No problem on the fan/light combo - check into Fantech. They make great fans. I have them in all my baths, some with the hallogen light which makes the shower look gorgeous. Make sure you get a 60 minute auto timer for the fan - proper ventilation will help avoid mildew and other problems in the future.

I would choose a large format field tile (like 12x18 or 12x24) that does not require white grout, that way you will minimize the grout lines. There are lots of stain-resistant grouts these days some can be sealed, some can have a boost added. Or epoxy grout.

Just do set aside a little $$ for some sort of accent tile, mosaic or feature. You can place it above or out of the main water zone for easier maintenance. Once you have a nice shower you may not mind sealing it or scrubbing the grout on occasion. Or even wiping it down after the last morning shower.

Corian or an other acrylic solid surface lookalike would be a fine choice. It wouldn't be any cheaper than a custom tile shower, but it would be much easier to clean.

A fan sounds like a great idea.

My thoughts on the solid surface shower: we put one in our new basement bath, Sterling Accord brand (made by Kohler, I think) and it does provide the ultimate easy-clean surface. Ours has little built-in nooks, and ADA grab bars, so there are some really nice features. I'm not swooning over how it looks, but it sure is practical and I have no regrets.

If practical is what you want, what's holding you back? Are you concerned about resale? If so, the decision depends on your timeline for eventual sale. If you'll be in the house for a long time, think about whether styles/preferences might change before you decide to sell. It's hard to predict what someone else will prefer in 10 years. If you choose tile, avoid trendy materials and go for something relatively timeless that goes with the style of your house. Large scale tile would be great in a mid-century or modern style house. In my house, our main bath is done in plain white subway and 6x6 field tile so that it fits with the traditional style of the rest of the house. Not horrendous grout lines to maintain, and really nice looking. I agree with phyll that an accent tile (shape or color) is a great feature to include. Ours makes the shower look like an intentional aesthetic choice and not just a functional one.

Thanks for your advice and comments. It all helps!

I love my plastic shower enclosure. I also have a slate shower, very pretty, but very high-maintenance. The plastic (acrylic?) requires minimal maintenance, even after 20 years, and like you said, it's always squeaky clean and nice to touch. It's not cold on the feet, either. I don't mind the appearance because it is plain white with a plain white tub. With fancy glass doors in an antique glass pattern, you can't see that it's plastic anyway unless you peek over the doors.

musicteacher, your shower sounds exactly like mine. I have a 30 year old shower with 4x4 white tiles on the floor, walls and ceiling, and mold and mildew in the grout. I'm in the process of trying to decide what to replace it with (although I'm a little scared of what they will find when they start tearing that old tile down). I love the look of new tile showers, with the 12x12 tiles on the walls and mosiac tile floors, but I'm just so sick of grout, I'm seriously considering some kind of solid surface, or cultured marble. I've seen showers made out of slabs of pure white cultured marble that did not look bad. Still a few grout lines, but not many. Tile is much prettier, though.