The 'Handiest Of All' Hotel Laundry Service That's Always Worth It, Per Rick Steves

At home and abroad, you eventually have to deal with laundry. Washing clothes isn't glamorous or fun, especially when you're on the road, but even the most free-spirited backpackers can't ignore that smell forever. Even if you pack your bag well to make sure you look your best on vacation, after days of walking around European capitals, trudging up stairwells in boutique hotels, and maybe getting caught in occasional rainstorms, you might still run out of passable clothes. Soon, people on the bus will start clutching their noses around you.

When you're traveling in Europe, laundry is one of those unspoken headaches that varies from place to place. Some cities, like Berlin, Athens, and Rome, are notorious laundromat deserts, where you can't find a washer-dryer combo to save your life. Even if hotels have self-service machines, you may find yourself competing with other guests. Americans should remember that at least 85 percent of U.S. households have their own washing machine, which is not the case in many parts of Europe.

As usual, travel master Rick Steves has some insight on this, thanks to a laundry-themed post on his website. "Ask your hotel to direct you to the nearest launderette," Steves advises. "In Western Europe, nearly every neighborhood has one; east of Germany, launderettes are less common. It takes about an hour and $10–15 to wash and dry an average-size load." But that's not the only way to get the job done.

In Europe, it's fairly common to have your laundry done for you. You can drop off your clothes at a launderette and request that they be washed, dried, and folded. This magical service does come at a price per kilo. For example, Laverie Privée, a laundry-washing company in Paris, charges about $43 for a 7-kilogram load (15 lbs.) This package includes ironing and delivery to your hotel, but many travelers would balk at this price. Americans expect to pay around $4 per load at an American laundromat — and again, for many U.S. nationals, laundry is almost free.

Then again, there's nothing quite as awful as rancid clothes and you may gladly bypass that experience for any number of euros. But what if a service isn't available, or they're backed up and can't finish the job for several days? Steves suggests a workaround: "You can pay your hotel to do your laundry. Regardless of the cost, every time I slip into a fresh pair of pants, I figure it was worth the hassle and expense." This is just one of the many things you may not know you can ask for at a hotel.

When all else fails, you can always wash your clothes by hand, using your room's sink or shower. You can't possibly find a cheaper option, and there's something satisfying about taking matters into your own sudsy hands. Not sure how to go about it? Steves has some suggestions for doing laundry in your hotel room, as well.