What is the use of all these towels?

Question

I stayed at hotels in different places, and each hotel provides different set of towels. But sometimes I don't know what is the purpose of each towel!

For example, attached two photos from a en-suite-bathroom in a businesses-European hotel, with 4 different towels.

I think that 1 is to use after shower (large towel) and 3 is used after washing hands. But what is 2 and 4 used for?!

Answer 1

It is difficult to get the size of the towels. So it is hard to link the numbers to exact functions, also because the locations are not standard. In general you will get a towel to

1. dry yourself
2. dry your hands
3. as foot mat to step on after getting out of the shower/bath
4. as cover for your body/hair

I would guess that in your picture 4 is the for the floor. 2 is either to dry yourself, or to use it to cover yourself.

In the end, I guess you are free to use them as you like. Other functions:

• You are free to lie on it while your partner gives you a massage for example.
• Kill a fly.
• Shoulder pad to collect drips from wet hair.

Answer 2

Depending on the hotel, there could be several instances you require a towel, and different ones with different sizes for each of these. Without a great sense of scale we'll have to guess at which is which in your photo, but in general you may need them for:

• bath/shower towel
• hand/towel
• spa towel (may cover part of body)
• massage towel (may cover part of body, but this is more likely to be at the masseuse than in your room)
• face towel (smallest of the lot)
• swimming towel - you don't necessarily want to take your wet shower/bath towel to the hotel pool, or use your salty beach towel in the shower

Naturally each hotel will differ on their interpretations of their needs, given their facilities, how much you are paying, and what they expect you to use.

Answer 3

Where I'm working they have 4 different ones. I'll start from biggest then to smallest:

• Towel - To dry off after a shower
• Bath - To step on after shower
• Hand - used to dry hands after you wash them. Duh
• Face - the smallest towel for the face

Answer 4

Look at the thing, use it as you would use a towel of the same size and consistency at home. As said, the one in the shower stall is almost certainly not a towel at all but a floor mat to prevent you slipping when drying yourself after stepping out of the shower (and soak up the water you drip on the floor).
There's really no mystery to towels (apart from maybe regional differing customs).