Soaking Up the Atmosphere
Whenever I am making travel reservations, there is one search I go to first, and it has everything to do with soaking up the atmosphere. Soaking in a tub that is. If the hotel, yurt, treehouse, or penthouse has a tub—I’m in. That’s not to say I haven’t stayed in some wonderful places with luxurious steamy showers, but if there is a room to be had with a tub, it is always my first choice!
As more boutique hotels emerge, the addition of a free-standing tub in the main room is all the rage. Yes, there are still the traditional hot tubs at BnB’s or on-site for general use, but the intimacy of having a large tub you can climb into while in the privacy of your room is quickly becoming a new trend, and I for one, am a big fan.
The placement of the tub is a key component. Big city hotels provide skyline views, mountain resorts provide snow-capped horizons, desert resorts feature expansive blue skies, wooded locations make you feel as though you’re bathing in a hidden glen, and tropical locations make you feel as though you’re melting into an azure sea. These strategically placed tubs are not as much about bathing as they are about experiencing and relaxing. Soaking up the atmosphere is about slowing down, taking time to enjoy, savoring your surroundings, and being peaceful, meditative, and contemplative. This is why it’s no surprise this quickly growing trend really took hold during the pandemic years.
All of us, whether we wanted to or not, were forced to consider a more restorative approach to travel in recent years. As large group activities and crowded tourist events seemed to all but disappear in 2020 and 2021, travel choices focused more on personal health and relaxation—and solo luxuries took on a new meaning.
For example, the garden tub (or over-sized tub), a free-standing, oval-shaped tub that's larger and deeper than a typical tub, is a luxury bathroom amenity that's quickly gaining steam. Some tubs are designed for soaking up a good book. There are hot soaks, cold soaks, scented soaks, salt soaks, and steam soaks. Tubs are marble, wood, copper, and claw-footed. Depending on location they may feature certain local stones, tiled surrounds, heated floors, jetted options, and mirrored walls.
Taking a bath can be a lovely experience, but for those who may not be interested in the views or the luxury surroundings, there are also ‘bathing packages.’ If you find a hotel that features tubs, check to see if they also have a bathing menu. Which can consist of champagne, chocolates, or caviar. Or spa amenities like CBD bath products, massages, or skin treatments such as seaweed or mud. You can also find tubs big enough for two or more people, tubs that are outdoors on patios, tucked in a private garden, or beneath the stars. If you’re traveling someplace with mineral water or hot springs, look into thermal bathing and balneotherapy.
At the end of a day or the beginning, a lovely soak can make all the difference, and make an an ordinary hotel room an extraordinary one. Next time you plan a trip, try searching for accommodations that feature a tub.
Looking for inspiration? Click below for a superb soaking selection: