Might seem like an odd post but you’d be surprised what I’ve discovered over the years about linen and travelling. If you are the type of traveller who is 5 star all the way, then this post is not worth your time reading! 5 star hotels/ cruises/ resorts will always provide clean fresh sheets and soft fluffy towels for all drying occasions.
However, if you are more the independent type of traveller, then read on!
What I’ve worked out is that many budget hotels/ Airbnb’s won’t supply linen! I know! Its in some ways pretty yuk to think about, yet I have known a few places that I have visited that have not provided linen.. Towels or sheets!
Therefore, I never go without two precious items in my pack/ suitcase… A very lightweight and “packs down to nothing” silk sleeping bag and some sort of travel towel. Both equate to “musts” in my kit.
The silk sleeping bag (its not thick- it’s thin & light weight) has been used on more occasions than I care to mention, and often because the linen provided is unclean. Little “friends”, commonly known as bed bugs don’t like silk sheets– so you can sleep away on a dubious looking mattress without the threat of waking up with new found “mates”. (Remember if you get these “mates” the only way to get rid of them is to BURN your clothing/ belongings… Definitely not ideal). I do feel a bit like a big grey slug sleeping in my silk sheet but if it means no bitey’s, then I’ll put up with the sheet any day of the week. Note if you are travelling to Malaria countries- your silk sheet is also helpful with mosquitos!!
Towels are another area where you can get caught out. I would guess that most people carry some sort of towel (especially if they are heading to warmer climes). I personally, don’t carry along a beach towel- I find they take up precious space! In my early days of travelling I carried with me a microfibre “tech-towel”. Which packed down very small, but was pretty average for drying your skin with– think of light sandpaper on your arm! On my first year out travelling, I discovered in Turkey, the wonders of their cotton Turkish towels at a hammam, and have not looked back since. My big beach towel and sandpaper “tech” special have both been donated to the local charity shop and I’m a complete convert to the cotton alternative.. Packs as small as a tech towel and feels great on your skin. Fortunately, you can now buy Turkish towels pretty much anywhere in the west, so you won’t have to go all the way to Istanbul to pick one up!
So my top tip– spend a few bucks and invest in two important items; a Turkish Cotton Towel and a Silk Bed sheet… You won’t regret either purchase!
Sleep tight!