Daily Tasks RTW Travelers Have to Deal With is preparing for an around-the-world journey. Ready to explore multiple continents and experience diverse cultures firsthand.
Snapshot
The Route
In Their Words
Doing laundry yourself
is the option many RTW travelers think they’ll be doing for most of their trip. While this option is a good one some of the time, you’ll quickly realize that your clothes simply don’t get as clean handwashing them in a hostel sink. There’s no way around it. And if you are in a humid environment, it can take days for your clothes to dry. Packing wet clothes into a pack results in bad things.
Doing laundry at a laundromat
is another good option that will obviously be more expensive than the hostel sink method, but your clothes will actually get really clean. This option is good when you’re traveling in more expensive regions and bigger cities. It won’t cost too much, but you’ll have to spend a good portion of a day each week sitting in a laundromat, which isn’t usually tops on the priority list while traveling.
Doing laundry at your hostel
is possible in certain situations. Many hostels allow you to use their facilities, for a small fee, but you may have to share them not only with other travelers but with the hostel itself. It all depends on the hostel, obviously, but it’s worth it to ask at the front desk or inquire about laundry services when checking out where to stay.
Sending your laundry out
to be washed is a great option if you’re traveling in developing countries. It’s extremely cheap, and all you have to do is drop it off and pick it up. Some hostels even have cheap laundry service, so make sure you ask to see what they offer.
2026 Context
- Travel costs and visa requirements have evolved significantly since this journey.
- Infrastructure and accommodation quality have generally improved, though prices have increased.
- Current travel advisories and health requirements may differ from when this trip was planned.