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 would prefer that guests brought their own towels mainly because I'm not sure my laundry skills are up to scrap and the towels are very utilitarian and scratchy.

Taking your own towels is a bit odd - who wants to cart a damp towel round with them on the journey home for starters? When I was younger and we didn't have enough spare beds and things, friends would bring sleeping bags for the kids who enjoyed the indoor camping experience, but I still provided everyone with a towel. And, come to think of it, would have gone out and bought a couple of camp beds if they hadn't said they'd use sleeping bags.

I always provide towels for guests, but if I am staying with family I take my own. Extra guest washing is a pain and I try to minimise my impact on the host! (I am always delighted if a guests brings their own towel)

My guests get the special guest towels that I deem too good for us.

It's a bad day when you can't give a visitor a towel.

I visited a family member and was given what I can only describe as the oldest worn out towels I have ever seen . The next time I went ( flying long haul ) I took my own

I ask if I should bring my own - I realise that there might be situations where that’s just easier - and I’m never bothered either way.
I provide for guests when they stay, we have loads of towels (I’m always aware that I like to have two, one for hair and one for body).

Supplying towels is normal but people who provide their own might be particular about what detergent they're washed in, due to allergies or aversions to particular scents.

I’d take a towel when staying somewhere just to stop the host having so much work to do. Esp if going somewhere like parents for Christmas when they’re hosting 12 people and are a bit older.

I much prefer my towels also, they’re really big and quite rough. I find really soft towels horrible, they just seem to move the water around without really absorbing it.

Sometimes I bring my own pillow too as I like a pillow as flat as a bit of tracing paper and people always seem to have huge fluffy thick deep pillows

I'd always offer towels to guests, but some people might like to bring their own anyway.

We always provide towels, it's just what you do.

Host supplies everything including towels

When I host I always provide towels and equally would rarely bring a bath sheet. I do bring a small one for my hair purely because if it is freshly dyed there can be some transfer onto the towel.

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
Err, you know there’s another way around this workload problem?

I always take my own towels, it seems like a huge waste of water for two towels to have to be washed after just one or two uses.

I would provide towels if people visited but am always grateful if they bring their own!

I have “good” towels that are only brought out for guests. If someone produced their own I would feel it was a comment on my housekeeping!

I provide towels and generally expect to be provided with them if staying as a guest somewhere but my DM used to bring her own if staying overnight when DC were small to save with my washing load. We would also takes towels if staying at hers as it seemed to be expected for the same reason......

The only time I take towels is if we go on a caravan holiday.

I might take my own if staying at DP's family out of politeness but not if staying at mine.

Yes I supply towels.

I like to fold them and put a little hotel soap/shampoo on them.

But I then equally tend to say "I'd try my new shampoo/body scrub etc" so the hotel stuff never gets used. But then I still hoard more every hotel stay. And this I have an entire bathroom drawer full of "guest"

I do check though if I should take towels. I tend to if I'm staying with someone who I know would appreciate not having extra laundry as washing extra bedding is enough if you've got kids. If we're driving it's no hassle throwing in towels.

When I lived in a tiny place, there was no airing cupboard and I had to keep towels in a storage box. There was also no tumble drier and the outside space was a tiny yard with no sunlight. So when my best friend came over I would ask her to bring towels because initially she would want two towels (hair and body) plus I’d have to wash the sheets - the main issue being that I had nowhere to dry any of it apart from the living room so it was a bit annoying. And she had a tumble drier.
But now I live in a reasonable size house with a tumble drier so I don’t mind doing the hosting.

I usually bring a towel of a dark colour if a particular inconvenience is due... always provide because wet towels are a ballache to pack to go home...

When I was a working parent with 4 young DCs my DM would bring her own towel to save me doing the washing. It was a small gesture but made life just a little easier

I'd always provide towels and would never expect a guest to bring their own. Anyway how would you take a wet towel home with you!

After I got coated in cat hair using a towel after a shower at my in laws I’m going to start taking my own towel when we visit! But normally I think the host should provide towels

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

Errr.... tell him to do it himself, the lazy fuck