And I don't agree that you will have trouble finding a laundromat in Venice if that's where you're headed out of. We found a great one right by the Guglie bridge. There was even a cheap internet place right next door so you can wash and surf at the same time.

While some say they want nothing to do with a laundromat while on vacation, I'd personally prefer spending two hours in one every 10 days or so, than every night washing a few things out and having them hang in my face. That nightly washing out dirty socks and underwear gets old fast to me!

Patrick, I don't suppose the laundromat you used had a dryer, did they?

Oh yes. I've never seen a laundromat in Europe without dryers as well as washers.

A lot of them also still have mangles. They scare the heck out of me, but I love to watch people running their sheets and tablecloths through them.

That's good to know, Patrick. I've seen both in Paris, but in Italy I've always rented an apartment and only had a washer.

I'm returning in a few more weeks and plan to bring a couple pair of jeans, so it's good to know I can just pop them in a dryer at a laundromat rather than have them take eons to dry in the apartment.

Here's the laundromat in Venice that I used:
http://europeforvisitors.com/venice/...net-access.htm

However, there may be one more convenient for you.

I don't it necessary or desirable to avoid all work while on vacation. For a two- or three-week trip, that would feel ridiculously idle. Life doesn't stop, and I don't take along servants.

Nonetheless, I was very glad to find a place in Amsterdam (at 30 Amstel) where they did a load of laundry, including wash, dry, fold, and soap for 8.50 Euros. That included 15 minutes of Internet access too.

Send the laundry out and enjoy your vacation. Handwashing underwear is a ridiculous way to spend even one minute of three weeks in Europe. (I must say that I've not heard of any cruise ship that has a washing machine for guests, but that may be my own inexperience.)

If you choose the "throwaway" technique often mentioned on this message board, you will only have to send out your actual clothing and not socks and undies. That will save some $$.

You will love having your clothes come back from an Italian laundry, clean, beautifully pressed, and in individual plastic sleeves. It's like getting brand new clothes!

Ok, I'll begin by saying that it has been ten years since I did laundry in Italy, but I do remember leaving it at a service once in Florence and they did it all for me (saving my precious time). When I did laundry a week later in Rome at a laundromat, it cost me exactly the same amount! So keep your eye open for that kind of thing.

I've never been on a cruise, but might they provide an iron if you requested, like in some hotels? Save you packing one.

I would consider it ridiculous for me, not that it is ridiculous for you to consider it!

Get DH some fast-drying underwear, available at travelsmith.com and magellans.com. They dry easily overnight; so you can get along nicely with just a few. We take 3 pair of shorts with, along with some that are about at the end of their useful life to be worn once and discarded.

WillTravel - we used that same laundromat in Venice, the link brought back fond memories.

I really did not begrudge the couple of hours we spent in the area. Hubby and I took turns hanging around the laundromat and wandering in the area around us. We also had a fun conversation with a couple of young "backpack accross Europe" types who were washing everything they possibly could - I think it had been a while, LOL. Wish I had had the same opportunity at that age!

Thanks for the link WillTravel. That's EXACTLY what I'm looking for and it's right near our apartment.

Thank you all. A special Thank you to WillTravel.
You have reduced my stress level.
I will get DH to get over his obsession with Jockeys and try Tilley's.
OK no iron. As far as I can remember, Princess has washers and dryers. I'm not sure about HAL. Celebrity does not.
So.... if you should be in Venice on Oct. 1 or 2 and you see someone out side the Laundromat for a long time, tapping her foot, please stop by and say Hi.
Maybe, my new motto should be "Have old undies, Will travel."
Thanks again.

i love a happy ending. in googling-around i had found the statement on one atlas website, "there are no self serve laundries in Venice"... which clearly is not the case. leave it to fodorites. grazie.

Jeans make one look fatter than many other options. I never understood the fascination with jeans--at least real denim jeans. A material that is hot in the summer, cold in the winter, and takes forever to dry.

The only reason it was ever used for clothing is that it is cheap and tough.

I still say JC Penney Towncraft underwear is just as good as Tilley's or any other fancy and higher priced brand.