If you stay in enough hotels, you’re undoubtedly going to encounter some rooms that have a design that’s a little, shall we stay, unusual. We’ve stayed at a Hilton Garden Inn with a mirror in THE WORST possible spot, a hotel at the Grand Canyon where we wondered why they’d put a plug outlet THERE, been in rooms where they bathrooms that were so tiny that you couldn’t close the door in you were sitting on the bowl, and, of course, all the other hotels that just had weird stuff and setups.
But now I’ve seen a room design that’s beyond weird. If you ask me, it’s downright creepy.
I told you about our friends, Stephan and Emilio, a while ago. They were the ones involved in the hotel thermostat hack that went terribly wrong. Anyway, they’re planning a long-delayed trip to Germany (thanks, COVID) and Stephan was looking at hotels in Frankfurt. He came across one that was so weird that he posted it on Facebook.
Marriott opened Gekko House, its first Tribute Portfolio property in Frankfurt, in early 2020. Just 12 kilometers from Frankfurt International Airport, the hotel is near signature spots such as the fairground, Festhalle, Kap Europe Congress Center, and Skyline Plaza. It’s also just blocks away from the train station, so it’s really conveniently placed.
Gekko House offers seven levels of guest rooms:
- Superior (1 queen)
- Superior Comfort (1 queen)
- Premium (1 king)
- Premium Comfort (1 king)
- Premium Comfort (2 twin)
- Select (1 king, balcony)
- Junior Suite (1 king)
Stephan was looking at the Junior Suite. It sounded very nice. From Marriott:
- All rooms provide luxury bath amenities by Grown Alchemist, a complete natural product.
- All rooms are equipped with a Nespresso Machine and a Marshall Music Box.
- All rooms are equipped with a digital guest map (Suite Pad) with local city guide and services.
- Industrial concrete meets vintage details, whereas classy furniture provides a state of indulgence.
- Select Rooms with balcony overlooking the skyline.
- Junior Suites with stand-alone bathtub and with views overlooking the skyline.
At first glance, the Junior Suite looked lovely. It’s very spacious (by European standards) and bright, offers nice views of the city, and the bed looks pretty comfortable (although I don’t think the bed in the pictured model Junior Suite is a king. Just sayin’).
The bathroom looks nice as well, with a HUGE walk-in shower.
Oh by the way, one more thing. There’s a bathtub in the living room.
Yep, for reals. And it’s right underneath the television, no less.
I like Stephan’s Facebook post about it…
Tasteful and interesting, indeed! But looking back, yeah, it WAS in Marriot’s description… “Junior Suites with stand-alone bathtub and with views overlooking the skyline.” Sure, a well-placed window near the bathtub sounded nice. I just wasn’t expecting…THAT.
I mean, I know Europeans, in general, are more open about nudity than most Americans are. But to have a bathtub in your living room? Right under the TV?
REALLY?
Meanwhile, wouldn’t it have been nice if the room had some, you know, table space? Hmmm…I wonder where they could have put a table…
Tribute Portfolio hotels are defined by Marriott as, “a family of independent boutique hotels bound by their Indie spirit and heart for connecting people and places.” So it’s probably doubtful this particular design will be repeated in many, if any other Marriott hotels.
Honestly, that’s probably just as well. Because yeah, a bathtub in the living room? Frankly, I’m not sure about how well that would connect people and places. But if you ask me, it’s definitely on the creepy side.
Of course, as the good blog says, Your Mileage May Vary.
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4 comments
Since women tend to take baths more than men, maybe it is supposed to be for sexual entertainment?
You need to get out more. Stuff like this is becoming very common. Actually you can go to some subpar American branded hotels that will have a Jacuzzi right in the middle of the room at places like Super 8, Holiday Inn, etc. Oh and you didn’t even mention the window into the shower from the bedroom area, that also is VERY common in many hotels I’ve stayed at in Europe for some reason. None of it seems very well thought out. For example what if you booked the room to stay with a friend and not a spouse.
We’ve seen the “window from the shower to the bedroom” a few times. Also creepy. But not as creepy as a tub in the living room which, nope, we haven’t had the “delight” of seeing in person yet 😉
Check out the ParkMGM and NoMad hotel rooms. Many have a tub that is the room and it is actually placed into what looks like a closet that was converted to fit the bath tub. Just Google search it!