Ok, I might be converted for life. These are SO absorbent, even on first use! (I did follow their suggestion of soaking them overnight before using them the first time). They're not soft and fluffy, but they're not scratchy either (once you soak them). They sort of feel like a big, soft dish towel? The way it absorbs is similar to a paper towel — it starts soaking up water immediately upon contact, and the wet spot spreads out across the towel until you're dry. It definitely dries my body faster than a traditional towel (it doesn't rub any water around like the towels you're used to). It's very thin and lightweight. After a shower, I dried off my whole body in like 15 seconds and then had my (long) hair wrapped in it for 15-20 mins, and the towel was completely dry in just a couple hours (WAY faster than a typical bath towel). I can't imagine these holding onto a musty smell like a bath towel either. I haven't tried it at the beach, but I would imagine under a hot sun, it would dry in well under an hour. The true color of the light blue is somewhere in between the first two photos listed (it's a little more of a true blue than the robin's egg or grey pictured—there's no green in it). I'd give it 4 out of 5 stars on the luxury front (it doesn't necessarily feel like something you'd get at a fancy hotel, and it will only hang wrinkle-free as pictured straight out of the dryer), but it's definitely nice, and I will totally take one star less on the overall luxury feel in exchange for the incredible performance and versatility. I'd 100% buy these again! When I can afford to, I'd love to get every family member their own set in their own color—would make home life and travel so easy.