Hair dryers

I can't help you with the shared bathroom question, but I have been traveling to Europe for well over 30 years and I don't think I have ever stayed in a place that did not provide a hair dryer. So I would definitely not worry about that.

Just an FYI, you might want to post this question in the Rick Steves Tours forum, where other tour members might see it and respond.

From this page https://www.ricksteves.com/tours/rave-reviews-tour-hotels

Private bathrooms are the norm, but on a couple of tours a small chance exists that for one or two nights your bathroom may be down the hall (only if you see it listed under your tour's physical demands).

The Best of Tuscany tour page does not indicate there are any shared bathrooms on that tour.

We’ve been on numerous Rick Steves tours and there’s never been a hotel with a shared bathroom and there’s always a hair dryer. The only thing “missing” in European hotel bathrooms is a face cloth. So if you must have one bring your own.

If you don't see a hairdryer in a European hotel room, ask the front desk where they've hidden it. On very, very rare occasions (less expensive places), the hair dryer may have to be borrowed from the front desk.

I think there are only 2 tours that have the possibility of a shared bathroom. The 21 day Best of Europe (possibility of sharing in Switzerland) and the Best of Scandinavia tour has shared baths in Aero.

Click Physical Demands to see how it's listed:

https://www.ricksteves.com/tours/europe/europe-21-days
https://www.ricksteves.com/tours/scandinavia/best-scandinavia-tour

And yes, although I've not done the Tuscany tour every tour hotel I've stayed in in Italy had hair dryers (3 specific tours of Italy plus the 21 day Best of Europe that has a week in Italy).

I was on the Tuscany tour in October and all hotels furnished hair dryers and private bathrooms with either shower or tub/shower. Hotels were excellent and well equipped The Tuscany tour was more enjoyable than the Venice, Florence and Rome tour for me. Have the South Italy schedule for April.

Don't know about the Tuscany tour group hotels, but Pensione Guarrato, in Venice, where Rick Steves tour groups have stayed in the past (though don't know if they are still booking there), has several rooms on the top floor that share a bathroom. I have stayed at Pensione Guarrato several times, and twice met RS tour participants in the breakfast room. The last time I was there they assigned me a room with a shared bath on the top floor. That was the last time that I have stayed there.

Pensione Guarrato hotel is close to the Rialto market so it could be quite loud early in the mornings and smell a little fishy.

Pensione Guarrato ( sic - Guerrato ) hotel is close to the Rialto market so it could be quite loud early in the mornings and smell a little fishy.

Is the comment about a smell or noise from personal experience?

I ask because although I have stayed there 3 times and not heard any morning noise or smell perhaps others have done.

On a Friday or Saturday night there can be some noise from revellers but it ends before we go to sleep. I have never had any noise in the mornings.. And I have never had any fish smells.

I’ve never been on a RS tour but in 30 years of traveling to Italy even the cheapest budget hotels had hairdryers. In response to a previous commenter regarding facecloths: I’ve always found there to be sufficient towels of all sizes to be had in every hotel or BnB I’ve ever stayed at in all of Europe, including the Greek islands

It is not the norm to supply wash cloths in hotels in Europe. We always throw a few old raggedy ones in the top of the suitcase when traveling that we can then abandon if they get musty which they will if you have to throw them in a plastic. bag between hotels. Europeans who use washcloths usually use the mitt style which is hard to find in the US but which my husband likes to have in the shower at home, so we stock up on those along the way and then bring them home.