Our whirlwind European tour looks something like this:

3 nights London, 3 nights Paris, 2 nights Lourdes, 3 nights Venice, 3 nights Rome

I'm thinking of going to a laundromat in Venice. Is this a good idea? It seems to be such a confusing area. Would there be a few of them around?

And if I do take the above option, I have another question to those who suggest "dressier" clothes for a European tour. This would entail leaving my basic jeans and tees at home and since most of these dressier clothes cannot be put under a dryer, how am I supposed to manage this?

My other option is to wash the clothes myself at the hotel. But I've done this before and somehow clothes never do dry fast enough and I only have 3 nights average each city.

Help pls. Would really appreciate info on what you guys had actually done on your trips.

If I'm going to be in the same hotel for two nights, I try to wash something the first night--not the second night. If it is not dry when you leave, either wear it, carry it, or put in in a plastic bag and try again at the next stop. Ceiling fans help dry clothes. If it is raining outside, wait tell your next stop.

What areas are you planning to stay in Venice and Rome? I can tell you of a self-serve laundromat in the Cannaregio area of Venice and the Piazza Navona area of Rome.

Another option that I've used is to rent apartments with washing machines. Then, the clothes can be washing while you are sight seeing. Outdoor drying can become an issue in the cooler months, however, and at that point a laundromat dryer must be used.

I would probably want to go to the laundromat before I left Paris. But if you want to go just in Venice, here's a good choice:
http://tinyurl.com/e82b3

You can use the Internet while your clothes are being washed. This one isn't too far from the train station, so you could arrange to do your washing either going or coming from the train.

I always find this a real dilemma. I never use hotel laundries as they charge so much. You should be able to find a laundromat somewhere and get a service wash. Such a waste of valuable sightseeing time to stand over a washing/drying machine.
Whats this idea some fodorites have about the no jeans thing? I thought jeans were considered quite smart -(unless for old holey ones youd slouch around your house in)Going out at night you could wear separates-mix and match- more than once,couldnt you? Pack those t shirts and jeans and be comfortable!
If we are away for a longish holiday then we pack lots of older clothes that we can throw away,then theres room in the suitcase for buying new things!
Many a threadbare sock has been discarded in a hotel waste bin!!!

When Carylspall writes "Such a waste of valuable sightseeing time to stand over a washing/drying machine," it shows how different people's travel interests are. I am interested in seeing how other people live, so two hours in a laundromat with locals are more interesting to me as two hours wandering around looking at other tourists. I have had memorable experiences taking pidgin whatever with people in laundromats!

Ackislander, I would agree with you if the people I could find in laundromats were really locals I think locals do their laundry at home..

Lots of locals don't have laundry facilities at home so they send their clothes to a service laundry or go to the laundromat (laundrette). But it does seem a waste of time in Venice, of all places.

The problem with jeans is they are heavy and very difficult to get dry in European dryers. There are washable pants that are lighter weight and quicker drying. Lots of travel knits, for example, khaki pants, etc.

Jeans take a long time to dry and are uncomfortable to wear during the hot summer months in Europe.

If you do get laundry service at a hotel as a treat be sure to be VERY specific that you don't want you clothes ironed or you will get a hugh bill for it. Even then who knows? I foolishly had my hotel order laudry service out of sheer laziness and dispite giving them clear instructions, my laundry came back neatly folded and ironed with a 23EUro bill. Ouch.

Cheers!

Will you be taking along a travel iron? Ironing damp clothing is the perfect way to quickly dry your things. Plus you'll have a nice, crisp look.

I met this German "Granny" in Berlin and she showed me how to use the washer, spinner, and dryer. An interesting experience that I won't forget.

Well...there's only one laundromat here in Castellon, where I live. Sure people send their clothes to a laundry service but it's not because they don't have at home..it's because of the dry cleaning many things need..and it's not a cheap thing !! That's one of the most different things I've found between Spain and other countries..people uses much more often laundry services and are cheaper than here.

I would not take regular jeans to Europe in the summer time, they are heavy to pack and hot to wear. Find some khaki type alternatives. Same for heavy cotton t-shirts.

I would find a laundry where you drop it off and they do it for you, either end of Paris or beginning of Venice. I would only have one pair of "dressier" anything and would spring for a hotel to clean them, if they need it.

I never wash outer wear clothes in the sink but do keep up with undies or lightweight cotton or silk knit tops.