Do you need hot water to shower?

I was jinxed last week - two different hotels in two different states and neither one had hot water in the morning. Imagine the conversations in the dining room - everyone talking about their solution to the lack of hot water (no shower, sink bath w hot water from the coffee maker, one limb in at a time etc.) The hair-washing stories were the funniest. It was an unusual bonding experience.



I travel a lot - have never run into this issue before. I have to say the folks at the Hampton Inn in Nashville were great - apparently someone hit a power pole and the temporary power supply wouldn't let them run the hotel's hot water heater. I got a nice email with an explanation, an apology and a free night (any Hampton anywhere). Per Gaylon Shockley (Hilton) they refunded $7000 to hotel guests that morning. Wonder if they can charge the guy who hit the pole?