Eight Global Luxury Stays That Come With a Shatafa

There’s a certain allure to traveling abroad, to crossing borders into worlds hitherto only explored through unnecessarily cinematic drone shots on Tiktok, aesthetic Instagram carousels with an influencer-type photobombing an ancient castle, and the occasional celebrity spotted glamping in some remote US desert or other. 

Yet, those of us who have ventured outside the borders of the Middle East and North Africa have one troublesome bit of news to share—it’s not all glittering casinos, glamorous galas and picturesque forests. In fact, when planning one’s trip outside the region, there seems to be one glaring(ly dry) problem to consider: WHERE IS THE SHATAFA? 

The blessed spray.

The unsung hero of Middle Eastern hospitality.

Gone. Absent. Tragically underrepresented.

Or so we thought.

After some rather shameful sleuthing on Reddit—wherein I seem to have lost my dignity but somehow affirmed my journalistic integrity—and endless hours spent doom-scrolling through random strangers’ inexplicably lopsided and hyper-zoomed in images of hotel room toilets (???), I managed to curate a verified list of eight global luxury stays that do, in fact, match your backside hygiene flow for flow. That is to say: YES, THEY COME WITH A SHATAFA. 

BumGun lovers, rejoice. This one’s for you. 

1. The Palace Hotel – San Francisco, USA

An icon of the Gilded Age, this 1875-built landmark is all chandeliers, marble columns, and a glass-domed Garden Court where presidents and poets have dined. Rebuilt after the 1906 earthquake, it remains one of the most storied hotels on the West Coast.

Bathroom flex: Toto washlets in select suites. Think warm seats and auto-lids fit for a Gilded Age queen. 

2. The Royal Hawaiian Resort – Waikiki, Hawaii

Also known as the 'Pink Palace of the Pacific,' this cotton-candy-colored beachfront resort has been a celebrity magnet since 1927. Elvis stayed here. So did Marilyn Monroe. So can you.

Bathroom flex: Ultra-clean, no-fuss washlets with that unmistakable island breeze.

3. The Phoenician – Scottsdale, Arizona

A desert masterpiece with its own art collection, cactus garden, and a spa that deserves its own zip code.

Bathroom flex: Bidets in premium suites that leave you feeling fresher than a dip in the infinity pool.

4. Hotel President, a Luxury Collection Hotel – Geneva, Switzerland

The kind of place where diplomats, billionaires, and Bond villains might all be checking in at the same time. Home to one of the most expensive hotel suites in the world.

Bathroom flex: Classic European bidets. Because global power moves deserve proper plumbing.

5. Aria Resort & Casino – Las Vegas, USA

A sleek, modern mega-resort in the heart of the Strip with floor-to-ceiling views, smart-room tech, and just the right amount of Vegas sparkle.

Bathroom flex: Toto washlets in Sky Suites. Mood lighting, seat warming, and the kind of cleanse that makes you feel like you just hit the spa jackpot.

6. JW Marriott South Beach – Singapore

High above Singapore, this Philippe Starck-designed hotel is a maximalist dream — part art gallery, part luxury resort, part futuristic spaceship.

Bathroom flex: Toto washlets with remote controls that feel more sci-fi than spa. 

7. Hotel St. George – Helsinki, Finland

A former printing house turned boutique marvel, with a poetry room, in-house bakery, and winter-ready coziness at every turn.

Bathroom flex: Heated washlets because Finland doesn’t mess around with cold seats.

8. Braemar Lodge – Hanmer Springs, New Zealand

Tucked in the mountains with alpine views and private spas, this South Island hideaway is quiet luxury at its best.

Bathroom flex: Bidets in suites that feel like you’re being baptized in glacial spring water.