Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Is a bathroom worth the extra $ or should we share??

Fodor's Travel Talk Forums (https://www.fodors.com/community/)

- Europe (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/)

- - Is a bathroom worth the extra $ or should we share?? (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/is-a-bathroom-worth-the-extra-or-should-we-share-146594/)

Is a bathroom worth the extra $ or should we share??

We are going to France and Italy on our honeymoon and just wondering whether it is worth spending the $$ to get our own en suite...or whether its not such a bad thing to share...any insights?? Thanks! Jamie

I'm tempted to think you are just kidding here, but on the chance that you have not visited this site for a few days, scroll down a ways and you will find dozens of posts under this same question. It has been totally answered, so with a little effort you can get more answers than everyone rehashing this again so soon.

DONT even think about it or read further-- HONEYMOON??? and FRANCE and ITALY??? Def. get your own bathroom. spend the extra.

Since it is your honeymoon and you are considering sharing, why not stay in a hostel? they have rooms with 4 & 8 bunks and the bath is down the hall.

Assuming this is not joke about 95% of the hotels in France and Italy have ensuite bathrooms these days. I assume you are not talking about staying in hostels ?? where sharing is commonplace. Normal hotels, 2**, 3***, 4****, etc. all have private bathrooms in most cases. I would not even think about sharing (never have, never would).

Whoa people...I've never stayed in a hotel in Europe...I was just asking

Great fun can be had in one's own European bathroom. Especially on your honeymoon! Don't get a shower that is too small!

I think you better stay in the USA. Your comments make it sound like a disaster looking for a place to happen. Do you also think Europe is primitive? Like you might have trouble finding telephones? I admit that the French eat raw meat; I think Neanderthalians cooked their meat more than the French. I am positive the Cro-Magnons of Lescaux did; too many firepits not to have engaged in cookery. As my Texas friend said, "I have seen cows hurt worse than that out wandering around the range."

OK Jamie, I think it's a matter of personal preference. If cost is an issue, there are other areas you can save $$ (i.e. restaurants, shopping, transportation). Shared bathrooms remind me of college dorm-living......not a part of my past I'd care to "re-live". I think lots of us don't even consider sharing a bathroom during our vacation. p.s. Have a great time.

Wow, I have never been so bombarded with such rude responses on any chat board. I am also not American. Thank you all for helping a first time traveller to Europe who was coming here looking for the friendly advice others seem to enjoy. I'll take my questions elsewhere.

Thank you Annette, I appreciate your response. I will be looking for hotels with a bathroom

In London, hotels are so expensive that there are rooms without baths. Jamie is not stupid for considering the question. Once, I stayed at a Paris hotel which ony had a bath next to the hallway. It's possible that if someone is travelling on a budget, the savings from a cheaper hotel can make a difference between going to Europe or going to someplace closer to home. During the winter and spring, East Coast to Europe airfare are sometimes cheaper than to the West Coast (USA)

Spring the for the en suite. You should view your honeymoon as a once in a lifetime trip (unless you're J. Lo) and the one time where you shouldn't stress about a few extra dollars. At least that's the theory we used on our honeymoon. Besides, and this is from personal experience, once the kids come along, the idea of any kind of personal space becomes quite appealing.

Jamie - sorry there are so many rude posters out there. This is a valid question - there are many small b&b's and farmhouses with shared baths in Europe, although not as many as in years past. The ones we stayed in with shared baths were absolutely fine, we never had any problems. However, rooms with private baths are very common now, and are not that much more expensive. All things being equal, I would go with private baths on a honeymoon.

Jamie: Here are my two cents. I have stayed at two places (one in Venice (2 star) and one in Florence (bed and breakfast). I saved about $60.00 total each stay by sharing the bathroom. The B&B in Florence was shared by 2 other rooms; the 2-star hotel in Venice I am not sure (I had a sink in the room). I must say, while I wouldn't do it again, I was not turned off. I was fortunate the management kept a dutiful eye on the facilities and I was never disappointed. Both were truly spotless. However, if you are not really too desperate on saving money or feel it is not worth it, then do get your own bathroom. It's just the best thing to do; if the place is rather small, then sharing isn't that bad, but if it's in a hotel (and some hotels that are rather large in Florence do give the option for some rooms to share a bathroom), I would say ABSOLUTELY NOT! Pay the extra for your own bathroom and cut down on costs elsewhere, like sit down meals in restaurants. Go to a local market, store, deli, etc. and get some take out food (always good in Italy) and eat it outside (weather permitting) or back in your room (you can bring plastic cutlery in your luggage). You will have saved money, time and the difference would pay for your own private bathroom -- even though I had good experiences, I'm rather sure I was lucky. Additionally, the take out food can be better than a restaurant! However, YOU are on your honeymoon. We can all surmise what happens on honeymoons. Spring for your own bathroom always and cut down on frivolous expenses elsewhere. I hope you have a great trip.

I have a contrary view. I say share. This way you can relax and stink the place up and you don't have to be embarassed about producing unromantic sounds or odors on your honeymoon. Reurn to your room with a wrinkled nose and blame the guy down the hall.

Debsy, you are one classy broad. How repugnant a reply you gave. Too bad you and I can't share the bathroom; I'd be sure to avoid flushing, throw out the Air Freshener and urinate all over the seat so you could experience living your own words. You belong in a barn -- actually in the pig pen.

I think she was being tongue-in-cheek.

yeah, but I would wipe, and use the bidet, before I let the hubby between those cheeks...heh, heh