The only thing I can answer is to go with the cast iron tub. They last a lifetime and more!

Remember whatever you put on the floor can become slippery when wet, so I think tile and marble might be dangerous. But beautiful. LOL.

bump

Please, advise needed on travertine so I can start making decisions -

Thanks

No one loves the look of honed travertine more than me :) I have it in my small (and seldom used) entry. LOVE the look, love the feel of it on my bare feet :) But did I put it, as planned, in my master bathroom? No, I did not :( It was a hard decision and I'm certain I made the right decision for me but it still wasn't an easy one. Instead of honed travertine, I used a porcelain look-a-like. Natural stone has to be sealed (probably about once a year) but can and will still stain. There are poultices you can use to remove most stains. Makeup, shampoo/conditioners, hair color, medicines, perfumes...they can all discolor your floor. My porcelain is impervious to everything. It doesn't need to be sealed. Much less maintenance and as I grow older, that's more important :) Below is a link to my new (one year old) master bath (DH has his own bathroom). The diamond shaped tiles on the wall are tumbled travertine.
Monica

Here is a link that might be useful: Travertine-Look Porcelain Tile

Thanks, Monica, for sharing your beautiful master.
I am so overwhelmed with decision making - and so many different styles to choose from - I just can't think anymore.

yvette: Like monica, I also went with a porcelain that looks like travertine--mainly for ease of cleanup and also I just didn't want anything that porous in my bathroom. There are several on the bathroom formum who have done travertine bathrooms. I am surprised you are not getting a response over there. Have you tried the search function to find old threads on the subject? There are some tile experts (Bill Vincent and Mongo) that are very helpful--they frequent both kitchens and the bathroom forums. I don't think you need to get a cast iron tub--the acrylic ones are much lighter and you don't need those non skid strips if you don't want them. My whirlpool tub (Jason) is acrylic. As for tile height, I don't know if there is a trend. I guess that would depend most on how you plan to use it. If there is a shower I would tile all the way up the wall, though if just a soaking tub, you could do a deco tile strip. I did one tile (13x13) plus a deco strip with my whirlpool.

This is not the best pic....but you can see the tub in the mirror. I did like others have said....used a porcelain tile for the floor - I would suggest running on the diagonal since you said your bathroom is narrow & long. I used tumbled marble as a tub surround & shower floor. It cleans up very easily - was sealed 2 years ago. For my countertop I did go with travertine slab - again, sealed but I haven't had any problems with it. I probably wouldn't put it in a kitchen. I love the kinda more rustic unfinished look that it brings into the bathroom. I kinda wished I had brought the tile midway all the way around the room.....easier to clean than drywall. Spilt red fingernail polish & my foundation always ends up on the wall??!!

In my upstairs baths....I did a slate look alike in porcelain. I really like it, too. I guess I like using materials that look like they would be found naturally.

Good luck.

Smiles:)