Travelers slam hotels for eliminating bathroom doors: 'I'd like some privacy'

Hotel operators have pointed to rising construction, maintenance and energy costs as key factors behind the shift, the publication noted.

The changes are intended to simplify room layouts and reduce long-term costs, but many guests say the tradeoff has come at the expense of privacy.

Travelers have taken to social media to complain about the lack of privacy in hotel bathrooms.

On Reddit, users have shared stories of hotel stays featuring bathrooms with no doors at all, as well as partially enclosed spaces, sliding doors that do not fully close and frosted glass panels separating the toilet or shower from the rest of the room.

"I don't want to watch anybody use the bathroom, and I'd like some privacy," one commenter wrote.

Some travelers said bathroom layouts are not always clearly disclosed online, making it difficult to know what to expect until after check-in.

Travelers are taking extra steps to avoid rooms without bathroom doors altogether.

Lowell has compiled informal lists of hotels based on bathroom design, separating properties that offer traditional doors from those that use partial enclosures or no doors at all.

While many travelers have voiced frustration, some say the design is manageable when staying with a significant other or close friend - though that isn't always the case.