The idea of the bath butler was invented by Mark Lettenbichler, I think, when he was resident manager of the Ritz-Carlton Millenia Singapore. How many bathtubs are wasted, he said. How can we entice people to have bath treatments? Now, thanks to Lettenbichler - who is Hong Kong-based VP south Asia for Ritz-Carlton, numerous hotels and resorts offer bath time specials. Here, below, are actual bathtubs, and other experiences I like.

 
DUBAI, UAE: Bab al Shams Desert Resort and Spa is only four months old but the 115-room fort, run by Jumeirah International, seems timelessly forever. All rooms and suites have sand-colored walls, and the bathtubs are inner sanctums of peace. The sand-colored oval tubs are sunken, and apart from a way to get in and out, there are ceiling-high walls around, these walls decorated with delicate hand stencils. One extra treat, look across your room and you might see a camel outside. General Manager is Abdin Nasralla.

MALDIVES, INDIAN OCEAN
At Six Senses' 44-room Soneva Gili, over water villas have showers - but what is more romantic than to go down your private steps to immerse yourself in the crystal clear Indian Ocean, possibly surrounded by exotic fish? Afterwards, relax on your villa's deck, or in the air-conditioned parlor, or explore the contents of the filled wine refrigerator (you also have a Saeco espresso machine and a few other toys). General Manager is Garry Snodgrass.
Soneva Gili Resort & Spa, A WOW Hotel

LONDON, ENGLAND
The Langham was built as a townhouse for Sir John Langham in 1797, though it did not open as a hotel until 1865. It remains cutting edge. The signature Langham Suite, for instance, has a rectangular infinity tub, with marble outer surround and taps to one side. Unless you have the girth of a Pavarotti there is just room for two, and while you get to know each other choose from a selectio9n of Molton Brown, Floris, Jo Malone, Origins or Penhaligons toiletries. General Manager is Duncan Palmer.

KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN
The 264-room Ritz-Carlton Bahrain also has 23 villas, home this month to the big names in town for the April 3rd Formula One (and yes, WOWtraveler will be there). Each villa has a pool, Philippe Starck deck furniture, Ron Arad library shelving, a 12-seat dining table and three en suite bedrooms. Here you bath in a Jacuzzi infinity tub, the outer surround of stone-topped wood, and Acqua di Palma is your toiletry range. General Manager is Pascal Duchauffour.

CRILLON LE BRAVE, FRANCE
Hotellerie de Crillon le Brave, A WOW Hotel
At the 24-room Hostellerie de Crillon-le-Brave - owned by a private consortium of Canadians - a favorite suite is the two-floor La Tour which is, as its name implies, in a tower. Yes, the bedroom upstairs is pretty special, with a look across the valley to Mont Ventoux, often on the Tour de France route. But in the parlor downstairs is a pair of white freestanding bathtubs, set side by side with a raised ice bucket between. Bath, enjoy chilled Taittinger - and that view. General Manager is David Candillon.

CHIANG MAI, THAILAND
The 64-room Four Seasons Chiang Mai is also home to a family of water buffalo, who have two baths a day, at 8.30am and 3pm. Read the Water Buffalo Handbook as you soak in your own tub. If you are in an upstairs room in one of the two-floor villas, your bathtub has three glass walls looking straight into lush foliage. Use local toiletries in celadon-colored ceramic pots and, when dry, slip into a raspberry-colored fabric robe and walk to your outdoor sala, to watch Mrs. Mud Buffalo and her family in the working rice terraces below. General Manager is Andrew Harrison.

BRUNEI
Arguably the world's most luxurious hotel, the Empire Hotel and Country Club, was built as a guesthouse - now it has 553 rooms. The bathroom of suite 3709 (which has 24-carat gold woven into the carpets) is marble and gold, doubtless the same carat. The oval bathtub, filled with orchid heads for your arrival, gives you a view down to a sandy beach where your name might be written in flowers. You have Bang+Olufsen sound, Bulgari toiletries and a selection of magazines on self-improvement and health. General Manager is Anne Busfield.

SONOMA, CA, USA
The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa, A WOW Hotel
At the 218-room Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn, Mission Suites have a big oval Jacuzzi tub separating the bedroom area, with its four-post bed, and the bathroom proper. The wow factor here is to light your fireplace, using the matches and log provided, then open a bottle of local Kenwood Vintage Red, and enjoy the tub experience (this is especially appreciated after a couple of pampering sessions at the spa). General Manager is Thomas Becker.

HONG KONG SAR, CHINA
The Peninsula Hong Kong, A WOW Hotel
The grand dame that is the Peninsula is full of little tricks. Your bathtub is set diagonally across the corner of the marble bathroom. There are two giant ceiling high windows - but fortunately it is one way. You have a television in the wall at the foot of the tub. If someone calls, they will not know you are not in a meeting as the telephone system blocks out bathroom noise. Order Beluga and a glass of Stolichnaya to be delivered via your door 'cat flap' - though you still have to walk across to pick it up. General Manager is Ian Coughlan.

VENICE, ITALY
Hotel Cipriani, A WOW Hotel
The Palladio Suite at 104r Hotel Cipriani & Palazzo Vendramin has arguably one of the most stylish of all bathtubs, its top surround the same grey-veined cream Carrara and Verona marble as the floor, walls and wash unit of the room (the architect is Pierfranco Fabris). A wave of water pours into the tub from a horizontal faucet, and the view through the picture window is across to Isola di S Giorgio. The Suite comes with a private boat to take you there, by the way. General Manager is Dr. Natale Rusconi.

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