When someone says, “Let’s do a Eurotrip by car!”, it sounds like a dream — scenic views, freedom, strolls in new cities, a chill vibe.
Reality? It was more like sitting, driving, more sitting, listening to the same playlists for the third time, and scrolling through Booking.com or Airbnb every evening just to find a place to catch our breath and recharge for another hot and challenge-filled day.
Our trip took us to Valencia — not for a vacation, but on a mission.
Sol Navitas’ latest project took off after winning a hackathon aimed at tackling the aftermath of the severe flooding that hit Valencia in autumn 2024. But that’s a story for another post.
This time, we want to talk about what an 8,000 km road trip taught us — not just about Europe’s highways, but about accommodation… and most importantly, ventilation.
Air conditioning is a given. But ventilation?
Since our travel companions on the return trip were a 3-year-old and a 2-month-old, there was one non-negotiable filter when choosing accommodation: it had to have air conditioning.
With temperatures over 30°C and two sweaty, cranky little humans in the car, cooling wasn’t a luxury — it was a matter of survival.
One especially lovely cabin near the French border in Spain felt like we’d hit the jackpot.
Heat pump? Check. Peaceful mountain setting, a grassy area in front of the cabin where our toddler could run and play, and an idyllic view. BUT…
The perfect spot to stretch our legs and unwind — peaceful, green, with a little lawn in front…
Except that by night, the air ran out, and the shower corner greeted us with mold that had fully “blossomed” by morning.
There were some… stains in the shower corner? On closer inspection — mold.
When the shower water hit it, a dramatic cloud of mist rose up — like tearing open an old-school loaf of preservative-free bread that had quietly exploded with mold.
The air was completely still. We couldn’t open the windows — too many mosquitoes and no screens. And there was no ventilation.
And contrary to popular belief — an air-to-air heat pump is not a ventilation system.
Sure, it moves air around, but it doesn’t bring in any fresh air — it just keeps circulating the same tired air.
Sleep quality vs. mold: 0–1
We couldn’t sleep that night. Breathing was difficult.
By morning, it felt like we’d spent the night inside a sealed plastic bag.
The mold, activated by the shower, had turned the air heavy and pungent.
In the morning, we asked the host:
“Are you aware there’s mold in the bathroom?”
“Yes, we know about the crazy mold in the bathrooms,” she said rather casually.
A simple solution? Of course it exists. But…
The simplest ventilation setup (fresh air in, moist air out) would have solved the whole situation.
We’re not talking about anything high-tech — just a basic vent and working airflow. But in most places, even that was missing.
When there was ventilation — like in one very simple hotel room with three beds — we actually slept fine. And there was no mold in sight.
In another, much more luxurious place, everything seemed perfect… until we got to the bathroom.
It was brand new, but the moisture had nowhere to go.
It’s only a matter of time before mold makes itself at home.
In one Spanish hotel, they even cleaned the mold out of the air-to-air heat pumps on the day we arrived — because we politely hinted that it might be a good idea.
But why do these units get moldy so quickly in the first place?
The answer: lack of ventilation.
Apologies for the not-so-pretty pictures — but hey, at least you can’t smell the mold through the screen (yet)!
The first photo shows our uninvited travel companion living in the shower corner, and the second is the inside of a hotel air-to-air heat pump.
The mold lived happily there.
Where’s the “ventilation” search filter, Booking?
Also, time for the “mold-free” certificate
We don’t expect every place to be perfect. But we do expect to be able to breathe.
In the short term, a poorly ventilated room affects most of us by lowering sleep quality and general wellbeing.
But for babies and small children, it can be a serious health issue.
Mold, moisture, and stale air aren’t just annoying — they’re dangerous.
Less Spores, More Clients – Time for a Mold-Free Certificate
What did we learn?
- Always check if the accommodation has ventilation, not just air conditioning.
- If you’re an accommodation provider, invest in ventilation. It’s cheaper than repairing a moldy bathroom, and satisfied guests will keep coming back.
- Booking and Airbnb – it’s time to add “ventilation” as a filter and to emphasize its importance to accommodation providers as well.
For us, it’s a confirmation that Sol Navitas’ work matters. Our ventilation solutions aren’t just about comfort — they’re a necessity.
And finally… one more story.
In one hotel, we noticed that the mold in the bathroom had been cleaned only as high as the cleaning lady could reach.
Above that, the familiar greenish-blue pattern was still there.
But hey, at least they tried! Of course, there was no ventilation, so those patches are probably back before the guest even checks out.
We understand we’re not your typical travelers. While others enjoy the views and look for wifi password, we inspect ceilings, hunt for vents, and sniff the air.
Yes, maybe we’re a bit of ventilation nerds. But for good reason.
So if on your next trip you find yourself staring at the bathroom ceiling thinking,
“I wonder if a proper vent would fit here?”
— then know this: our mission is already halfway complete. 😄