There's a heated debate - do you do laundry on vacation?

[AnnaS]

We hang dry a lot at home too - even jeans - I give them a few minutes in the dryer and then hang.

I hang many items while on vacation too. If the time is not there for them to dry while away - I will wash those few items when we get home.

 

[Talent312]

This reminds me of laundry day near San Gimignano, IT.
We set time aside, only to find it was a holiday. No services.
We washed clothes in the sink and hung 'em all over to dry.
.

 

[dougp26364]

I pack enough for 2 days. That plus the clothes I’m wearing the day we travel makes three days total. I also pack a pair of slacks and a polo shirt in case we go out somewhere that jeans and a t-shirt might be appropriate. I’ll toss a load in EOD.

I prefer to return home with clean laundry as it makes unpacking a little easier. One way or another, you’re going to have to wash those clothes. Tossing in a load before heading out the door for an activity and then putting them in the dryer when we get back is no big deal. With the smaller loads it’s not even a chore

 

[rickandcindy23]

I don't like taking dirty clothes home from vacation in our suitcases. I do laundry constantly on vacation.

 

[Talent312]

To the OP:
This doesn't sound like a "heated debate,"
but rather, a "how I do it" conference call.
.

 

[dayooper]

It all depend on the resort. If there's a washer and dryer in the unit, we will do 2 loads. One mid stay and another to have clean clothes when we get home. If it's a lousy washer/dryer like in the room I had in HGVC Elara, we won't do laundry either.

 

[jehb2]

I always use to bring along a gallon ziplock bag of powdered laundry detergent. I was always slightly nervous that I would get stopped for carrying a “white powdered” substance. That never happened until 9/11. Apparently detergent is used in bomb making. So one Hawaii trip I got pulled over a couple of times for additional screening because my detergent was detected and that was it for me. Now I suck it up and buy detergent when I get to my destination.

 

[geist1223]

We have never got stopped for Cloth Washer Pods or Dish Washer Tabs.

 

[jehb2]

We have never got stopped for Cloth Washer Pods or Dish Washer Tabs.

That’s correct. I actually used the detergent sheets for a while. But then I noticed they started leaving spots on my clothes. And I found that was the case for others as well.

 

[Janann]

If it's a lousy washer/dryer like in the room I had in HGVC Elara, we won't do laundry either.

Ha, I just got back from the Elara, and we go about once a year. A few years ago we had a bad experience with the machine, and I ended up hauling a kitchen trash bag of wet laundry downstairs to the shared laundry room. We had a plane to catch, and I wanted to spin out as much water as possible before packing the bag of wet clothes. At least the luggage wasn't overweight.

On this trip my husband wanted to test out the machine with a towel just to see if it had improved, but I didn't even want to deal with it.

 

[Janann]

This thread reminds me of my favorite "doing laundry" memory. We were somewhere in the Caribbean, and the laundry facility was a stand-alone building on the beach. I started the laundry in the late afternoon, and then had most of the beach to myself in a sand chair near the building. It was a pleasant way to spend a couple hours.

 

[Skicop]

I am not happy if i make a trade and the resort does not have any laundry facility available. I like having laundry available as i can pack less for travel knowing that i can do wash to get thru the trip. In unit laundry is optimal but coin op laundry room is ok. but none is not ok. . I love going home with clean clothes, give me a jump start on the return to home life.

 

[NOLA47]

Having accessibility to a washer and dryer is one of the advantages to a vacation home/timeshare vs a hotel. It is so convenient especially when the kids are with us.

 

[PDX Matthew]

My husband is kind of obsessed with doing laundry, so we try for units with a washer and dryer in them so I am not spending time going back and forth from the laundry room. Doing laundry doesn’t mean we pack less.

 

[boraxo]

Doesn't the answer depend on the length of the vacation and the type of accommodation?

For a one week timeshare stay we usually bring enough clothes for the week but often do a load or two of laundry covering gym clothes. Note we typically limit everyone to one 22" suitcase + carryon bag so we don't have to check luggage. But for timeshare we will often bring one checked bag for shoes, sunscreen, etc. Having in-unit laundry is a huge perk of timeshare stays. I sure would not worry about prior occupants. Do these people not understand how laundry machines and hot water work? Your bigger concern should be bed bugs.

We just finished a one-week trip to DC/NYC (hotels). The weather was cold, but we had zero checked bags and everyone survived just fine! To be fair some shopping was done in NYC which resulted in carrying a large shopping bag on the return flight, but the airlines do not care. No checked bags = no lost luggage. No laundry done or needed.

We sometimes take 2 week international vacation trips. On these trips we pack the same as we do for timeshares, but always make sure there is a place we can do laundry halfway through the trip, or alternatively at the 5 and 10 day marks. If we rent a villa for a week (timeshares are not an option in many places) then laundry is super easy. Otherwise it is not fun spending an hour or two doing laundry (and locating a laundromat) BUT it sure beats hauling large suitcases through train stations not to mention finding a rental car large enough for everything. And definitely beats lost/delayed luggage.

 

[lockewong]

My husband is always telling me that I am addicted to washing laundry on vacation. Like everyone else, when we have hot and sandy kids, it is a great advantage to have a timeshare with a washer and dryer. The kids can wash up and tub, while I toss the laundry into the unit washer and dryer before our next activity. We travel very light and have bathing suits and shorts. For ski trips, it is mandatory to do laundry. We are wet and often sweaty and cold. Everyone takes a hot shower while I cook a hot meal and do laundry. It makes for a great feeling to return home knowing the clothes are packed clean. It is more relaxing for me to come home with less to do after we unpack.

 

[Eagle7304]

I don't like taking dirty clothes home from vacation in our suitcases. I do laundry constantly on vacation.

We’ve found that dirty clothes actually add weight to your bag weight, especially in humid climates. We’ve been close to 50 pounds and had to backpack some clothes so not to pay a penalty

 

[pammex]

I rather not but if there is a washer/dryer in unit likely so.

 

[Passepartout]

To be brutally honest, I'm NOT the best wardrobe preparer. My DW has everything packed- day 1, day 2, beach day, 'just in case of rain' indoor day, etc. Me, I kind of look out the window and decide what to wear that day. It might be T-shirt & shorts, or a polo or whatever. Am I going to dress for dinner out in a nice restaurant, or a rib joint? It's nice to have access to a laundry to increase the choices, and when possible, I'd rather pack clean clothes to come home than dirty.

 

[Dogleg]

I just can’t bring home dirty clothes….I went with clean clothes and will return with the same!!

 

[missyrcrews]

I must have access to a washer and dryer. No laundry (at least in the building) is a deal breaker for a trip longer than a long weekend.

 

[pedro47]

We do laundry at our timeshare resort; plus, the resort provides two (2) small boxes of laundry detergent. That is two (2) loads of dirty cloths. We have no reason to take home dirty clothes from our vacation.

 

[chriskre]

I always do laundry mid week and the night before I leave.
Let's me pack lighter, use their electricity and water and nothing beats
coming home with clean clothes and just unpacking and putting things away right away.
Perks of the TS lifestyle.

 

[Kaelyn]

Typically, yes, but not much. If I'm going to HI, it's all shorts and light t-shirts anyway. If I pack for 4 days of mix & match type stuff, 2 swimsuits, I can still fit all that, and my snorkel gear into a carry-on, but I prefer to use a slightly larger bag, and check it. The slightly more dressy clothes I'll wear on the plane are sufficient for any "nicer" restaurant I might go to. (Mama's Fish House!) In a week, I'll typically run 1 load. I run them before I leave as well.

If I'm going somewhere more clothing intensive, like Yellowstone, laundry facilities are a must. The extra stuff you have to pack just in case, sucks up space, and limits the day to day availability. For example, last time we were at Yellowstone, the 1st day we were in the park it was 28F and blowing snow. 3 days later it was 70F, and it swung back & forth a good bit.

 

[silentg]

This remind me of Fern Modena, she told us she would pack her old underwear and throw it away on vacation. Saved her newest at home. She was a riot! Miss her and her humor on TUG.