many rooms share the bathroom.
I had a shared bath in Venice once for 4 nights, never met anyone in the hall, only once had to wait for the shower. Only negative experience: one time I could tell that the person before me had smoked in the toilet.
In Florence, I stayed (twice) in the Archi Rossi Youth Hostel. They have private rooms, some en suite. They have a (well-enforced) 11 pm no-noise rule, and are in a good location. Very clean and the staff are friendly and helpful. They also have coin-op laundry. The first time I stayed there I used a shared bathroom and rarely had to wait. The multi-bed rooms (4 and up) all seem to have attached baths. The second time, I splurged on a double room en suite in the annex and was very happy - great queen bed, very quiet.
I am a retired solo woman traveler.
Judy
Adelaide, SA Australia
I had a shared bathroom/toilet experience in Lisbon. Never again!! We had returned from a day trip and I desperately needed to use the toilet and I mean desperate. After 20 minutes pacing the floor, my daughter forcefully banged on the door and explained my situation. There was a young lady in the bathroom taking all the time in the world drying her hair etc. When using shared facilities, people should be mindful and get in and out as quickly as possible.
Swan
Napa, CA
Shared bathrooms work best when the toilet is in a separate room, or there are several bathrooms to choose from. I've never had a problem with access in the middle of the night, but during the daytime some people hog the room. I'm at the point in my life/travels where I'm willing to pay extra for my own bathroom. The hostels I've stayed in usually had a women's bathroom that could be shared. That works, too.
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