Sorry fodorities, for the dump question. Why europeans hotels say room with shower, or room with bathroom. What´s the difference? I know some hotels have separate or shared bathrooms - it´s ok. But inside the room, shower and no toilet? or toilet and no shower? As I know, all bathrooms have showers. I can´t understand, please explain.

Freudian slip calling it a dump question rather than a dumb question? When they refer to a room with a shower, it also has a toilet. Be aware that this type of bathroom may be very small or not really a seperate room at all, just a tiled area behind a screen. When they say the room has a bathrrom, this means a full bathroom like US hotels have and a bath instead of or in addition to the shower.

A room with shower has only a small shower. A bathroom has a bath, where you most of the time can have a shower above the bath. A bathroom is bigger than a "shower room". They are usually more expensive.In both case you should find toilets.Rooms without toilets are scarce (in France at least). In this case you usually have at least a "lavabo". If you go in 3-star hotels, you'll find toilets.

In Germany we had a room with shower which was just that! We had a make-shift, free-standing shower in the room and a sink, but no toilet, which was down the hall.

In general, a 'bathroom' generally has a bathtub which may have a shower head (fixed or flexible) and maybe a shower curtain, maybe not. A 'shower' is generall a bath (toilet/sink) and shower, but no tub. Basically a 'full' bath vs. a '3/4' bath. <BR> <BR>As Sharon's experience points out, though, there is no universal standard for language describing rooms. If in doubt, if you have a question, ask the hotel. <BR> <BR>Ed <BR>Trip Tips and Tools <BR>www.twenj.com/tipstools.htm

Grace, <BR>It's not a dumb question at all, just ask the hotel specifically what they offer. Ensuite bathroom means private bathroom and normally has a bathtub with a shower attachment (at least this is what we found after umpteen trips), but it never hurts to ask. I always ask "does your ensuite bathroom have a shower or tub or both" and I've always gotten the answer I want (both!). Hardly anyplace other then very low end budget hotels have shared facilities any longer, most standard (2,3,4 star) hotels offer private facilities. One thing you won't find much of is enclosed shower stalls or shower doors on the tubs, they might not even have any curtain so be prepared for water all over the place if you shower (one reason to prefer a bath!!). If they say full bath they usually mean tub w/shower, sink & toilet, sometimes the toilet tho. Just ask if you are not sure, and ask again when you reconfirm.

oops I got an unfinished sentance in my post - sometimes the toilet (commode) itself is in a little alcove or a "closet" with a door adjacent to the "bathroom" with the tub/shower/sink - we've had that a couple of times, in fact that is how the bathrooms are arranged in our relatives apartments in Paris too. It's all private tho, with a door from the bedroom or whatevere.

Attn: Christine Cipriani <BR>My friend & I are spending a week on the Costa del Sol & a week on the Algarve at the end of October. Do you have any recommendations on where to stay in either area. We're thinking about Nerja in Spain & either Lagos or Portimaio in Portugal. Any suggestions would be kindly received. No big resort complexes, please. <BR>Marilyn

Marilyn <BR>Sorry no suggestions, but you might be best posting this as a new message rather than as a reply on this thread, more people will then see it. <BR>Just click on "post a new message" on top left of screen. <BR>You probably already know this so I hope I haven't sounded too patronising! <BR>Angela

Hi Angela, <BR>I think perhaps Marilyn posted correctly but her message ended up in here... There's been some very strange things happening in here today...ie. posts ending up in the wrong thread...posts not taking at all...new posts with no message in the "body" of the thread...etc...

This message is for Ed <BR> <BR>Ed, what are "tipstools"" Are these tips on the best kind of stools to leave in euopean toilets? <BR> <BR>A pun just for fun, no offense.