Any place to do laundry at/near LAX?
#1
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Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: None any more
Posts: 11,017
Any place to do laundry at/near LAX?
I will be trying to do a RTW trip at the beginning of December which will take me 11 days but which, for a variety of reasons (mainly UK airport security), I need to do on a single cabin bag only (and that includes my laptop!). This being so, I am going to need to do some laundry en route, but I have very few nights in hotels, and none where I will be there long enough to use their laundry service.
However, I do have an 8 hour layover at LAX one Sunday, arriving at 15:15 and departing at 23:10. Does anyone have any suggestions for somewhere at or near the airport that I could do some laundry at that time? It's washing and drying that I need - the pressing can wait to I get to the next hotel room.
I will have Flagship Lounge access at T4 so I have considered trying to use the washrooms there, but it's the drying that is going to be a problem...
However, I do have an 8 hour layover at LAX one Sunday, arriving at 15:15 and departing at 23:10. Does anyone have any suggestions for somewhere at or near the airport that I could do some laundry at that time? It's washing and drying that I need - the pressing can wait to I get to the next hotel room.
I will have Flagship Lounge access at T4 so I have considered trying to use the washrooms there, but it's the drying that is going to be a problem...
#2
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: MetroDC (NoVa)
Programs: UA MM Hilton Bonvoy Gold etc
Posts: 50
Laundry in the US generally ...
1) Laundromats
Many (well, perhaps only some) coin-operated laundromats in the US have attendants who will run a load of clothes for a fee. Seek out "Fluff and Fold" service. Most Americans do not know the term, but the industry does. Suggest you go to http://yp.yahoo.com and enter "LAX" in the Location then try "Laundromat" and see what is nearby. I entered "Fluff and Fold" as a search and got this: Homestyle Fluff & Fold (310) 542-3112 2301 Artesia Blvd # 15 Redondo Beach, CA 5.2 miles (8km) south of LAX.
You can search for coin-operated "Laundromats" on YP.Yahoo.com right now and then phone them (VOIP is cheap from HK) on Sunday afternoon their time and ask the ones that answer the phone if they do "fluff and fold". By calling on Sunday afternoon, you get to talk only to the ones that are open Sunday so you do not have to call all of the laundromats and ask if they are open on Sunday.
2) Laundries and Dry Cleaners
Dry Cleaners often ship their clothes to a central processing facility, but some have an on-site plant. Those who have an on-site plant often do not process laundry on Sundays. You can pay by the piece for laundry or you can pay for "Bulk Laundry" (again, an industry term, not generally known by most people) which is laundry by the pound -- MUCH cheaper than by the piece!
Again, use YP.Yahoo.com to search for Laundry or Dry Cleaners near LAX, then phone on Sunday and ask if they can provide Bulk Laundry within a few hours on Sunday afternoon.
3) About the LAX area
It is easy to get into a bad neighborhood. Stay west of the "San Diego Freeway" which is also called the "405 Freeway". Sepulveda Boulevard is reasonably safe. Be aware that Sepulveda Blvd continues for tens of miles and is supposed to be the "Longest named street" in the USA (in other words, just because an address says Sepulveda does not mean it is near LAX).
The LAX area has lots of hotels, most with coin-operated laundries and free shuttle service (depending on the hotel, a shuttle every 5 minutes to only once per hour). Most hotels require you to use your hotel key to access their laundry to keep out freeloaders and thieves.
4) Your specific case
You have an 8-hour layover. Giving yourself an hour to clear US customs and the 2-hours to get back in through security, that gives you about 5 hours. My suggestion is to go to PriceLine.com and bid on a hotel in the LAX area that is in the 2- 2.5- 3-star range. That way you might be able to have a nice bed for a few hours as well as getting your laundry done in their coin-operated self-serve laundry.
I recently bid on an airport hotel in a different large American city because I was driving into that city about 9PM and had a 6AM flight out. I was willing to nap in the car, car rental area, or at the airport. On a lark, I bid $35.00 on PriceLine and got a great hotel for less than $50.00 including taxes and fees.
For better advice: Here's hoping someone who lives or works in the LAX area can give you specific names of the hotels that run a shuttle through LAX every 5 minutes advertizing for "BackPackers" and "Hostelers" -- "Cheap Tourist Hotel".
If decided to nap in a hotel and do your laundry, you need to tell us whether you are the Four Seasons ^ , Hilton, or TraveLodge type.
Also, I hope someone who has had to do laundry near LAX in a short time can tell about their experiences.
PM me and I will be glad to pass on more specific knowledge about the LAX area.
Best of luck!
1) Laundromats
Many (well, perhaps only some) coin-operated laundromats in the US have attendants who will run a load of clothes for a fee. Seek out "Fluff and Fold" service. Most Americans do not know the term, but the industry does. Suggest you go to http://yp.yahoo.com and enter "LAX" in the Location then try "Laundromat" and see what is nearby. I entered "Fluff and Fold" as a search and got this: Homestyle Fluff & Fold (310) 542-3112 2301 Artesia Blvd # 15 Redondo Beach, CA 5.2 miles (8km) south of LAX.
You can search for coin-operated "Laundromats" on YP.Yahoo.com right now and then phone them (VOIP is cheap from HK) on Sunday afternoon their time and ask the ones that answer the phone if they do "fluff and fold". By calling on Sunday afternoon, you get to talk only to the ones that are open Sunday so you do not have to call all of the laundromats and ask if they are open on Sunday.
2) Laundries and Dry Cleaners
Dry Cleaners often ship their clothes to a central processing facility, but some have an on-site plant. Those who have an on-site plant often do not process laundry on Sundays. You can pay by the piece for laundry or you can pay for "Bulk Laundry" (again, an industry term, not generally known by most people) which is laundry by the pound -- MUCH cheaper than by the piece!
Again, use YP.Yahoo.com to search for Laundry or Dry Cleaners near LAX, then phone on Sunday and ask if they can provide Bulk Laundry within a few hours on Sunday afternoon.
3) About the LAX area
It is easy to get into a bad neighborhood. Stay west of the "San Diego Freeway" which is also called the "405 Freeway". Sepulveda Boulevard is reasonably safe. Be aware that Sepulveda Blvd continues for tens of miles and is supposed to be the "Longest named street" in the USA (in other words, just because an address says Sepulveda does not mean it is near LAX).
The LAX area has lots of hotels, most with coin-operated laundries and free shuttle service (depending on the hotel, a shuttle every 5 minutes to only once per hour). Most hotels require you to use your hotel key to access their laundry to keep out freeloaders and thieves.
4) Your specific case
You have an 8-hour layover. Giving yourself an hour to clear US customs and the 2-hours to get back in through security, that gives you about 5 hours. My suggestion is to go to PriceLine.com and bid on a hotel in the LAX area that is in the 2- 2.5- 3-star range. That way you might be able to have a nice bed for a few hours as well as getting your laundry done in their coin-operated self-serve laundry.
I recently bid on an airport hotel in a different large American city because I was driving into that city about 9PM and had a 6AM flight out. I was willing to nap in the car, car rental area, or at the airport. On a lark, I bid $35.00 on PriceLine and got a great hotel for less than $50.00 including taxes and fees.
For better advice: Here's hoping someone who lives or works in the LAX area can give you specific names of the hotels that run a shuttle through LAX every 5 minutes advertizing for "BackPackers" and "Hostelers" -- "Cheap Tourist Hotel".
If decided to nap in a hotel and do your laundry, you need to tell us whether you are the Four Seasons ^ , Hilton, or TraveLodge type.
Also, I hope someone who has had to do laundry near LAX in a short time can tell about their experiences.
PM me and I will be glad to pass on more specific knowledge about the LAX area.
Best of luck!
#3
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Portland OR Double Emerald (QF and AA), DL PM/MM, Starwood Plat
Posts: 19,589
Originally Posted by Sigh
..The LAX area has lots of hotels, most with coin-operated laundries and free shuttle service (depending on the hotel, a shuttle every 5 minutes to only once per hour). Most hotels require you to use your hotel key to access their laundry to keep out freeloaders and thieves. ...
Sunday might be a problem with some of the "fluff and fold" services, they are likely to be closed. Self-serve laundromats in neighbourhoods would be open, but I think you would need a car at LAX in order to be able to reach them. So the choice is to either rent a car and drive around, or rent a hotel room.
#4
Join Date: May 2003
Location: GEG
Programs: Motel 6 Club Avoir Le Cafard
Posts: 5,027
There are two coin-op laundromats in the area not in hotels, both are on the S side of Manchester Bl E of Sepulveda. Priceline.com Name Your Own Price will float you an auto for maybe $15 if you can remember to keep to the right .
Or, use PL to select a 2.5* hotel at LAX for $45-$49 and likely as not you would receive the Courtyard or Holiday Inn, both with free shuttle buses and guest laundries. But you would only have 5 hrs and you could possibly get the Radisson which does not have a laundry. You could get the Motel 6 (motel6.com) for $60, they have a laundry, who cares if the room is spartan for 5 hours but there is nothing to eat or drink there.
Weighing all these factors I would opt for the rent-a-car. Or, considering you will be bone tired from traveling RTW and you might well fall asleep in a hotel room, you could hire a car and driver and have him take you to the laundromat and wait there while you do the laundry.
Washers and dryers, and soap vending machines, run on US 25 cent pieces (quarters), and change from $1 and $5 bills is available from machines.
Or, use PL to select a 2.5* hotel at LAX for $45-$49 and likely as not you would receive the Courtyard or Holiday Inn, both with free shuttle buses and guest laundries. But you would only have 5 hrs and you could possibly get the Radisson which does not have a laundry. You could get the Motel 6 (motel6.com) for $60, they have a laundry, who cares if the room is spartan for 5 hours but there is nothing to eat or drink there.
Weighing all these factors I would opt for the rent-a-car. Or, considering you will be bone tired from traveling RTW and you might well fall asleep in a hotel room, you could hire a car and driver and have him take you to the laundromat and wait there while you do the laundry.
Washers and dryers, and soap vending machines, run on US 25 cent pieces (quarters), and change from $1 and $5 bills is available from machines.
#5
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: LAX, BUR
Posts: 1,559
It seems that almost every inexpensive hotel near LAX, many with airport shuttles, have coin operated laundry facilities. Doing a Google search for "laundry LAX airport" reveals literally dozens to choose from, including Travelodge, Ramada Inn, Extended Stay America, Four Points Sheraton, etc. You may or may not want to rent a room at any of these hotels, but I would choose one with a free shuttle and do my laundry while hanging out in the bar or restaurant. The only cost to you is a few hours of your time (which you have anyway) and a couple of dollars for laundry and detergent.
Have a fun trip!
Have a fun trip!
#6
Join Date: May 2003
Location: GEG
Programs: Motel 6 Club Avoir Le Cafard
Posts: 5,027
Originally Posted by kef0913
It seems that almost every inexpensive hotel near LAX, many with airport shuttles, have coin operated laundry facilities. Doing a Google search for "laundry LAX airport" reveals literally dozens to choose from, including Travelodge, Ramada Inn, Extended Stay America, Four Points Sheraton, etc. You may or may not want to rent a room at any of these hotels, but I would choose one with a free shuttle and do my laundry while hanging out in the bar or restaurant. The only cost to you is a few hours of your time (which you have anyway) and a couple of dollars for laundry and detergent.
Have a fun trip!
Have a fun trip!
#7
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: LAX, BUR
Posts: 1,559
Originally Posted by mbstone
I must not be thinking clearly. I was assuming the hotels won't let you do laundry without renting a room, and I was probably wrong. Go to the Holiday Inn, the laundry is in the basement right near the elevators (in some hotels you'll have to hunt for it) and just steps from the bar.
#8
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Santa Monica
Programs: UA Gold, MR Plat (life gold), SPG Gold
Posts: 898
There is a youth hostel on Lincoln Bl. about 7 miles north of the airport -- could get a bed there or use the laundry facilities for a lot less than some other spots. Although I frequently see clothes hanging to dry instead of dryers being used -- probably just more cultural than lack of facilities.
You could get there with a cab or bus.
You could get there with a cab or bus.
#9
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Santa Monica
Programs: UA Gold, MR Plat (life gold), SPG Gold
Posts: 898
couple other -- possibly non-useful ideas...
Make sure to pick up lot's of cologne/prefume in duty free , and you could always hang dry your clothes under the hurricane force winds generated by the planes air nozzles at your seat -- I am sure your seat neighbors wouldn't mind.
Make sure to pick up lot's of cologne/prefume in duty free , and you could always hang dry your clothes under the hurricane force winds generated by the planes air nozzles at your seat -- I am sure your seat neighbors wouldn't mind.
#10
Join Date: May 2003
Location: GEG
Programs: Motel 6 Club Avoir Le Cafard
Posts: 5,027
Originally Posted by kef0913
You know, you may be right. But, IME the more upscale the hotel the more likely they are to need a key card to access the laundry and the more tourist class the hotel the more likely it is that the laundry facilities are accessible to all.
#11
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Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: None any more
Posts: 11,017
Thanks everyone for the varied suggestions. To be honest at this point I will be trying to force my body onto US time since I will have a day's work to do in the office on the Monday (after an overnight from LAX to EWR via ORD!). So having access to a bed is probably a bad thing - I want to sleep for a couple of hour at least on the place. The idea of letting the laundry run while sitting in an adjacent hotel bar over a beer or two (particularly if said bar has wireless internet access) sounds like the best one - I just need to work out which is the hotel most likely to be happy for me to use the laundry whilst spending (for the sake of argument) $25 on beer in their bar.
#14
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: A Capital City on The East Coast
Programs: CO-Dirt,SPG-Nothing,Marriott-Gold, Hilton-Blue, Hyatt-Plat, HI-Plat
Posts: 6,872
There's a Courtyard @ 6161 W Century Boulevard, Los Angeles , CA 90045
All Courtyard have guest laundry-most offer free supplies as well
May need a key to access theirs though-don't remember that particular location
All Courtyard have guest laundry-most offer free supplies as well
May need a key to access theirs though-don't remember that particular location
#15
Join Date: May 2003
Location: GEG
Programs: Motel 6 Club Avoir Le Cafard
Posts: 5,027
Originally Posted by windwalker
There's a Courtyard @ 6161 W Century Boulevard, Los Angeles , CA 90045
All Courtyard have guest laundry-most offer free supplies as well
May need a key to access theirs though-don't remember that particular location
All Courtyard have guest laundry-most offer free supplies as well
May need a key to access theirs though-don't remember that particular location