I think it would depend on how big she is, but we love the Flexibath tub. Folds flat for storage, which is great. Its fairly simple, but effective. It is a bit narrow, but I like that my son can't slip around as easily.

Does your shower have a removeable head? Or could you connect a removable head? My kids went from the baby tub to the shower (they never sat down for baths in the big tub), but they also don't like to stand under the shower stream and get water in their faces. So, we kind of hose them off with the hand-held shower head, keep them out of the stream for shampoo/lathering up, and then hose them off again. They don't really "play" in the shower (in our house, the kids get showers every day after dinner and it's a 5 minute thing) but they enjoy it.

Hand held is a great solution as long as your shower has good walls or curtains! My kids both hate water in their faces but they both like showers. I showered with them when they were babies and toddlers - that makes them feel safe. Now that my daughter is older, she plays in the shower and I get her clean by dumping cups of water on her (carefully). As long as the head is pointed down a bit, she has fun, since she has control over whether she gets into the stream of water.

Depending on how big she is, you could use the Ikea tub (http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70197588/), which is bigger and deeper than most baby tubs. It's working well for our 2 1/2 year old. And totally affordable at $6.99!

We have an only shower house, too, and our son has been taking showers since he was about one year old (three now). We have one of these shower head holders that can be placed at a lower level so that the water stays on little bodies without having to get on their heads. We placed a little shaving mirror down low and with bath crayons/markers and other toys that stick on the wall, we can bathe our son while he stands up and plays.

Shower head holder:

http://www.buybuybaby.com/product.asp?SKU=16392677&

If you don't have an adjustable shower head, try something like this kids shower head (http://www.amazon.com/Rinse-Ace-3901-Showerhead-Quick-Connect/dp/B004VLJPMI/ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1335884415&sr=1-1).

Then put a cushioned mat that has drainage for her sit and play with toys. The water will keep her warm while she plays and the shower head keeps the water out of her face plus you can unhook it from the wall (suction cup) and then use it to wash her hair.

the kitchen sink.

both my kids usually take baths but there are times a shower is needed. we have a dry towel handy so they can wipe there faces off after we wash hair or they get "rain" in there face. making the shower enjoyable like playing in the rain is fun for them. but if she does freak out try the kitchen sink. My babies are huge and both in the 90% since birth. The kitchen sink just didnt work for me!

Agreed on a hand-held shower head. My son (3.5 yo) hates getting water in his face and refuses to use a conventional shower, but would happily play for hours (if I let him) in my sister's hand-held shower.

I'd second the handheld shower head recommendation if that will work with your shower head (my son loves the "waterfalls" and we do it even in the bathtub!), or even just sponge baths, if it's just a short time. In my (albeit limited!) experience, 3 year olds are more flexible than people give them credit for. Kids don't need baths every day, even if it's what they are used to -- they'll already be in a new environment, and sometimes can adapt more easily to minor changes in that context, than they could at home.

How long will she be there? My toddler really loves the occasional shower with me.

You just need a plastic tub ala Ikea, and a hand held shower head.

Make it seem like it's kiddie pool time and act like it's a big treat.

Kids are much more adaptable to these things than non-parents think.

Enjoy your three-year old time.

Are you sure she can't take a shower? 3 years old seems awfully big for a bath in the sink or a baby basin. She should be old enough now to learn how to close her eyes tight when you have to rinse the shampoo out, and otherwise to be able to keep the water out of her eyes on her own. I agree with the statement that kids are adaptable--faced with no available bathtub, I'd be surprised to find a 3 year old absolutely unwilling to take a quick shower.

We were just in this situation with a hotel in NYC not having a bathtub. We made it really exciting and fun and I got in with her (she is 3 yo). She LOVED it! and since we got home has requested showers! I just scatter her tub toys in the shower and she splashes around thoroughly enjoying herself! Its good for a little diversity.

I'd just find the largest rubbermaid container you can find and decorate it with vinyl stickers. Depending on the size of your shower, you could get a galvanized feeder/waterer from a livestock store. When I was a kid, we lived in the forest in Northern Canada and had to haul and boil water and that's what we used as our tub.

Land of Nod has these great tubs that are soft plastic. They also have varies sizes which is great.
http://m.landofnod.com/kids-storage-collections/kids-storage-and-shelving/tubtrug-collection/f9573
When we were kids my mom would have us take "bird bathes" which was a shallow tub with less water. Super eco friendly and fun!

I think you are overthinking this. A three year can just take a shower with their parent. If they miss water play, give them a bucket of water and some toys outside.

I hate baths for myself, so never give them to my kids. I don't like sitting water in a tub. They always take showers, including the 6-month-old, sitting in a little mesh seat. My older child is almost four. Don't see why a three-year-old can't take a shower.

My two year old son loves taking showers. It started with consolidating our time by having him take showers with my husband, and now showers are his norm. Just make sure she has some fun bath toys to play with in the shower!

We have Tubtrugs for toy storage and they make a wide shallow one that we are going to use for a toddler pool this summer--about 3 feet in diameter and about 8 inches tall. Endlessly versatile and soft plastic...you'll get a lot of use out of them.

I second the handheld shower option. I have our three year old get in with me all the time; we have a double shower head, one with a regular one, and a handheld (think we got it at Walmart) and we turn both shower heads on. We use a super suction cup for holding razors (from Home Depot) to keep the handheld on the adjacent shower wall at his height. Works like a charm. She'll get used to it; don't panic. :)

I second giving her a shower. We've been giving our sons showers since they were born. Quicker, wastes less water since we shower at the same time and is more hygienic. Put down a nonslip bathmat and if you're uncomfortable with being undressed in the shower at the same time put on a swimsuit.

I went through this when our nephew visited. The only thing I bought (small apt, not a lot of room for more stuff) was a suction non-slip kid's tub mat. We did either (a) shower with him or (b) plugged up the bathtub combined with using a bucket to pour some (clean/fresh) warm water over him.

What do all these kids who don't like water in their faces do when they go swimming????

Maybe she would like a shower cap? Or just grab a bucket with soapy water and lather her up. As long as she is in the shower area and not getting sprinkled on, she will probably be ok. Baths can be utilitarian. She'll get lots of fun new playtime while she is staying with you. She may not need a protracted bath experience. We do this with just a bit of water in the tub for our son and call them "business baths" It gives us more family snuggle time before bed.

Amaranta - They keep their heads above water.