Even after you figure out how to ask for the bathroom, you never know what you may find inside! If you do an internet search you will find an abundance of information about using the toilet around the world that is both general and specific to the country, type of toilet, the type of business being done there, or anything you could possibly imagine or be concerned about, with demonstration diagrams and videos to help you navigate the situation.
I have found it interesting during our travels to see the incredible diversity of what might constitute a public restroom, and so I started taking my phone to the bathroom with me to document what I was seeing from troughs in the ground to chandeliers on the ceilings! I’ll share a few tips here, but this post is mostly about the pictures. Keep in mind that I’m a woman and don’t know what goes on in the men’s room!
First, a tip for the ladies. Many, perhaps most, places outside the US do not flush the paper, rather you are expected to put it in a trash can next to the toilet. You should also know that the paper might not be in the stall with you, but in a dispenser near the door, so keep an eye out as you walk in. It is also possible that there will be no toilet paper at all, so you should always be prepared with a packet of tissues or a Kula cloth (an anti-microbial square of fabric to carry that can be washed each evening and reused – this is for urine only).
Also, the day will come if you travel widely enough that you will need to go and there won’t be a western style sit down toilet available. If your knees can’t handle squatting, you might want to experiment with and carry a Sheewee, enabling you to pee while standing. I’ve used both this and the Kula a lot while backpacking and hiking and they can come in handy for sketchy public restrooms as well.
While we’re at it, bidets! I have come, after some initial reluctance, to really appreciate these, especially in no paper-flushing countries because the paper in the bins will be less icky if it’s just being used to dry off. There are several varieties of bidets with different levels of hands-on involvement as well as add-ons like air dryers and seat warmers (LOVE!).
One last tip is regarding payment. Public restrooms inside of museums, hotels and restaurants seem to usually be free of charge. Other, more truly public restrooms like you might find in a park or at the beach, generally are paid. There may be a person collecting payment, or a change slot, or even a machine for credit card or digital payment. In theory, this provides some assurance of cleanliness, but not always.
When you’ve got to go, you’ve got to go, so make sure you’re prepared for anything!
