It is not glamorous, but it always pays off and most people never think about it until their luggage is overflowing.
The Cost Problem
Cruise ships and hotels charge a serious premium for laundry. On a cruise, individual items can easily cost $3 to $5 each, and hotel laundry services are not much better. For anyone on a longer trip, those costs add up fast and often go unnoticed until the bill arrives.
The Local Launderette Alternative
A local launderette costs a fraction of what cruise or hotel laundry charges, and you get a full load done at once rather than paying per item. It also means you can pack less from the start, since you are washing as you go rather than carrying enough clothes for an entire trip.
Less luggage, lower costs, and one less thing to plan around.
The Unexpected Bonus
While you wait, you are sitting in a real neighbourhood away from the tourist areas. Ask the staff for recommendations. Where locals actually eat, what is worth seeing nearby, and what to avoid. Some of the best local tips come from casual conversations in places like this, simply because the people working there live in the area and are not trying to sell you anything.
A chore becomes one of the more useful parts of the trip.
Worth Building Into Longer Trips
If your trip runs more than a week, factor in a launderette visit partway through. It saves money, reduces what you need to pack, and often leads to a better local experience than anything found in a guidebook.
Have you ever used a launderette while travelling? Comment below.