One of the most frustrating experiences you can have after checking into your hotel is finding out the room you booked isn’t what it was advertised to be. From the property’s description, it may sound like it’s worth the higher rate to have a private hot tub, but when you get there, you could find that it’s simply a generic soaking tub or a shared hot tub, falsely advertised as one that’s exclusively for your use.
There’s nothing worse than showing up for your long-awaited stay only to find you’ve paid for a room with a standard tub that has maybe a couple of jets.
Whether you’re planning a solo trip to ease stress, a special romantic escape with your partner, or are seeking an ultra-relaxing stay for any other reason, having a hot tub is a great way to soothe sore muscles and provide a sense of calm, among other benefits. The key to enjoying them is to verify everything before you book.
To ensure you get the soothing, bubbly, warm experience you’re paying for, let’s take a walk through all the essential steps.
Understand the Terms – It’s Not Just ‘Hot Tub’
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Unfortunately, it can be hard to find straightforward information online when it comes to rooms with hot tubs. In fact, you’ll rarely see “in-room hot tub” or “hotel room with a hot tub.” Properties often use various lingo to stand out or make a space seem more upscale. To be sure you’re getting what you want, it’s important to understand the terms hotels and resorts might use, as there is no one official term.
The most common names you’ll encounter when browsing various booking sites and hotels include:
Hot Tub Room or Suite: This may seem like the most obvious term to use for a legitimate in-room hot tub, but it may not be in the room; it could be a tub on a private balcony. Of course, that might be fine depending on what you’re looking for and the particular view. Just be sure the balcony and hot tub aren’t shared with another room if you want privacy.
Jacuzzi Room or Suite: Jacuzzi is simply a brand of hot tub or jetted tub. It may be a legitimate in-room Jacuzzi/hot tub, or any brand of jetted tub.
Whirlpool Room or Suite: This refers to a tub with jets, which may or may not be an actual hot tub.
Spa Bath/Spa Tub Room or Suite: Some hotels refer to larger tubs as spa baths, but it doesn’t always mean they have jets. Or it may be a standard tub with jets.
Of the 100 major, well-known hotel chains in the United States, about 45% use the term “whirlpool” in the title of their rooms, while around a third use “hot tub.” The rest use “jet tub,” “spa bath,” “spa tub,” and various other names.
While these are standard terms commonly used by chain hotels, smaller boutique hotels may use other names to make them sound fancier, such as “Romance Suite.” Remember that the name doesn’t necessarily guarantee it will be what you’re looking for, making it important to confirm before booking. How? Follow the steps we’ve laid out here.
To cut through inconsistent naming, simply use tubhotels.com: we tag each listing by tub location (in-room, bathroom, private balcony) and privacy level, and provide source links so you can confirm details.
Read the Fine Print
As we’ve noted, the terms hotels and resorts use for an in-room hot tub, spa bath, etc., don’t always indicate what they should, making it a must to read all the fine print. If you see “in-room hot tub” or “private Jacuzzi tub,” that’s a good sign, but it’s important to dig deeper by following our other steps.
It’s especially important to research more when you see terms like “spa bath” or “jetted tub” because it may not be what you want. It could be a regular tub with jets or a large soaking tub without jets. Be sure the description is clear.
While you’ll want to read all the fine print on the official hotel website, it’s worth researching booking sites such as Booking.com and Expedia.com as well. You can often find out from their descriptions whether or not the property has an in-room hot tub.
For example, this is what comes up for the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Jacksonville – Atlantic Beach by IHG on Booking.com:
Here’s another for the same hotel on Expedia.com.
Keep in mind that while you may be able to filter for a hot tub, that’s often not what comes up, which means you shouldn’t trust the filters alone. In fact, many reputable types advertise certain hotels with private Jacuzzi suites, but when you check in-depth, you’ll find that the hotel has no rooms with private Jacuzzis.
A quick case study in misleading search results
When searching for “hotels with jacuzzi in room in Chicago,” this legitimate site, Cozycozy, an accommodation search engine, may pop up. The headline reads “Hotels with jacuzzi Chicago, IL” and just below that, it indicates “67 hotel offers with Jacuzzis.” But if you read the descriptions, you’ll see that many don’t even have a shared hot tub on-site. Or, they may be listed as a common hot tub with no in-room Jacuzzi – double check on a site like Booking.com or the hotel site itself, and the property has no hot tub at all.
One good example of false advertising on Cozycozy is the Palmer House, a Hilton Hotel. When you visit the actual website for the property, it lists no Jacuzzi or hot tub of any kind, only a heated indoor pool as pictured below.
That brings us to our next step, and it’s an essential one.
Search for Photos
One of the best ways to ensure that you’ll get a room with your own private hot tub is to look at the photos on the hotel or resort website. Ideally, you’ll find photos of the specific room you reserve. If you don’t initially see any, scroll down to the bottom. Not seeing any hot tub in the space? You should assume that it isn’t there. But if you’ve got your heart set on the property, you might call the hotel using the tips in the section further below.
These are a few examples of photos to look for:
Having a Jacuzzi just steps from the bed is popular among romance-seeking couples, as it’s not only easy to access for unwinding together in the soothing water, but it also adds a romantic ambiance to the space.
Hotels that offer rooms with Jacuzzi tubs in the bathroom are usually on the luxurious side, while providing more privacy, ideal for those seeking an exclusive, intimate setting.
Open-space bathrooms with Jacuzzi tubs fall in between the Jacuzzi in the bedroom and the bathroom Jacuzzi, elevating the standard hotel experience while still providing some sense of privacy, but in a layout that has a more spacious, airy feel.
A private hot tub on your room’s outdoor balcony can also provide a romantic experience, but it can be a trade-off that exchanges total privacy for a beautiful view, perhaps of a harbor, the ocean, a lake, or mountains.
Check the Floor Plan
Most hotel websites include a floor plan, which will allow you to double-check that you will have an in-room hot tub along with its specific location. As a hot tub can take up quite a bit of space, if it’s located in the main living area, it can make it feel cramped. If it’s an outdoor hot tub, be sure that you’ll have plenty of privacy so that you can truly relax without having to worry if someone is watching.
If you can’t find the floor plan on the website, contact the hotel to ask for one.
Read Guest Reviews
You can learn a lot by reading through guest reviews. Tripadvisor and Google reviews are two of the most commonly used, which means you should find plenty for just about any hotel unless it’s brand new. You can filter reviews using keywords like “in-room hot tub,” “Jacuzzi suite,” or simply tub to learn more about the type of tub you can expect. Reviews may mention factors like whether the tub was well-maintained, cleanliness, the location, the temperature of the water, and more.
Photos from actual guests reveal the reality more than polished stock images. If you don’t find photos, search through reviews to see if you can find out where the tub is located. For example, maybe you’d like it to be in the bathroom, next to the bed, or either is fine as long as it has a view.
Call the Hotel
If you have any doubts, always call the hotel and ask. In fact, it might be a good idea anyway to avoid the situation that I encountered. As mentioned at the start, the Jacuzzi suite I booked had a legit hot tub/Jacuzzi, but it was ice cold. Even by the next morning, it still hadn’t warmed to the proper temperature. I checked the photos, the description, and read the reviews – no one mentioned that they had a similar issue. If I had thought to call, I could have asked the staff to ensure it was ready when I arrived, especially considering I was there for just one night.
Just a quick call could save you from spending a lot of money for a room that you think has a hot tub, only to find yourself without the ability to enjoy relaxing in soothing, warm water.
Not sure what to ask? Here’s a short list of questions:
- Do you have any rooms or suites with a private hot tub or Jacuzzi?
- If so, is it a larger, self-contained unit with jets and seating for more than one person or a jetted tub for one?
- Can you direct me to a photo (or email a photo) of a specific room (or similar room) with the tub?
- Where is the hot tub located? Is it private or on a shared balcony?
- If the hot tub is on a private balcony and privacy is a priority, ask if it’s in an enclosed area or open where other guests and staff can see it.
- Does the hot tub have temperature controls I can access, or is that only available to the staff?
- If the temperature can only be controlled by staff members, ask whether it will be heated (and to what temperature) before you arrive.
Insider tip:
If you’re booking the in-room hot tub for a special occasion such as a honeymoon or milestone anniversary, be sure to mention it when you call. If you’re lucky, you might just get a complimentary upgrade.
Avoid Common Mistakes
We’ve gone over just about everything you need to know about ensuring that you’ll get an actual in-room hot tub before you book. It shouldn’t be a guessing game, but many people make common mistakes that result in disappointment after checking in.
Be sure to avoid these mistakes before you hit the “Book Now” button.
By following these steps, you can usually avoid disappointment and look forward to blissful soaks, in private. If you’re wondering if it’s really worth the effort, read on.
Is It Worth All the Effort to Find an In-Room Hot Tub?
Having your own personal, private hot tub that you can enjoy right in your room or just by stepping out onto your balcony is one of the most coveted hotel amenities you can enjoy. There are few better things than relaxing in bubbling, hot water with no one else around. Except maybe the one you love. In fact, they’re perfect for reigniting that spark or any romantic night, without distractions. You won’t have to worry about going to a pool area and sitting with a dozen other guests or dealing with unwanted noise. Plus, a private in-room tub is a lot cleaner than a shared one, assuming you’ve done your homework to ensure that it’s clean and well-maintained.
The renowned Cleveland Clinic reveals even more benefits of immersing yourself in the hot water:
- Relieving stress
- Decreasing symptoms of depression
- Easing muscle aches and pains
- Supporting heart health
- Improving sleep
Whether it’s worth the effort is really your call, but most find having an in-room hot tub that is clean, well-maintained, and at the right temperature to be a highlight of their stay.
