To think towels should be a basic in a self catering villa?

[DonkeyHohtay]

We're on holiday at the moment in Spain. Owners are french though, husband and wife. We arrived to find no towels in the villa so we asked - my french is really poor, my Spanish is a lot better but neither of them speak any English or any Spanish. Just french.

Anyway, long and short of it is that they dint supply towels. Nothing on the listing mentioning towels one way or the other, and perhaps it's our fault for assuming. But have just spent €50 in the supermarket for 5 bath towels. When I said in my rubbish french I was expecting towels I got the Gallic shrug.

Would you put towels in the same "basics" category as sheets for the bed, mugs and cutlery??

We have self catered in Spain and Portugal, always been provided with bath and hand towels, some places do beach towels too.

Yes I'd expect a couple of hand towels for the bathroom and a bath towel for each individual staying minimum

Yes towels should be provided.What did it say on the details when you booked it?

We're in a villa in Spain. We have been provided with towels. In France I think they work differently so maybe as they are French they don't think they should provide them

The only place we've been that hasn't supplied towels was in France. It was such a pain, I always now check details and won't book a villa that doesn't include them.

In France they are often offered as an extra, like having beds made up or cleaning.

Towels were not mentioned on the listing at all. We've stayed in dozens of places in the UK, Spain and Portugal and have always had towels. Not always beach towels but always bath towels.

Our fault for assuming but it didn't explicitly mention that they were providing sheets for the bed and plates in the cupboards either. And the woman's flat refusal to speak Spanish to me when she said she'd lived there for 20 years was irritating. French or nothing.

Not sure about France, but I've stayed in a couple of self catering places in the UK that didn't provide them. It was made clear beforehand though.

And after the villa we're moving on to a flat in Madrid for a couple of nights - lots of back and forward WhatsApp messages with owner regarding everything and she's supplying towels.

Must be a French thing. Even though we're in Spain.

No, on the continent I would not expect towels. They aren’t basics, they require taking, washing, returning by the landlord.

On the plus side, we have 5 new towels to take home.

It is pretty normal for towels not to be provided in French owned villas/gites. Sometimes they and /or bed linens are an extra.
This is gradually changing- but if they are not mentioned, it's best to ask.

I don't think you would expect towels to take out of a property (ie beach towels) but you probably would expect in-property towels.

My wife always wonders whether towels will be included, though.

Maybe you're lucky to get duvets and pillows in some places :)

But @BackOnceAgainWithABurnerEmail the same could be said for bed linen. And you wouldn't ever expect to lug your own sheets and pillowcases on holiday with you. Would you??

If I were running a self catering villa I'd expect to be cleaning between guests, changing beds and replacing towels, that's just standard.

If they weren’t specifically mentioned then no I wouldn’t assume they’d be provided. Whatever country I was staying in. Pain in the arse when they’re not though.

Lesson learned for sure. Will always be checking in the future.

And won't be booking anywhere that doesn't provide them!

I have had to take sheets and pillowcases with me before now, as well as towels.

And I have a large collection of bath mats bought over the years in a variety of locations where they haven't been provided

I would always assume that towels are included as well, OP. It’s a deal breaker if they didn’t provide towels, who wants to lug several towels on holiday with them! Massively inconvenient.

I've never stayed anywhere that you have to bring sheets! That's nuts, expecting people to bring their own bed linen.

Agree that yes it's a bind to have to bring your i n towels especially when space is limited in the suitcase. Towels are bulky.

Just provide them!

I have stayed in various places in France and have had to take towels and bedding (or pay extra to hire). As a result I check the listing's carefully now, I wouldn't assume they are provided if it is not stated on the listing. Going to Spain this year and just have to take beach towels.

It’s a pain in the ass but as I understand it this is a French thing

We were driving to France and had plenty of luggage space so didn't mind taking our own! It would have cost almost 50 euros!!!!

Never mind the towels. It's the hole in the ground toilets that are the problem.

How on earth do the women live to an old age?

Where in Spain are you? Most, if not all, regions now have a licensing system for holiday rentals and towels are on the need to be included list. If you want to frighten the owner, ask for her licence number.

ou est les serviettes?
pas de serviettes?

gallic shrug