I learned from my old 1970's bathroom to make sure the towels are as close to the on/off handles to the sink faucet as possible with our new bathroom update.

Never failed---just get the bathroom all spic&span and someone would wash their hands.
At that time it meant water drips across the sink/countertop, along the floor and across the top of the toilet seat when reaching for a towel.

I swear by towel rings, especially because we have some mighty small bathrooms in these 1950 S. Calif. tract homes.
Rings take up so much less room and for those people who don't/can't/refuse to fold the towels and place them nicely on the bar after use, having the towel ring instead keeps the towels looking a bit neater.

Right now I have two rings, off center of each other, about six inches from the vanity/faucet knobs.