Summer vacation season is well under way here in the U.S., and that means more drivers on the highways, passengers at the airport and of course guests at hotels and resorts. Popular domestic destinations not only have traditional lodging options, but there are also have more houses and condos available through newer online rental marketplaces such as Airbnb. With all of these spots trying to entice potential vacationing guests, extra perks and amenities can make the difference between a happy paying guest and an empty room. And believe it or not, an amenity that more and more hotels, resorts, and other rental units are offering is the bidet toilet seat.

So we will admit that the lure of a “smart toilet seat” or “washlet” as they are often called is probably not the first amenity people look for when booking a vacation stay. But the truth is a lot of vacation-goers return to the same accommodations in the future if they find a place they really like. There are a glut of lodging options to choose from when staying in popular destinations like Hawaii or Florida or Las Vegas, and also many return visitors. So finding ways to create a comfortable and relaxing environment is critical. While the majority of Americans may have never used a bidet before, people are more willing to try something new while they are away from the “comfort zone” of their home. And as we can attest, there are a lot of folks who try these novel cleaning devices on a trip and are so impressed they decide they want one for their home.

For the uninitiated, the word “bidet” might bring to mind the old-fashioned versions that are separate plumbing fixtures with a couple of faucet knobs or handles. While you can still find these older versions, the majority of modern bidets are electronic seats sometimes referred to as “smart toilets,” and they are incredibly efficient, elegant and packed with features. Today’s units are installed directly on the toilet so they are more economical with space and easier and more comfortable to use. And speaking of comfort, many models have features such as continuous warm water, heated seat, warm air dryer, night light, adjustable water pressure and nozzle position, and they even clean themselves with self-rinsing nozzles. Besides all of the features, the biggest takeaway for bidet seat newbies is just how much cleaner and healthier they feel compared to using dry toilet paper. It’s no wonder that these seats are popping up at resorts and rentals all across the US.

With international travel, there are many countries where these seats are the norm rather than the exception. In Japan, travelers will find them not only in big city hotels and beachside resorts, but practically everywhere they go. In fact, in Japan almost 80% of homes have bidet seats. And several other countries across Asia as well as many parts of Europe and South America commonly use these smart toilet seats to stay clean and fresh. For some international travelers, trying a bidet seat is almost as likely as trying the local cuisine. We have lost track of the number of customer who have contacted us after using one while traveling abroad who have decided they want one for their home!

While all vacations must come to an end, the good news is that you can easily add a resort amenity to your own bathroom. The electronic seats on the market today are designed for simple do-it-yourself installation, so you can upgrade your bathroom in about 30 minutes. But besides being a cool luxury amenity, people discover the truth is that washing with water is far superior to wiping with toilet paper. It’s a hygiene upgrade as well as a fresher, healthier way to actually get clean. The adjustability built into the features makes it easy to personalize the experience. We even have several seats covered under our 30 Day Risk Free Trial for those who haven’t had a chance to try one yet and still may be on the fence. But if you are ready to send your bathroom on a permanent vacation, why not take the plunge and add a bidet toilet seat to your bathroom today?

Say the word “bidet” and what comes to mind to some people is a large, old fashioned water fountain for your bottom that looks like something between a toilet bowl and a bathroom sink. Perhaps 50 years ago this image might have been accurate, but over the past few decades the notion of what a bidet is and should be has drastically changed. No longer are they separate fixtures only fit for extravagantly large bathrooms only to be found in stately European estates. Far from it: today’s electric bidet seats are sleek, efficient machines that are modernizing bathrooms and improving hygiene and health every day. And with their do-it-yourself design, most people can install them in about 30 minutes. Here are some things to know about installing your new bidet seat.

While these units are compatible with almost all toilets, you will want to first determine if you need Elongated or Round size based on your toilet. Our useful measuring guide shows you how to check your toilet bowl size as well as how to check the rear to make sure you have the appropriate space to fit the bidet. As mentioned, the vast majority of toilets easily fit, but there are some rare commodes with severely curved tanks or other irregular design dimensions that make them difficult for many bidets to fit on them. When it doubt, you can always check with an expert here at bidetsPLUS if you have any fitting questions.

After you know which size you need and you have your seat, you will first want to ready your toilet by removing the existing seat and lid. Then you can secure the mounting bracket using the hardware included. The bidet will simply slide in and lock into place on the mounting bracket once it is secured. The bracket itself can be adjusted farther forward or backward on your toilet so you can adjust it to get an optimal fit. One special note: some toilets have what’s called a “skirted” design, which means that the mounting holes cannot be accessed from below to tighten the bolts of the mounting bracket. Not to worry if you have a skirted toilet, as there are special "top-mount" bolts we can provide for this type of situation.

Next is the installation of the water connection. Included with your bidet seat is a T-connection which "splits" the existing water line that refills your toilet. Before installing the T-connection, of course, you will need to turn off the water shut off valve (also called an angle stop) and flush your toilet. Then simply unscrew the supply hose going to the toilet tank and then attach the T-connection directly to the tank. With the T-connection screwed on, you can reconnect the water supply line to the bottom of the T-connection. The bidet hose included then screws onto the T-connection’s side inlet. Once all the connections are securely tightened, open the angle stop and make sure there aren’t any leaks. Now all you need is to plug it in and your new bidet seat is ready to go!

Upgrading your bathroom can be an easy do-it-yourself project when you install one of our seats. We have several options and you can check out our comparison chart and the customer reviews on the product pages if you need help deciding on a model. You could be an easy installation away from transforming your bathroom into a modern marvel of better health and cleanliness!