I will be traveling to Italy in Sept 2003 and am booking hotels now...

I'm thinking of booking rooms with "shared baths". When the information states rates "Double room" and then "Double room with bath", can I always assume that that the "Double room" at least has a shared bath, or is it possible that some of the hotels have no shower facilities for those who don't have a bathroom in their room? Do I need to clarify this with the hotel?

Or am I assuming too much -- does shared bath actually just mean shared toilet?

Please excuse my ignorance!

There may be shared showering facilities, if that is what you are asking. The layout would depend on the hotel. Some budget places have for-pay showers. I've never heard of a hotel that did not have some type of bathing option.

Many small hotels in older buildings, have a bath and shower down the hall. That bothers some folks a lot. It didn't make much difference to me, but it is a bit less convenient. I would just be sure to check when you reserve.
If you can't find out for sure, and it doesn't say "double room with bath", I would assume it is down the hall ( never seems to be more than 10 or 15 feet....never WAY down some hallway, in our experience)
EK

Thanks for your help!

ekellyga - in your experience, do they usually provide an area in your room to comb your hair, etc (a mirror at least?) I assume in a shared bath, I can't take 30 minutes drying my hair so I'd need to be able to do it in my room...

Hi Deanna,

Rooms with shared bath usually have a sink and mirror in the room. Years ago private bathrooms in small hotel weren't the norm so sinks were provided in the room for brushing teeth, washing hands and face, etc. I've never had a room w/o bath that didn't have a sink. Some rooms w/o bath may have a private bath down the hall that is for the use of a single room only, although this is pretty rare. You can also come across rooms that have either showers or toilets attached. In this case you would also have a sink. Whatever is not provided with the room (either shower/bath or toilet) would be down the hall and shared.

Deanna, yes, there will be a place to do your hair in your room. You may even have a shower in your room, but the toilet is down the hall. Well, exactly what Adrienne says. The necessary facilities will be there if not in your room, just down the hall.

Hi
A shared bath may mean a bath down the hall from your room. If it says double room with a bath, it means the bath is in the room. If you're feeling insecure ask if it has a toilet and a bath. we usually ask for a room with a shower as that is more usefull to us. I have not hear of a hotel without shower or bath facilities.
alan

Progress: 70 years ago Wisconsin resorts offered rooms with a pitcher of water and bowl to wash in..and a so called 'slop jar' for other purposes. I know because I had the job of emptying those containers in an outdoor toilet. The system worked. Older European hotels or remodeled homes often have baths on landings and service two floors. Governments have been offering loans to hotel operators to upgrade their plumbing. Company hotels in Poland have toilets and showers between rooms. Enter and lock the other door. Room serves four rooms. Only recently have most older hotels offered 'central heating'. Quiz the hotel. Every day more and more hotels are going on-line. Years ago my hotel had limited plumbing. If the power went out there was no water. The outdoor toilet was a fall-back. My advertising clearly stated, 'shared bathrooms'. Some guests really liked this because it reminded them of their college days.

Thank you all. It's much more clear to me now.

The options can vary in nearly endless configurations (just kidding)! My last shared experience gave me a sink, mirror, brand new shower stall in my tiny room but the toilet was shared by a couple rooms and off the hallway.