Why hotels will never get rid of 'ugly' nightstand feature
Doorless showers, waterfall shower heads and pillow menus; they're the hotel trends that have many travellers divided.
So what does an ultra-luxury hotel designer think of them?
Internationally acclaimed interior design director Rebecca King has worked on some of the swankiest accommodations in the world, from The Ned in London to 1 Hotel Central Park and Melbourne.
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Rebecca King has designed luxury hotels all over the globe, including the opulent The Ned in London. The Ned London/Supplied
With more than a decade of experience, she's seen and stayed at more hotels than she can count and has formed some pretty strong opinions in the process.
Here are her takes on some of the hotel trends that we love and hate, including the dreaded frosted glass bathroom dividers.
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Frosted glass bathroom dividers
There's nothing worse than walking into a hotel room you're supposed to be sharing with someone only to realise the only thing separating the toilet and shower from the bedroom is a thin pane of frosted glass.
Rebecca confessed that earlier in her career, she included it as a feature in some of the hotels she designed – but only when it was "mandated" by higher ups.
Today she's totally against that particular trend.
"That's not ideal when you're with your partner or anybody else," Rebecca tells 9Travel.
"Sometimes they may put a curtain over it, but you can still hear everything!"
Pillow menus are popping up in plenty hotels. Getty Images/iStockphoto
Pillow menus
A new trend that's gaining traction in hotels all over the globe are in-room 'pillow menus' that allow guests to select the perfect pillow for them, from soft down to dreamy memory foam.
And Rebecca's totally into it.
"I love that kind of personalisation," she tells us.
In fact, personalisation of any kind gets a big tick from her, especially in at luxury accommodations that promise guests a premium experience.
Doorless showers
Countless travellers have tried to relax with a hot shower only to accidentally flood the bathroom because the shower cubicle doesn't have a door.
And Rebecca reveals they're often only designed that way to save money.
"Sounds like a cost saving thing, using a little bit less glass and steel framing perhaps," she says.
Doorless showers can look chic and minimalist but in pokey hotel bathrooms, they're often just impractical.
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Some modern hotel bathrooms include showers with no door, leaving the floor drenched after using it. Getty
High-tech hotel rooms
It's becoming more common for modern hotels to include in-room tablets that allow guests to do everything from dim the lights to order room service with the tap of a screen, and Rebecca is loving it.
"Especially in the luxury space, that tech solution where you can message the concierge instead of going to see a physical person at the desk, it's coming to the forefront," she says.
But that doesn't mean hotels will start removing those clunky old in-room phones, even as they embrace more high-tech room features.
"We still really need that stupid hotel phone, even at a hotel where it's super tech forward," Rebecca says.
"It's a safety thing, and people just get annoyed if there's not one."
But she admits she "hates the look" of the "ugly" standard phones and suggested many hotels could stand to update their design.
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Hotel phones could do with a design overhaul according to King. Getty Images/iStockphoto
The luggage bench that's always the wrong size
Almost every hotel room on the planet comes with a luggage bench but most seem to be the exact wrong size for a standard suitcase.
King confirmed she's noticed it too and said travellers are "not crazy" for thinking that particular design feature makes no sense.
"It's beyond me," she says.
"But every new hotel is just getting smaller and smaller, and many just compromise on your luggage bench space unfortunately."
Waterfall showerheads
Some travellers love nothing more than standing under a luxurious waterfall showerhead after a long flight or day out exploring.
Others – especially those trying to keep their hair dry – can't stand them.
Rebecca falls firmly into the former category.
"I love them," she says, "but I'm an everyday hair wash kind of person."
One shower detail she can't abide by is designs where the only way to turn the shower on is to lean in and reach directly under the showerhead.
Unless you have lightening fast reflexes, that design will always leave you with one arm drenched in freezing water.
King is a huge fan of waterfall showerheads - but not all travellers agree with her. Getty Images/iStockphoto
An expert's perfect hotel room
If Rebecca could design her dream hotel room with no limit on space or budget, the first thing she'd do is make sure it has heaps of counter space on the bathroom vanity.
"That's a pet peeve of mine, when there's not enough space to put all your toiletries and stuff," she tells us.
She'd also include a separate toilet and shower cubicle in the bathroom, a large walk-in wardrobe, and a lush king sized bed.
Opposite which she'd mount a TV that retracts or disappears into the wall, "because I hate looking at a TV".
Top it all off with luxe finishes and she'd be willing to stay forever.
