Thinking back to the bathtub in room 11 at MAS D’EN BRUNO in the Priorat DOQ winery area south-west of Barcelona. It was perfect, place and tub. The oval corium tub was a mere metre from the bed. It was slim corium – designers please note – which meant it was easy to grip the sides when getting out. As Girlahead lazed in a lather of Bob & 8 shower gel, visions of Robert Kennedy momentarily appeared before being replaced by a serious discussion on hotel bathtubs.
Here, shown above, is the perfect bathtub, a Kohler, on animal-foot legs. It’s in Suite 814 at THE SAVOY, A FAIRMONT HOTEL. Look, grab rails, and a proper and easy-work plug. Oh the number of times Girlahead has used a fruit knife, or whatever else is to hand, to attempt to close or open a ‘lever or push’ flap that someone has inadvently thought should replace a traditional plug. There’s a metal bath-butler tray, with bathsalts, and 300ml pump-pots of Penhaligon’s Savoy Steam toiletries (‘the best bath in England’). Pinched from the minibar top by the image’s self-appointed stylist are a copy of The Savoy Cocktail Book, and a Martini glass – the cocktail selection also includes 6 pre-mixed Savoy cocktails, from Moore House.
There was a wooden bath tray in suite 3105 at ROSEWOOD HONG KONG, and it held a book just asking to be read or dunked. The glorious copy of Hong Kong: Heritage, Art & Dreams, by Catherine Shaw, was published by Assouline, which scored a luxury notch, as did the Maison Caulières toiletries, the Dyson bits and pieces, the red leather safe – and a nearby umbrella stand wrapped in Loro Piana cashmere.
Bath trays at all Wynn resorts, by the way, hold wrapped long-handled wood back brushes, but this is a brand that believes in providing everything the abluting guest might possibly require, even own-brand hair spray. Scrub your back while looking along Las Vegas’ famous Strip.
Ah, views make a difference. Think the panorama of the Bay area from the upper floors of FOUR SEASONS SAN FRANCISCO EMBARCARDERO, or Marina Bay while bathing in 64sq m front-facing end suites -16 or -26, any floor, at RITZ-CARLTON MILLENIA – or, come to think of it, of vineyards ar sunset while soaking at Mas d’en Bruno.
