I want to buy one of these curved shower rod kits and the cheapest one I can find in Europe is actually to buy it from Marriott! Are there really no DIY stores or bathroom fixture stores that stock these at reasonable prices?

My wife bought one for $39 here in Illinois, have to find out where.

Near as I can tell, nobody sells them anywhere in Europe. I must have looked off and on for a year, both in stores and online. I was about to bring one back from the US when this turned up in Google: http://www.simplybig.eu/products/Bat...T-ROD-USA.html

The site has a really strange collection of products, but I was able to order and the shower rod turned up three days later and works as advertised.

One caveat - once you place your order everything on the web site and all subsequent emails from the company are in German.

Edited to add that it appears you can order one from Marriott for shipment to Europe and it's actually cheaper. I wish I had known that before!

You're going to really hate me now... i found one for a really cheap price and was able to pick it up myself with no shipping:
http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/p...RTAIN+RAIL.htm

The fixtures are kind of junky because they're plastic, but otherwise it seems ok. And it covers a wider range of lengths than most. It screws into the wall so I haven't been able to put it up until I borrow a friend's drill.

Also, incidentally Simplybig seems to have two models, one with plastic fixtures and a longer one with what appear to be metal fixtures. The larger one looks very similar to the Argos one with pastic fixtures but it has an extra screw which looks like a set screw to stop the rod from moving.

So the choices from Ireland appear to be:

Argo: 14 Euro (plastic fixtures)
Marriott: 44 Euro + 23 Euro shipping
SimplyBig.eu: 50 Euro + 15 Euro shipping (5' with plastic fixtures)
SimplyBig.eu: 70 Euro + 16 Euro shipping (6' with metal fixtures)


So Marriott isn't actually cheaper but I suspect it's better quality than the one from Simplybig which appears to have plastic fixtures as well.

There are some hilarious products on that site. A thing you attach to the shower rail which swings out and holds the curtain away from you, toenail clippers with long handles and a magnifying glass, and I'm sure there are more. Germany must be a fun place.

For what it's worth, the one I got has plastic fixtures and attaches to the wall with sticky tape! Six months in it's doing just fine, no issues with stability.

The best product on that site is the, um, "extender" for people who cannot reach to wipe themselves. :O

For a curved shower rod, try the plumbing and Bath supply for plumbers and handy homeowner self help experts. The ones in San Diego even give a discount

I am amazed at the variety that they carry.

Curve shower rods actually adds aesthetic appeal..

I'm considering curbed shower rods for the outfitting of our entire house where there are tubs.. We like the ones at Fairmont Hotel MacDonald.

I'm a big guy, so I'm a big fan. Nothing worse than a cramped shower where I find the curtain sticking to me every few minutes.

I think the curved shower curtain rods are great. There are two downsides that I've seen, both easily overcome. At least half the time they seem to sag in the middle because they are not securely fastened to the wall. They need to be firmly anchored to stay secure. Second, make sure the shower curtain is long enough or their will be water on the floor after your shower. Had this issue at a Holiday Inn Express last week.

Curved rods would also give you a couple more milliseconds of reaction time should Tony Perkins show up with a knife...

I'm a fan. I'm tempted to get one for my apartment as I feel a little too cramped in my shower right now and I like the extra elbow room.

Good point on the shower rods have to be securely anchored..

I'm the type of person that probably doesn't like making a hole in the bath tub or granite tile finishing.. We'll see what products are out there or probably pass..

I LOVE ^ the curved curtain rods)) It gives me room to shower without feeling crowded.
I have never felt colder in them actually just the opposite!!

Yup
 

especially when they hold curtains which divide, such that:
one portion fits within the tub to hold the curtain THERE,
and another portion remains outside the tube and thus holds the curtain THERE, and the top ~15% of which are transparent, and thus let light into the shower.;)

Welcome to FlyerTalk!

Curved shower rods are certainly rare.. but a treat when seen..

I've personally only seen one, and it was in a $995 per night suite (I did not pay this much for it.. I knew the hotel manager)..