Is there a road trip in your future? You can leave the kitchen sink behind, but it might benefit you to pack an easy-to-use portable washing machine.
Why? Because sharing a hotel room can suck. I know from experience.
Hotels in Toronto aren’t cheap. Unless you’re willing to take your chances on a rundown joint that still uses colour TV as a selling point (which I’m not), you’re likely to shell out at least a hundred bucks a night to stay in the city. Airbnb is a more affordable alternative, but it can be hard to find a decent place on the outskirts of town.
So when I make my yearly pilgrimage to Anime North each May, I always shack up with four to six particular friends and split the bill. It’s the only way to make the trip affordable for the likes of us.
Sharing a hotel room with a half-dozen fellow geeks can be a blast. I’ve made some great memories playing board games on a king-size bed with pizza boxes scattered everywhere.
Here’s the thing, though. As much as I love my fellow nerds, we always don’t have the highest regard for personal hygiene or personal space. Pack six of us into a tiny hotel room and it can get real gross real fast.
The best solution? Come prepared. Arm yourself with appliances to fight the good fight.
- Portable washing machine. No, I’m not talking a bucket and washboard: I mean an actual modern washing machine. I didn’t even know these came in portable form until I went looking for it, but it’s a lifesaver. This easy-to-use portable washing machine from Costco is a bargain at under $500.
- Portable dishwasher. Hotel rooms don’t come with a kitchen sink, and it’s probably inadvisable to pack your own. Bring a portable dishwasher + a few plates and forks and you’ll instantly cut down on the amount of trash in the room. The best portable dishwashers even come with a water softener to cut down on the streaky-glass effect.
Sure, this is probably overkill for a weekend away. But for a longer road trip? Definitely preferable to living in a filthy hotel room.
Has anyone else ever brought a portable washing machine on a trip? What’s the best portable dishwasher you’ve used? Any tips on training your friends not to store garbage behind the headboard? Let me know what you think.