RS 21-day questions

I don't think I have ever seen a washcloth in an European bathroom. My husband always brought one from home. In my experience the towels are rather on the thin(ner) side but have always done the job adequately!

Very rare to ever see a washcloth. Towels will be fine.

If you bring a microfibre one it will help with laundry in the sink moments.

We just got home after 2 weeks in Europe. The towels were fresh every day in the hotels we stayed. However, only one bath towel each, no hand towel or wash cloths. So, if you feel you need a wash cloth, bring a micro fiber one that will dry fast. You don't want to pack a wet towel in between cities.

Or you can bring disposable face-washing towlettes. Wet, wash, toss. Very little extra weight.

As the others have mentioned, I've yet to see a washcloth in ANY of the hotels I've used in Europe. The towels will vary from one hotel to another. In many cases, you'll be provided with the same type of thick terry cloth towel used in this part of the world. In a few cases (often in Italy) you may find a thinner towel in the bathrooms, almost like a dish towel. Not the best but they do work.

We just returned from this tour. Our final hotel in Paris (Hotel Muguet) was the only hotel that had washcloths, actually sort of a wash-mitt. We packed a microfiber facecloth and nylon scrubber cloth and used those at the other hotels. All the hotels provided bath towels and hand towels. In Italy, you will also get extra hand towels to use with the bidet.

Or buy one of those big packs of cheap washcloths at Target. Then just leave them behind as you use them.

In my experience, hotels will give you more towels if you ask for them.

You will always have bath towels in your room. Typically one per person. You can always ask for more at the front desk. You will however not see hand towels or wash clothes. Wash clothes are an American thing. If you like wash clothes I would bring some from home. We also sell a set of 2 washcloths in our store. They are microfiber and dry quickly and don't get mildew or smelly. I would recommend those. Here's a link to see them. http://travelstore.ricksteves.com/catalog/index.cfm?fuseaction=product&theParentId=150&id=455

Jenn, perhaps your answer is unique to the 21 day BOE tour, but, on the three tours we took this year, we always had two bath towels, hand towels (usually two), and a bath mat. Never any washcloths.

Have just returned from the RS 21-day BoE tour. As for washcloths--we brought our own: 15 from the Dollar Store, one to be left each time we changed hotels. Bath towels were there at every stop, and curiously, sometimes, a linen-like towel for each of us. Not a bath towel, but a linen or damask fabric. And, some interestingly designed shower facilities with drains that required that the shower water must flow to the center of the floor, thus creating a potential for slippin' and slidin' away..... Otherwise a wonderful tour with an exceptional variety of visits at each stop. The best of all: our tour guide, Stephanie. What a treasure!!!

Wash cloths are not an "American thing," just not European. They were in all but one of the 8 Irish hotels I stayed in. In London, they haven't always been automatically supplied, but when I asked (they call them flannels), I got stacks of them. Had them all over the Far East too.