klapenta

Any reccomendations for a place to do our laundry while in Florence?
(besides the hotel service) trying to keep the cost down.

charnees

t depends on where you are staying. I would ask the hotel for a "lavanderria". (lah-van-der-ria)

klapenta

We are staying at Antica Torre Tornabuoni on Via Tornabuoni.
I will ask at the hotel desk, but does anyone know of one near by?

zeppole

If you mean to do this laundry yourself in a coin-operated machine, you need to include the words "self-service" -- say it in ENGLISH -- when you ask the desk about a lavanderia. Otherwise, they will give you directions to someplace where you simply drop off your laundry at a place that will do it for you, and charge you.

There is little point in having Fodor's posters tell you about the self-service lavanderia they remember from previous travels. It could have closed. There could be one closer.

Ask your hotel desk. They probably have a better idea.

I'll add these 2 things, even though you didn't ask:


1) To me it would be worth it, in Florence, to pay the hotel service charge. I'd skimp on something else so as to not need to spend any time watching my clothes go through the very SLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW washing and drying machines they have in Italy.

2) I would only pack clothes I could wash in the sink and that dry overnight. And if I couldnt do that, I'd pack enough clothes to get me through my entire trip without needing to go to a laundromat.

That's how much I hate giving my travel time to being in a laundromat. I'd eat two yogurt lunches or none at all to avoid the laundromat.

klapenta

I agree, and I wouldn't give up too much time for laundry, so I will consider that, but I am sure that the service charges could really add up.
Besides, on our last trip to Rome, we ended up coming home with a great story about the "laundry nazi" ( our name for him)that ran the place we went to there! We had allot of laughs and it was a memorable afternoon, and that's what travel is all about, no?

zeppole

well, not "all" about. It is also about seeing the Fra Angelico and the Gozzoli I hope, which may not have time to do if you are watching the laundry spin. Fiorentini are nowhere near the laff riot Romans are, so don't look forward to the laundromat too much.

alane

we are traveling for 2 weeks and taking only 5 days worth of clothing. i will do the drop off in the am and pick up in the pm deal and spend the money.

mari5

We usually have a car....and sometimes go to laundrymats in the suburbs. As the poster above said.....it's a great way to see local people, perhaps trying to converse with them in their language, and experience how the locals live and do their laundry. Might take a couple of hours,,, but sometimes more fun and educational than a trip to what might be an uninteresting museum.
And often travel is just about that: unique experiences.
(I always say; If we're away for 12 days I take "enough" essentials for 12 days....if we are gone 2 weeks, 14 days..I take enought for 7 days and do laundry once.
We've had laughs where there was no attendant and we couldn't find where to put the coins, Other times lots of comical things,,,but the majority of the attendants are wonderful, helpful, trying to make their living, very friendly.
Without a car it might a little more difficult. though in a city like Florence one could taxi.
(and some towns and cities just do not have coin laundries)

Jean

In the past, we've gone to the drop-off type laundries, but on the last couple of trips we've used the hotel laundry service for things not easily washed in the sink. In the end, soooo much easier. I just include the cost in my travel budget.

We've never gone to a self-service lavanderia, and I too would rather skimp somewhere (preferably before or after the trip) than spend a minute of my vacation watching my clothes. I do enough of that at home.

mjs

As of a few years ago there was a laundromat near the train station. It was not far from the Via Tornabuoni. Do not mind doing laundry while we travel. Sometimes we drop off and sometimes we do it ourselves. Tend to meet interesting locals, students and fellow travelers.

SeaUrchin

A few years ago there was a self serve laundry near Via Faenza, 26. Not far from the central market. We had a pleasant time there, made some friends, etc.

klapenta

Thanks everyone, will take the info with us.
Just so you all know that we are not just trying to save money, but we also are afraid to send our stuff out and have it come back a size or too smaller! The gelato breaks will do enough damage!!!