With summer in full swing, the start of the vacation and travel season is now fully underway. Whether you are heading to the beach or the mountains, a big city adventure or a laid back small town getaway, or a family-friendly resort, summer is the best time to take a break and make some new vacation memories. In addition to the many popular destinations here in the US from Florida to Alaska and everything in between, Americans will also travel abroad to many great destinations during the summer. To keep travelers happy and rooms filled, hotels, resorts, and home rental services offer a variety of amenities, comforts and conveniences for their guests. For some travelers, this means they may encounter a bidet toilet seat for the first time while they are travelling this summer. How do we know? Because every year we hear from many such travelers who have just enjoyed one during their vacation and are looking to bring the healthy and cleansing bidet experience back home.

For many Americans travelling abroad to various countries throughout Asia, Europe and South America, those travelers may be surprised to discover that electronic bidet seats are commonplace in many regions. If you visit Tokyo, for example, you are likely to find bidets – or washlets as they are also called – in hotels, restaurants, airports, shopping centers, even bus stations. In fact, the vast majority of residents in Japan have them in their homes. Of course, you don’t have to travel to another country to find a bidet seat on vacation this summer. Several hotels and resorts at travel destinations all across the US have started installing these seats as well. A handful of popular hotels at vacations hotspots Hawaii and Las Vegas offer bidets in some of their rooms. You can also find accommodations featuring these modern washing marvels from big cities like New York and Houston to idyllic small town getaways such as the Smokey Mountains in Tennessee. With the growing number of these units in hotel bathrooms, more people are getting the opportunity to experience the hygiene benefits firsthand.

For those people who have never used a bidet, it might not be at the top of their list of things to do on vacation. A lot of us still tend to think of them as a large clunky bathroom fixture that looks like a second toilet with no seat. But like most things, you don’t really know until you try it. And the modern electric seats we now have are vastly superior to the old fashioned bidet fixtures of the past. We here at bidetsPLUS can attest to the many customers who first tried a modern seat in their hotel or resort room while on vacation and then they contacted us with questions about adding one to their own bathroom at home. Of course after trying one, people begin to see them as a practical hygiene item rather than just a luxury item. With the superior cleaning and fresher feeling you get washing with water compared to using toilet paper, almost everyone who tries one is immediately won over.

With all the great seats available here at bidetsPLUS, you can add a piece of the vacation resort experience at home by getting your own bidet toilet seat. They are designed for easy do-it-yourself installation directly on your existing toilet and include all installation hardware. Many models are loaded with great features such as continuous warm water, oscillating wash, heated seat, warm air dryer, built in deodorizer and more. We even have some models covered under our 30 Day Risk Free Trial offer, and you can review different features on our bidet toilet seat comparison chart or watch the video reviews available on most of the product pages. While you may not be able to take home the ocean breeze from your beach vacation, you can easily add a modern bidet toilet seat for a resort-style bathroom at home!

If you’re reading this, you are likely among the growing number of people who have heard about the health and hygiene benefits offered by a bidet toilet seat. Modern bidets are packed with features which provide a healthier and more comfortable experience when using the bathroom. Washing with water is common sense in other aspects of our lives, so it makes sense we should absolutely be washing ourselves with water after going to the bathroom. So it is easy to see why more Americans are adding bidet toilet seats to their homes. While deciding to add a bidet to your bathroom is an easy choice to make, deciding which specific model is right for you means knowing what to look for, so here are some basic guidelines on what to look for when you are choosing a bidet.

The first thing to know is that modern bidet toilet seats are not separate plumbing fixtures like the old fashioned version, but rather are designed to install directly on your existing toilet. They offer greater economy of space for your bathroom as well as easier use since you do not move from the toilet to the bidet. They are also much easier to install – the do-it-yourself installation means most people can install it on their own within about 30 minutes. Most modern bidet seats are also electric, so you will need to plug it into a standard outlet. There are some non-electric attachments as well however they are much more limited in their functionality compared to the electric models. Next we’ll explain some of the wash functions of the electric models.

Any good electric bidet will have some basic wash features such as adjustable water pressure, adjustable water temperature and adjustable nozzle position. Everybody is built a little differently, so being able to make these adjustments to best suit your needs is essential. Being able to wash with warm water is a huge plus for most people, so it’s important to note the water heating system of the different units. Some models use a reservoir tank water heating system which holds a reserve of heated water which provides about 45 seconds of warm water per wash. Other units use a tankless water heating system which uses an instant heating coil that heats the water continuously. The benefit of reservoir tank heating is that these units tend to be more affordable. But the benefit with the tankless design is that you can wash for as long as you want without running out of warm water.

There are some additional wash functions to be aware of, such as oscillating wash. This feature moves the wash nozzle during the cleaning cycle to provide a larger coverage area and a more thorough cleaning. Another wash feature available on some seats is a massage wash, which pulses the water stream like a strobe light for a massaging effect. A few units like the BB 2000 include an enema wash (or turbo wash) which can help induce movements for users who have difficulty going to the bathroom. All of the various wash features can add up to create a better cleaning experience.

Besides the wash functions, there are also a variety of non-wash functions available. A heated seat with adjustable temperature is very popular, especially during the winter months. Some models have warm air dryers which dry residual moisture after washing and can help eliminate toilet paper consumption, although some people will use a small amount of toilet paper to speed up the drying process. Air deodorizers can help remove unpleasant odors from the bowl area, while night lights can make it easier to see at night without needing to turn on bright bathroom lights. Most units have slow closing seat and lid so they won’t slam closed, and a couple have an automatic opening and closing lid. Another important feature to note is whether the unit is operated by remote control or an attached control panel. Most people find the remote controls a lot easier to use compared with the attached panels. The remote control includes a wall mounting kit so you can place it wherever is most convenient. Like with other home appliances, there is also the warranty to consider. Most warranties are between one to three years with either full or partial coverage, although a couple of brands do offer extended warranty options.

As more and more people trend toward installing bidet seats as a regular part of their bathroom, it’s important to have a resource to know the differences and similarities of all the various brands and models available. If you are planning on upgrading your bathroom with a bidet, we hope our website offers a great resource for you to familiarize yourself with your options, and you can always give us a call or send us an e-mail and get advice from the bidet seat pros here at bidetsPLUS!