Let’s Talk Toilets
I have been traveling since the beginning of 2024. Some of my travels this year have been with our two teen grandkids. Quality time with them far, far away from home, in other countries, has proven to be an amazing bonding time and educational as well.
Here is a subject that I had conversations about during my time with my teens: Toilets! An important topic for all.
We Americans take going potty and the accommodations to do so, all for granted. Toilets are a luxury for many. Toilet paper even more so. According to World Toilet.Org, 4.2 Billion of the world’s population defecates out in the open and do not have safe accommodations or hand washing options. Read that Again. 4.2 Billion!
When traveling internationally, it’s necessary to know the word for bathrooms and the customs surrounding them.
Example: Once while in the Rome airport, I walked up to a lady mopping the floor and asked in my barbaric Italian, where the restroom was. She looked at me as though I was daft and pointed to chairs lined up along the wall and told me I could sit right there if I needed to rest. I learned quite quickly the proper phrase.
When out of the country, I advise all to carry coins and a wad of toilet paper, Kleenex or wipes. Coins are needed as a usage fee or for the tip jar for an attendant. In many cases you’ll have to pay for the toilet paper, (and it is a small amount). Many countries charge visitors to use the facilities. The cost is minimal so always helpful to have some coins on hand, i.e. London one pound, Europe one euro, Scandinavia one krona and Mexico is 5 pesos, etc., etc.
I had a close call in a park in Bordeaux, France when needing to use the cylindrical, metal looking public potty in the park. We found that it only accepted exact coins to get the door to open (very much like a vending machine)… Yikes!! Some dear soul came to my rescue. Word to the wise, do not wait until the last minute!
Here are some of the differences in bathrooms around the world.
In my opinion, Germany was the worst. I felt as though there was a shortage of public bathrooms. While on a tour bus, with 30 older passengers who had just had breakfast to include tea or coffee, we were told by the tour guide that we would need to hold it for another 45 minutes. Upon arrival, there was a line and exact change needed. Not happy campers!!
A speaking of too few public restrooms… don’t expect to see any at all in the Netherlands. Be prepared to buy a glass of wine in order to use the bathroom in a cafe. And be prepared to sit down and enjoy that glass of wine, coffee or pastry.. I was meanly harassed in Edinburgh, Scotland for walking into a pub and going straight to the bathroom. I was forced to pay for a beer before I was allowed to leave. Everyone in the White Horse Saloon, stared at us and made remarks…. Out loud. Something about entitled Americans. I learned to be more aware of customs from that point on.
Then there is Asia. As my good friend once said, Squatty Pottys are not your friend!!
Squat toilets are popular and are what to expect in Singapore, Thailand, India, Taiwan, Kenya, Tanzania, Russia and the Balkans. Squat toilets = a hole in the ground and a place to rest your feet on either side and BALANCE. Think Gymnastic like! It ain’t pretty. Doesn’t smell good either. My knees don’t work like that anymore. So practice if heading far East and be warned. Authors note: It is known that Asian women who visit the US for the first time will attempt to climb atop a toilet placing their feet on the seat and balancing. With our toilets seats going up and down, it could be wobbly and dangerous for these women. I wonder why our bathrooms in major airports that receive incoming Asian passengers do not put signs in our bathroom stalls giving precaution? (When in a gateway airport, I also can’t help but wonder whose feet have recently been on my toilet seat.)
Often in Asia, you’ll have no option to flush. Instead, there will be a bucket of water and a cup nearby to clean up the area once you’re done. Thailand’s major cities often have a hose to cleanse yourself next to the toilet, referred to as a bum gun. According to NPR, in 2015 China spent $3 billion on 68,000 public restrooms in what is referred “toilet revolution” in their larger cities and at popular tourist sites to encourage more travel from Westerners. You can now expect high-tech toilets in China and Tokyo with heated seats, including wipes for your smart phone!
Then there is the Bidet. (Bǐ-day) Growing more popular in the US. According to The Atlantic, the bidet was invented in France in the 1600s and is used for cleaning the body after going to the bathroom. You’ll find these in the better hotels in Italy, Portugal, Japan, Argentina, France and Venezuela. I’ve had the pleasure of usage in Paris as well as New York and New Orleans. Bidets are less wasteful and more sanitary than using toilet paper.
TMI?? I purchased a hand-held portable bidet apparatus during covid to use at home to save on the then coveted toilet paper and now often carry it with me on travels. Read up on the debate of using dry toilet paper and bacteria in any Urology posts. I might be something you’d like to invest in. Available on Amazon.
Currently street toilets are making a comeback in Paris, Montreal, and San Francisco. Some, like the ones in Montreal, are self-cleaning. Others, like the ones coming to San Francisco, have a sleek and modern design. They even have a sink to wash your hands. This is an effort to accommodate the growing homeless and cut down on bacteria spread.
Fun Fact: In the past in Paris, the gray bathrooms on the sidewalk were called, “pissoirs” but have since been modernized and referred to as Sanisettes and are now free-standing, public toilets. I’d use sanitizer wipes after use, for sure.
Back to the subject of TP: Don't flush toilet paper in South America, Eastern Europe or Mexico. The same holds true in Greece, Belarus, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Turkey, Ukraine, Egypt and China. It goes in the a trash can in the bathroom, along with the feminine hygiene products and other trash. Because the sewage system can easily get blocked in these places.
Short list of bathrooms names internationally
Look for "WC" while in Europe.
Loo in England
Baño in Spain, Mexico and Portugal
In Australia, you want to look for the dunny
It’s Ben-Jo in Japan (also holds the title for the cleanest).
Bagno in Italy
Germany is Toilette
Belgium is Lavatory
Canada is simply the Washroom
Knowing what to expect when you travel makes huge difference, and allows you to prepare. Read up and save yourself an awkward situation, reduce the opportunity for others to call us, Arrogant or Ugly Americans. A simple google search will help for any location.
Safe Travels
Photo is not my own. DH 2024.