The Bathroom Essential Many Hotels In Europe Don't Provide, According To Rick Steves

If you're traveling to Europe from another part of the world, you might be in for a surprise when you step foot in your hotel bathroom. In some European countries, you may find only a half-door in the shower, which can flood the floor if you're not careful. Then there are the toilet facilities, which may include both a standard toilet and a bidet in places like Italy and Portugal. But according to Rick Steves, one thing you might not find in a European hotel bathroom is a towel to wash yourself with.

The travel expert wrote about European bathrooms on his website, sharing that towel culture can be a tad different from what some travelers are used to. Towels to dry yourself with are the norm, but washcloths — a bathroom essential in many people's showering routines — are a rarity in most hotels. If you use a washcloth to help scrub away the day's dirt and sweat, Steves suggests packing one with you in your luggage.

One word of caution: Even if you do find a small towel that appears to be a washcloth, it might have a different purpose than you think. Small towels placed next to the bidet are meant for your nether regions — not your face or body in the shower. This is one part of the unspoken towel rule in Italy and some other European destinations.

In your bathroom at home, washcloths might be just as standard as soap and shampoo. However, many Europeans don't expect to find small towels when staying at a hotel. For one, some people in Europe don't rely on washcloths to get clean in the shower. Instead, they may use a sponge, a brush, a mitten, or even their hands to suds up. As a result, washcloths are deemed unnecessary in hotels and aren't provided the way large bath towels are.

For those who do use a washcloth, they're accustomed to bringing their own when going on a trip. In Europe, a washcloth is viewed as a personal item, similar to a toothbrush or underwear. Just as you probably wouldn't want to use these items after someone else, Europeans typically don't want to scrub their body with a towel a stranger used to wash themselves with. On top of that, not everyone has the same preferences when it comes to towel size, thickness, and coarseness. The custom of bringing your own washcloth in Europe ensures everyone showers the way they feel most comfortable.

Towels are the one household item you should always pack, and that can include small, compact washcloths. To avoid bringing home a damp rag (and mildewing everything in your suitcase), Rick Steves suggests opting for a quick-drying type. Look for a thin microfiber washcloth made of polyester, nylon, or polyamide. If your go-to towel doesn't dry quickly, see if your hotel room has a heated towel rack (another common feature of European bathrooms) to place it on. For long trips, consider packing more than one washcloth or be prepared to launder it as you go.

To keep your travel bag light and lean, it's also worth considering doing as some Europeans do and forgoing washcloths altogether. In their place, pack a small, lightweight loofah or body sponge. You can even get creative with items you already plan to bring on your trip — hey, who says a sock can't double as a washrag? You can also try changing up your routine and using nothing more than your hand and some soap bubbles, as many of the locals in your destination likely do.