I use bath mat (towel type) but I also have area rugs over tile floors.
Funny thing - some people use them and some don’t. I’ll find the bath mat still folded but moved (I drape it over the tub edge) and my area rug will be soaked. WTF? Why wouldn’t you throw the bath mat down? Sigh.
Here is the mat I use:
Christy Lifestyle Supreme Hygro Cotton 20-Inch x 35-Inch Bath Mat in White
These are the rugs I use. They are all cotton on both sides. Personally I love them. Use them in my home too. They get a lot of bad reviews about falling apart in the wash but that has not been my experience and I’ve got some that are 10 years old. I have to wonder if the problem isn’t washers with agitators (I have a front loader and a top load without and agitator).
Wamsutta® Cotton 21-Inch x 34-Inch Reversible Bath Rug
Def. make something available for your guests who use the tub. I don’t have a stand alone tub but I do have a Jacuzzi tub with shower that I can tell gets used quite often.