Hotels are removing bathroom doors

A strange trend is growing in hotels around the world traditional bathroom doors are slowly disappearing.

Instead of solid doors some hotels are now using sliding doors curtains glass panels or half walls. Guests say these designs offer little privacy and do not properly block noise or smells.

In some hotels the sink and shower are placed openly in the bedroom while the toilet is separated only by a glass enclosure. This has frustrated many travelers who want privacy and comfort especially when sharing a room with a partner friend or colleague.

London resident Sadie Lovell became so annoyed by her hotel experiences that she created a website called “Bring Back Doors.”

The site rates hotels based on the level of bathroom privacy they provide, ranging from a proper door to “zero privacy.”

Lovell believes a bathroom door is not a luxury but a basic necessity. Hotel owners however say open bathroom designs can create a modern look and reduce construction and maintenance costs. Traditional doors locks and hinges can also require more upkeep.

But many guests are not convinced.  Some travelers now joke that the first question they may ask before booking a hotel is: “Does the bathroom have a door?”

If this trend continues privacy could soon become one of the biggest things travelers look for when choosing a hotel.