Lame question about laundromats in Europe..
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 721
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Lame question about laundromats in Europe..
Ok guys. I have been to Europe many times, however..I have never done a load of laundry in my life. I don't feel like learning just before a trip. I usually just pack a lot if I'm going on a long trip.
Well, I'll be gone for three weeks and don't really want to take a huge bag..
At most places here (nyc), one can drop off clothes at a laundromat and have it done for them. Do they have this service at European laundromats? I will need to get laundry done in Paris, and possibly Budapest.
Any help? No flames please
Christine
Well, I'll be gone for three weeks and don't really want to take a huge bag..
At most places here (nyc), one can drop off clothes at a laundromat and have it done for them. Do they have this service at European laundromats? I will need to get laundry done in Paris, and possibly Budapest.
Any help? No flames please
Christine
#2
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 3,227
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If you are not going to do it yourself, then here in Spain you should go to a "tintoreria" (dry cleaner's ), they also do the laundry for you, not just dry clean In some cases , there are people to help at laundromats but there are not many here. Where in Europe you want to go ? You know, it's very different from country to country...
#3
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 49,560
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I don't know about Budapest, but Paris and every other European city I've ver been in has laundromats where you can drop your clothes off and pick them up cleaned.
In France they are generally called blanchisseries. You'll need a bit of French vocabulary to choose from the options: just washed and dried; washed, dried, and pressed; drycleaned, etc.
And be prepared to pay a small fortune.
In France they are generally called blanchisseries. You'll need a bit of French vocabulary to choose from the options: just washed and dried; washed, dried, and pressed; drycleaned, etc.
And be prepared to pay a small fortune.
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 721
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Kenderina and Suze, I did say in my post Paris (France) and Budapest (Hungary)..of course it varies from country to country, that's why I specified!
StCirq, thank you for your reply..it sounds like I won't have too much of a problem with that in Paris (My french is pretty good)..maybe I'll skip trying to get it done in Budapest!
StCirq, thank you for your reply..it sounds like I won't have too much of a problem with that in Paris (My french is pretty good)..maybe I'll skip trying to get it done in Budapest!
#11
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 12,820
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
One of the things I appreciate about Rick Steves is that he often gives names and addresses of laundromats in the helpful hints section of his guidebooks.
I travel with only a 22" suitcase, no matter how long I'll be gone--last summer it was for nine weeks--so being able to find a laundromat from time to time is essential.
I've used them in Salamanca, Chester, Siena, and I don't recall where else.
I travel with only a 22" suitcase, no matter how long I'll be gone--last summer it was for nine weeks--so being able to find a laundromat from time to time is essential.
I've used them in Salamanca, Chester, Siena, and I don't recall where else.
#12
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 12,820
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Oops! Didn't pay close enough attention. I was concentrating on do-it-yourself places. I didn't see anything listed in Rick's France guide, anyway, but it's an old one.
I'd be very surprised if there were not lots of places where you could drop off laundry, although that would depend on the location of your hotel.
I'd be very surprised if there were not lots of places where you could drop off laundry, although that would depend on the location of your hotel.
#13
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,247
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Don't know where you are staying in Paris but close to the 5th and the 6th , there is a drop off laundramat on rue de Grand Augustines. I finally learned how to do it myself on our month long trip this year. Went to ta place on rue de Seine, loaded the clothes, stood in front of the machine to pay and looked stupid. Someone came right over and helped me, looking stupid always elicts a helpful response. Started the machine , went across the street to Paul and by the time I finished breakfast the clothes were ready for the dryer. Walked along the rue de Buci market and shopped for a bit then went back to fold and take the stuff back to the hotel!
#14
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 331
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I've done my own laundry in Paris, Madrid, and the Cotswolds; dropped it off at laundromats where they wash, dry and fold (not iron)in Berlin and Florence; and had it done at laundry/dry cleaners in London. The first option is, of course, cheap; the second not bad; and the third pricey. However #3 isn't nearly as expensive as having them done by the hotel, which I've also done. In Madrid my wife and I spent a pleasant morning doing our laundry, going around the corner for hot chocolate and churros, and helping a young Spanish soldier who knew nothing about doing wash. So staying around the laundromat proved, in this case at least, to be a nice way to meet a local whom we otherwise wouldn't have encountered. We found the Madrid laundromat in the Lonely Planet guide beforehand; in Paris it was a target of opportunity, located diagonally across from the hotel. When I travel, I always think out how I would live wherever I am, so taking time out for laundry can be travel enhancing, whether I meet locals or not.
#17
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,755
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Miss Z...Although I am not a fashionplate, I usually am tidy and told I smell "good" by he who matters. I travel light and never sink to the laundry mat. I am very careful about selecting clothes and do hand washing in the sink. It takes 5 minutes if done on an as used basis...just take some cold water powder (woolite for example)..totally hastle free and the price is right. The only difficult thing is carefully considering what you pack.
#18
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,149
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I've done my own laundry in Paris which was actually pretty easy at the laundromat.
I have also used hotel laundry service in St Remy which was ridiculously expensive. Next time I will probably do the laundry myself.(8 euros for 1 pair of underwear!!)
I have also used hotel laundry service in St Remy which was ridiculously expensive. Next time I will probably do the laundry myself.(8 euros for 1 pair of underwear!!)
#19
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,571
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Some Paris laundromats will do "bulk" washing, without ironing, which is considerably less expensive. Some dry cleaners also do washing, at least of shirts and the like. Some places farm out the whites that customers bring them such as bed linen, and in that cases the delivery time can be pretty long, as much as a week