Did you hear about the robber who stopped to take a bath? He wanted to make a clean getaway. It's not the best joke ever, but sometimes you can find that baths in hotels are a bit of a joke themselves.
There's nothing as disappointing as staying at a luxurious hotel, with a gorgeous bedroom, sumptuous decorations, fabulous facilities - but when you check the bathroom out the tub's as big as a bidet.
Of course, you can always take a shower but sometimes only a bath will do. Warm, lapping water, a liberal sprinkling of an aromatic oil or a bevy of bubbles brimming to the top, soft lighting - maybe even candles - and a glass of bubbly on the side... a bath is the perfect way to relax after a long day.
Baths have been going on for years. The earliest findings of baths date from the mid-2nd millennium BC, in a palace on the Greek island of Crete. These weren't like the baths of today though - they were public and more like today's spas than modern-day baths.
The word bath came originally from the Old English baeth, which meant immersing yourself in a liquid, whether it was water, milk or mud!
The beautiful English city of Bath gets its name from the Roman baths which grew up based around the hot spring waters - the only ones in the country. Nowadays, you can visit a spa for a Turkish bath, a Moroccan hammam experience or try out a steamy Scandinavian sauna and cold plunge pool.
So when you're booking a hotel, don't overlook the washroom facilities. You're splashing out for a break somewhere so you need to check that there's room for a splash or two in the bathroom!
Here are our top tubs in the UK - the best hotel baths we could find for you. We hope you enjoy them.
Hotel baths you'll want to dive into
Bath with a view(01 of05)
Open Image ModalWe all love a room with a view, but how about this - a bath with a fabulous vista of Brighton's seafront! Have a peer at the pier and watch the bathers as as you bathe. With a comfy chair next to the bath, your loved one can read you love poems or the latest thriller as you unwind. And with no tap end, you can stretch out to your heart's content.Drakes in Brighton www.drakesofbrighton.com
Pretty enough to draw(02 of05)
Open Image ModalThis bath is so pretty you'd want to draw it both ways - fill it with water and use a sketchpad! This magnificent bath would put the icing on the cake for anyone after a special hotel stay - honeymoon, anniversary, big birthday or even if you're just after a little 'me' time, then this decorated centrepiece would hit the spot. Longueville Manor in St Saviour, Jersey: www.longuevillemanor.com
Classy and full of character(03 of05)
Open Image ModalThis stand-alone bath looks so inviting we're ready to hop right in. The classic claw feet give it a character feeling, complemented by the welcoming decor. Some perfumed soap, a candle and soft lighting would make this totally tubtastic.Cottage in the Wood, Cumbria: www.thecottageinthewood.co.uk
Make a splash in the bedroom(04 of05)
Open Image ModalFor some people, a walk from the bed to the bathroom is simply out of the question. So here's the perfect answer - a gorgeous bath at the end of the bed! Have a long soak in the bath, dry off on the bed, dangle your feet from the bed into the bath - there are endless possibilities for fun.The Star Inn in Harome: www.thestaratharome.co.uk
Ready and waiting for a delightful dip(05 of05)
Open Image ModalThis bath looks like an ideal spot for clearing your mind of any worries or troubles you might be pondering. Draw it deep, play some soft music, get in and let the still water unwind your tension. Soon you'll be saying 'Hakuna matata' - no worries - as you drift into peaceful relaxation.Pentre Mawr Country House in Llandyrnog: www.pentremawrcountryhouse.co.uk