Our Fabulous Friday today is about hotels that offer their guests access to a laundry service room where you can use a coin-operated washer/dryer for a small fee to get your dirty laundry done quickly.
Usually, these are to be found at hotel brands that cater to extended-stay customers such as Marriott Executive Suites, Hyatt House, Conrad Residences but this week I found one at an Aloft hotel.
There are clear advantages to self-service laundry, one being the low price for a whole load of stuff to wash rather than paying a fortune for each pair of socks.
Also, I prefer to wash the items myself so I can control the water temperature and what detergent to use plus the turnaround time is much faster.
Washing is done in 45-60 minutes and if you need the dryer that’s another hour or so. I never had hotel laundry turned around in less than half a day and then it cost me extra for express service.
Certain things such as jeans I don’t like to put into the dryer and that’s hard to control when giving it to the hotel laundry, hence why I try to avoid it wherever possible.
The Aloft Seoul Myeongdong isn’t one of these extended-stay brands so I was definitely surprised when I first saw that they have a laundry room.
I usually carry my own detergent because the scent of some of the stuff you get is pretty bad. At certain grocery stores or drug stores, you can buy small packets with portion sizes for one wash. I tend to carry 2-3 of those on multi-week trips especially when traveling with hand carry only.
Conclusion
Self-Service Laundry is a great way to quickly get your clothes cleaned and avoid paying a fortune to the hotel while at the same time you can ensure your clothes are washed properly with the right temperature.
Hotels often have these facilities available and it’s worthwhile seeking them out when being on the road for several weeks or even months. At some point, you have to wash your clothes and I really hate traveling with dirty laundry in my suitcase so I try to turn it around at least once a week.