(iStock)
Here at Oyster we appreciate the art of a fine bath — and how it fits into a hotel room, too, considering it’s our No. 1 way to relax when we’re not at work.
We scoured the 2,000+ hotels we cover to find the five most incredible tubs for you to dive into (no pun intended).
The Hotel: Grand Luxxe; Puerto Vallara, Mexico
The Tale Behind the Tub: Grand Luxxe is the most posh of a group of Mayan timeshare resorts located in the Puerto Vallarta area. The huge rooms and suites (complete with gigantic private terraces) are designed with some serious flair — including each of the bathrooms, natch. Check out the tub, above, in a 1-bedroom suite: The free-standing unit comes equipped with a little wooden stand for all your bath-time essentials, and should it get a little stuffy, open the folding French doors to take a peek into what’s going on in the other part of your suite.
CHECK OUT MORE OF OUR FAVORITE TUBS
The Hotel: Hotel Le Bristol; Paris, France
The Tale Behind the Tub: The luxurious Hotel Le Bristol opened its doors in 1925 during the Roaring 20s. Today, it’s still going strong, and has a reputation for having outstanding service.
Rooms range in size and price, and have been reduced in number since the early days in order to increase the number of signature suites; the Honeymoon Suite (above) features both a stand-alone Turkish steam shower and this incredible soaking tub, complete with its very own nozzle (to cool you down or wash yourself off.) Plus, the huge Jack-and-Jill sinks and spacious vanities will allow even the biggest product hoarders to spread out.
The Hotel: Excellence Punta Cana; Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
The Tale Behind the Tub: Um, how romantic are those towels built up as swans? Can you say Valentine’s Day? Regardless, this huge bathtub (it’s built for two) is perfect for a post-workout soak or a lengthy evening version while intimately chatting with your loved one (who’s in bed, of course). The resort itself is super-relaxing, too: The Excellence is a quiet, adults-only spot, perfect for a quick getaway with your other half — just make sure you spend time tubbin’ together.
The Hotel: Shutters on the Beach; Los Angeles, CA
The Tale Behind the Tub: A known celebrity hangout, Shutters has an atmosphere of formal opulence, with expensive artwork in its lobby, luxe features, and rooms that belong in a billionaire’s beach house.
We especially love the tub for having — what else — working shutters that look out into your guest room. The hotel provides bathers with top toiletries from SkyBlue, a copy of a Hemingway novel, and even a flat-screen TV to watch while bathing. Don’t you feel like a star already?
The Hotel: One and Only Ocean Club; Bahamas
The Tale Behind the Tub: One of the Bahamas‘ priciest hotels, the One and Only is dedicated to service, designating a personal butler to each guestroom that checks in. The decor is pretty swanky, too, and the bathtub is no exception with its top-notch faucets and incredible mosaic-tile backdrop.
Bonus? The bathroom also offers up a separate toilet-and-bidet area for those looking to soak in privacy. The bad news? You’ll only grab one of these tubs if you upgrade from a standard room here.