ironing while backpacking

Steve, I'm from Miami also. You should have no problem finding an iron. They may not be readily available in each room but they should be able to hook you up with an iron. Try to take clothing that is wrinkle free (stay away from cotton). Have fun!!!

Ironing & backpacking? Usually backpacking is for those who want to travel simply. I've done it many times myself for up to a month at a time. Try bringing wrinkle/stain resistant clothing and some nice fitting dark blue jeans. Keep things simple an you will be OK. Roll your clothes so they don't wrinkle as bad and putting them into the backpack flat. Also many wrinkles come out if you hang your clothes up in the bathroom while taking a shower. Plan on not having an iron in most hotels there unless you pay big money for the room.

Good hotels will have them in rooms. Hotels in Vernazza probably won't. As has been stated, if you ask at the front desk they will find an iron for you.

Take some Downy Wrinkle Release it works good enough, gets most wrinkles out in minutes.

I don't think I would assume most smaller hotels have irons.. they might, but, many don't and many don't like to have guests ironing in rooms for various reasons( fire hazard and burn marks on carpets).
Plan a wardrobe that is not iron dependent.

Take a small spray bottle with you and you can spritz your clothes, pull or smooth the wrinkles out, and hang them up to dry. Works pretty well. And take patterns instead of solids. They will show fewer wrinkles.

People IRON when they travel in Europe?? :) Wear crinkle cloth or cotton blends or knits and take some Downy Wrinkle Releaser.

Don't worry about being a little wrinkled. From our experiences, I would recommend packing clothes that have a little nylon or poly in them instead of 100% cotton. Also prints don't show wrinkles as much as a solid color would. Seersucker or fabric with puckers don't show wrinkles.

You don't want to spend any of your time ironing and people won't care if you are a little wrinkled!

Have a great trip!!!

Almost 3 weeks and never ironed! Most of my shirt/blouses were polyester and dried in a perfect state hung out the window. My husband's were the blends and most said "wrinkle free" on the labels too. When hanging them out to dry, we'd sort of crease the arms and smooth them out - plus with patterns as people have said, it doesn't show as much. Besides, wearing a backpack makes some wrinkles anyways.....

We were in Rome last Christmas and when we requested an iron (this was in a Hilton), they stated to us that you cannot have an iron in the room due to the fire code. Don't know if this was a rule in Rome or all of Italy, but did not have an iron in Milan, Venice, or Florence (all Hiltons) either. We survived just fine.

We usually stay in RS rcommended hotels (higher end ones) and my experience is that maybe 50% of them have had irons available. I carry a light-weight travel iron with me.

Susan, I guess you don't subscribe to the RS mantra of travelling light!!

Pat, Susan says she takes a "light weight traveling iron" so I'm sure there's not much weight. The ironing board, on the other hand...

While I have moved on to the "Downy Wrinkle Release" wrinkle remover, that may not be enough for you.

Instead of an iron, which needs a decent flat surface to use, I used to travel with a travel steamer. It weighed about as much as a travel iron but you could use it while your clothes were hung on a hanger. Much more convenient. (Just make sure you get the ones that work on water alone, and not water and salt.)