Sherman's Travel

Far be it from me to decline hotel amenities. I enjoy an ocean view, complimentary chocolates, and plush robes as much as the next traveler, but even I’m baffled by some of the “upgrades” that hotels offer. A television in my hotel bathroom is one such vexing luxury. For all the grousing and moaning about how filthy hotel rooms can be, apparently people have no qualms about lingering in an allegedly clean tub and watching their stories until their fingers get pruney.

When it comes to bathing in hotels, all I ask for is good water pressure. If I can rinse myself off without having to pool water in my cupped hands and splashing it on my torso, I’ve hit the hotel hygiene jackpot. I don’t require a rain faucet directly above my head (it’s an inefficient attack angle for the water), heated bathroom floors, or a television by the tub.

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England has the town of Bath. Germany has Baden-Baden. And in France it’s Vichy. What is Spa Town, USA?

Kohler, Wisconsin.

That’s if you’re being literal about the term salus per aquam, which means health through water and gives us the origins of the word “spa.”

Kohler, of course, is the maker of faucets, sinks, and tubs. Some are for everyday use, but many are works of art (the overflowing Sok tub), feats of engineering (a shower that saves your preferences and uses an iPod like dial), and cost more than a Lexus.

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No matter how much we travel, it’s still exciting to peek into a hotel room’s bathroom and see what kind of toiletries are on offer. With hotels nickle and diming guests at every turn (for WiFi, bottled water, beach chairs . . .), toiletries sometimes seem like the last sacred freebie a hotel guest can count on, whether at a humble Holiday Inn or a 5-star palace hotel.

The quality and type of toiletries can say a lot about a hotel—I’ll admit a sucker for this method of branding. But who isn’t? Here are some of the top hotel toiletries that I’ve come across. What are your favorites? Read more

Sipping and tasting is one way to experience wine. But why sip when you can be wrapped, bathed or exfoliated in it? 

The spa offerings at the Wine Spa at Hotel Peralada outside Barcelona, Spain let you do just that. The golf resort relishes in the regional traditions of vinotherapy proving there is more then one way to enjoy a good grape.

Take a relaxing bath in a rich, fruity merlot that helps relax and stimulate blood circulation. Get and exfoliating body scrub with micronized vine and grape see oil that moisturizes your skin. Or a body wrap with Muscat grapes and white wine dreggs that provides deep body moisture and helps eliminate toxins. 

All finished with a delicious glass of white or red wine, of course. No spitting required.

Weekend getaways are always a coveted luxury; an opportunity to get away from the daily grind. Throw in a hotel with an extensive on-site spa and you’re practically in heaven. 

Does it get any better? 

It just did.  Read more

While dining in the tub may seem a bit over the top, a custom-drawn soak is the perfect antidote to several hours crammed in an airplane seat. If you’re Barbados-bound and staying at legendary Sandy Lane – a five-star hideaway favored by celebs and international jet-set for its classic elegance and perks aplenty – you can now request your very own luxury bath to await you upon arrival. Day One: Kick off your vacation with Jet Lag Revitalizer, an aromatherapy bath that revives your mind, body and soul with a mix of eucalyptus, rosemary and peppermint. Read more

We first wrote about the most expensive bath ever in the Summer 2008 issue of Sherman’s Travel. Featuring a 350-gallon infinity tub full of 1000-liters of Evian water, it’s quite possibly the most indulgent soak at $11,000. Guests of the Hotel Victor, South Beach, can only access this hyper-hydro experience by booking the penthouse. Now before your eyes bulge at the cost, take into account the service and amenities that follow. The full-service Spa-V team will draw the bath and set up a meal service of champagne (bring it on!), display of chocolates (yum! yum!), foie gras (huh?), and smoked salmon on a lollipop (wait a sec?). This is all being served alongside the tub? I’m definitely not into the eating in the tub trend. Where does the napkin go? Does etiquette just…go down the drain? What do you think? Does food have a place in the bathtub?

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