<BR>In France and in Italy, I have encountered a string in the shower that looks like a curtain pull. Yes, I've gently pulled it out of curiousity, but nothing happened. What is it for? Why is it there? <BR>Thanks for any insight you can provide.

It's supposed to alert the front desk that someone is having a heart attack or something. I pulled on it in various places with no response before someone told me that, so I wouldn't rely on it in the event of a real medical emergency.

It only works in an emergency! Haven't you also seen the tiny camera above the soap dish. They can see if you are suffering a true emergency or not. <BR>Big Brother is watching.

I don't know why, but you guys got me tickled...Glad you (neither of you!) weren't having a heart attack...and thank God!!! Apparently, the response time wasn't too good, was it?

Am I missing something here? Whay would they assume emergencies only happen in the shower? <BR> <BR>There must be another use for that thing. I've wondered about it, pulled it a couple of times and waited for something to happen/ring/turn off/etc. Nothing. <BR> <BR>If it is the shower emergency thing, can someone provide us a bit more detail? According to these answers many of us have tried it and no one came running to rescue us. <BR> <BR>If it isn't the shower story, can someone give us another option?

Its for hanging your soap on. You have soap on a rope but of course in America everything is bigger

I pulled it once, and 5 minutes later there was a knocking on my room door, and more knocking. Finally, I climbed out of the shower and opened it to find a housekeeper with an armful of towels. Since I hadn't requested extra towels, can only assume it was a reaction to pulling the string....

Just in case this is a serious question, the string is for drying clothes - if you extend it across the bath/shower recess you should find a 'catch' to which you attach the cord. You can then hang clothes on it to drip dru overnight

Maybe the housekeeper thought she'd need extra towels to mop up all the blood from a split scull from falling in the shower during a heart attack.

Jeeez Greg: You spoiled the fun! I was rather enjoying all the "other" uses....Paul J

Whay would they assume emergencies only happen in the shower? <BR> <BR>Because it is more likely that you will fall in a wet tub then on a dry room floor.

There are probably a number of tongue in cheek responses. Here are a couple. No offense is meant to our European friends: <BR>That string? Isn't it the (nonexistent) shower curtain? or it's the European version of the washcloth. ... <BR>Surely some of you can do better. <BR>

Disconnected energy-efficient bathtub telephone. Look around the room for the spent tin can.

Yep, honestly I can say they are in case of an emergency. My husband started pulling on one while taking a shower in Venice. Five minutes later the hotel manager was banging on my door, wondering who was ill in the shower... boy was my husband mortified. <BR>

I think the string is there in case you simultaneously want to floss ...something.

... or measure something.

Or tie to something so you can find it in case the water is really cold!!!

I am laughing out loud at these responses! and it's because my husband, too, got curious and pulled the string. Two minutes later ... banging, banging at the door. The housekeeper announced she was there to help the victim in the bathroom! So I guess they really are to be used in case of emergency -- or to amuse the Americans!?

Okay, guys, this thread goes together with "what is a bidet?". If you don't know, don't ask. The thing is for those of us who like to rinse out our "Unmentionables" at night. Just look a little closer (oposite side of wall) and you will see where the string goes..to make a little clothes line, "dummy". Incidentally, a bidet is for swabbing out the parts of the anatomy that are also "unmentionable" but could use a rinse after a day of touring, or "whatever".

Whoa! Seems as if there is a bit of confusion here. Seems as if there are two different kind of strings being discussed! One is that vertical pull-cord that is used in emergenices and the other is the horizontal clothesline that has the little do-hicky on the other side of the shower to attach it to (to which to attach it, for you purists). <BR> <BR>Sure hope this gets posted in time to prevent someone from pulling the clothesline in an emergency or flossing or measuring with the emergency cord. <BR> <BR>Love this board!