These 7 European Hotels Earned My Unofficial “Fat Girl Seal of Approval”

Hotel de Sers is a magnificent and jaw-dropping hotel fit for the most romantic of vacations. Located in the heart of Paris, the Hotel De Sers is within walking distance (or a short Uber ride) from the Eiffel Tower. Our two-room suite included two bathrooms, a kitchenette, and a massive two-person tub. The tub easily fit the two of us, allowing for a romantic evening. Depending on the room you end up in, you may have a toilet on the smaller side. The second bathroom in our suite was larger and more comfortable than the first one.

While the accommodations are the best, it was the kindness and courtesy of the staff that really stood out. When I asked about the toilets, they kindly explained that the exact size of the water closet varies from room to room, but if you give the hotel a ring before your stay, they’ll be sure to book you a room with a larger toilet.

Hotel Edouard VII is a sister property to Hotel De Sers, with an artsier vibe and more budget-friendly price tag. Upon arriving, we were greeted by the desk clerk, who offered to bring up our luggage. I suggest you take them up on the offer as the elevator is tiny and difficult to fit in alongside suitcases.

We stayed in a smaller corner suite that came with a small balcony. The water closet was small by American standards but had enough room for me to fit comfortably, for the most part. The hotel is located right in the city’s heart and is a great home base for your Paris vacation.

Drumroll, please. This hotel had towels that fit me, and, frankly, The St. Regis Rome just gets better from there. The St. Regis Rome is the most beautiful, magnificent building I’ve ever stayed in. Designed in 1894, it had the first elevator (which is still operational) and public ballroom in Rome.

The entire hotel feels very Roman with its golden accents, regal paintings and busts, high ceilings, and airy feel. Meals are served in an enclosed private garden, with varying styles of seating, including couches.

The rooms feel bright and welcoming, but allow for great sleep when you draw the blackout curtains (a lifesaver for overcoming jet lag). The water closet included a bidet (always a plus) and had enough room to be comfortable with a full-size tub and separate shower.

We took the train from Rome to Milan for a short-but-sweet two-day stint at The Crowne Plaza. The central train station is about a five-minute drive from the hotel, and the hotel has a 2 PM check-in time, making it an incredibly convenient stay.

The hotel felt comfortable but not luxurious, with a fantastic view from the full-length windows covering nearly half the bedroom. Instead of the water closet we had come to expect, the bathroom was quite similar to the ones we have in the States, except it had a bidet as well.

This Geneva, Switzerland hotel feels like it was made for royalty—and it’s not just because of the sports cars outside that are worth more than my annual salary. Our room came with a king-size bed and big bay windows that opened to views of the lake and majestic Jet d’Eau.

If I thought that the elevator at Hotel Edouard VII was the smallest it could get, Hotel d’Angleterre blew that out of the water. My wife and I tried to squeeze into it together and an alarm sounded! For the rest of the stay, we each took the elevator separately. Overall, the staff at Hotel d’Angleterre were truly phenomenal, and the concierge proved instrumental in helping us make dinner reservations and offering travel advice to our stay.

We ended our honeymoon back where it started in Iceland. In the three weeks that we were gone, temperatures dropped 30°F, so we were glad when we made it to the Reykjavík Konsulat Hotel. Walking in, the hotel somehow felt warm and homey despite its size.

The tub was massive, and the room came with a glorious little balcony and an impressive view. I’ve never seen a bathroom with a tub that I could easily fit into, so I was impressed from the moment I walked into the room. As is typical in Iceland, the bed came with a split comforter (much to our dismay), but it was like laying on a bed of feathers. The water closet was a bit of a squeeze, but not too bad.