Should I expect visitors to bring their own towels?

[xcurlyluciex]

Ok, so scenario got me thinking - not entirely sure what is right or wrong here, so just asking for opinions.
PIL visit us every couple of months. They travel 200 miles each way and usually only stay one night. They don't bring their own towels, so I provide them with a clean one each.
My DM & DF also visit same number of times but always bring their own towels to use.
BIL visits, never brings a towel (or much else for that matter)
It's got me thinking - if you go visit family/friends do you take your own towels? I don't usually, but now I'm thinking I should. I know you get towels if you stay in a hotel, but if you went to say a holiday you might not. Is there some towel etiquette?

I don't bring towels but if we're only staying a night I try to bring sleeping bags.

I don't mind washing an extra couple of towels but hate having to wash a whole set of sheets.

I provide my guests with towels but I always pack my own towels if I’m going to stay at someone’s house so I really don’t know what the proper etiquette is! But I can’t imagine not providing towels just in case the guests needed them so they don’t have to ask.

Host supplies but I always bring my owndon't like the thought of using towels that have dried someone else's fanny

I have never once witnessed a guest bringing their own towels to a private residence, and I never would or expect my guests to. Maybe your in-laws don't care for how you do your laundry. How odd.

MIL always insists on bringing her own pillow. I know I shouldn’t be offended but the unspoken harrumphing subtext that says I am not providing sufficient comfort means I do find it irritating. She used to bring towels too, but seems to have got over that now.

Host supplies all linens.

I always take towels unless I'm staying for 3 or more days, as it seems wasteful to expect the host to wash towels after just one use.

They may be 'the host', but they're also usually family, not a hotel chambermaid. And using towels only once is bad for the environment.

Maybe if this was an Air BnB situation, definitely not for family.
I expect towels in an Airbnb.
Every place I have been to provides them, who is going to use their carry on allowance when travelling on towels?

And I bring my own pillow sometimes too. I suffer from allergies and if all they have is feather pillows, I will bring my own.

Having said that, when guests come, I always supply towels if needed. But often they bring their own for precisely the same reasons I do.

Surely the host always provides towels? I always provide towels for guests, and have always been provided with towels when staying with friends and family.

Thanks everyone.

I agree, host should supply and I never take one with me.

No idea why DM insists on bringing her own but she has the tendency to pack everything but the kitchen sink for only a few days away. If I go and stay with them though I don't get given my own towel, but I go and hunt one out of the airing cupboard myself. I'm only comfortable doing that because it's the home I grew up in, I know where everything is.

Staying with PIL, never got given a towel either thinking about it, had to ask for one.

Dh has a flat in London, a few friends from back home have asked if they can stay over as its handy for nipping into town for events/shows.

He tells them to bring their own bedding, pillows and towels as in his words "its not a hotel". Normally its a weekend or just one night. Everyone drives up and has free parking in his bay. Nobody complains, they are very grateful to save on hotel costs.

The thing is the flat isn't set up as a permanent home, Dh doesn't use his washing machine he brings everything home to me that needs washing so providing towels and bedding increases my workload.

I supply towels for guest and don't take my own when I visit. I wouldn't be bothered if I was asked to bring some though.

It looks like it might be a generational thing, judging by how many people have said their parents or in-laws take their own. My mum is always asking me if I've packed a towel when I'm going somewhere overnight, even when I'm staying in a hotel. I mean, even the most budgety of the chains provides towels!

I'd feel like a bad host if I couldn't provide my guests with towels and bedding. I think I would be mildly insulted if they brought their own, like they thought mine weren't clean or something.

I always provide a stack of towels for each guest - 2 bath, 1 hand, 2 face cloths, and tell them where the spares are and to help themselves.

It depends who I visit whether I take towels or not.

Always supply guests with towels and bed linen obviously.

My DM brings her own towels too.

I never take towels and I always provide them to guests

I'm a bit contrary Mary, I hate creating work for hosts so if we're driving, ie room in the car I'll take towels with me, flying no because they take up too much room in a case. Tbh we prefer to stay in hotels rather than in people's homes. As far as visitors to us go I always provide fresh towels for them same way I provide a bed made up with clean sheets.

Bringing towels is weird

My Mum and Dad bring towels (and sometimes bedding) to save me the job of the extra washing. I tell them not to worry but they do it anyway (and I don’t mind as it does save me a job )

I think it's good manners to at least offer to bring towels and bedding esp if you are only staying for one night and/or you stay regularly.

I’ve brought our/DC’s towels and the DC’s bedding with us a few times to friends’ houses and they do the same when staying with us. It’s a good idea IMO - saves an additional job for the host and saves having to wash towels and bedlinen after just one use.

However these are good friends and it’s sort of happened organically. If staying somewhere new I’d expect a towel, and would always provide towels to guests.

I'd never think to bring towels and nobody brings them when staying with us.