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Flushing Away Travel Toilet Fears

6/11/2015

 

Worried about toilet travel trauma? We look at what travel toilets are really like around the world.

Travel Toilets: Statue of a dog in Belgium using the bathroom Picture
Sometimes even statues gotta go! Alas this is one travel toilet that human visitors should NOT use.
There's nothing like a little potty humor to make you crack a smile. ("Crack"! Get it?!) But in many parts of the world, bathrooms are a most serious business. According to the CDC, 25% of the world's population does not have access to adequate sanitation. Inadequate waste disposal systems are a contributing factor for everything from cholera to trachoma. These illnesses are no laughing matter.

I can certainly appreciate why some travelers hesitate to go anywhere without a modern flush toilet. Serious illnesses bear serious concerns. And, let's face it, 'crappy' toilets can be really unpleasant and uncomfortable. What kind of vacation involves toilet trauma? But if you want an ironclad guarantee of particular standards and services when you travel, well, you won't go very far.

Nearly all of our favourite destinations brought a bit of toilet culture shock. And sometimes it took a while to adjust. But we haven't let a throne, commode, or outhouse cast a stench over our travel dreams and neither should you! This is our take on travel toilets around the world.

There are no washroom warranties.

Vanessa sits in a giant bathtub Picture
Not every washroom will be this awesome, but they're not all bad either.
There are gross toilets all over the world and there is no "safe" destination that is 100% free from yucky bathrooms. (Case in point: Our nearby shopping center.) Familiarity does not equal cleanliness and basic design doesn't mean a bad experience. I'd happily take a clean outhouse over the mall's disgusting flush toilets any day! 

Furthermore, there are very few countries without some toilet variety. Squat style toilets aren't exclusive to developing countries. Even my favourite bar in Paris has one! There are outhouses in many of the most beautiful destinations on earth, like Death Valley National Park.  "Western" style flush toilets are now more common than ever. It's the only kind of toilet we saw in Myanmar (including at a guest house that cost less than $30 a night). And in Turkey, there was a mix of every kind of toilet imaginable. Don't base your travel choice on an assumption - you might just be in for a surprise!

Don't let anyone flush away your dreams.

Yucky toilet on the train in Myanmar PictureWe survived this and you can too.
Don't let other travelers get the better of you. Toilet stories have a way of getting more and more dramatic every time they're told and make for more exciting lore than all those reasonably clean washrooms around the world.
​
​Everyone has a horror story about the most revolting toilet they've ever seen. I'm looking at you, Myanmar train toilet (left) and Parisian Port-a-Potty! But, knock on porcelain, the overwhelming majority of travel toilets I've encountered ranged from tolerable to gleaming. And chances are that yours will too.

Answering the call of nature.

So what kind of toilets exist out there for you to use? Well, in some areas there are no toilets. This isn't as alarming as it sounds! Chances are we've all answered nature's call in...um.... nature! Sometimes there's not much choice but to run behind a shrub and do your business. 

This was my strategy when some friends and I were returning to Lilongwe after a weekend away visiting a national park in Malawi. We all had to "go" so we just pulled over on the side of the road, scampered across the field, and did our business behind a huge boulder. We thought we were the only people around but no sooner had we dropped our trousers that we heard giggles from a group a kids spying on us! Um, thanks guys! Meanwhile, our friend who stayed with the vehicle had struck up a conversation with a local resident who informed us that the road was the unofficial border, we had unwittingly (and illegally) crossed into Mozambique, and there was a good chance that there were still a few stray landmines in the field. Oops!

Not having a toilet is never fun (though it may be adventurous) but at least things are relatively clean. Just do your part to keep it that way. Be prepared to carry your toilet tissue back out with you using a plastic bag and avoid areas close to waterways. 

Outhouses can be kinda awesome!

Erin stands at a cute wooden outhouse in a garden Picture
A CUTE outhouse? Yep! My friend Erin found one in the Adirondacks!
One step up from the non-toilet is the outhouse.  An outhouse may be a squat toilet or a sit toilet but what they all have in common is that the waste isn't flushed away. It composts into the ground through a latrine hole. Decrepit outhouses have haunted several of my camping trips but in many developing countries they can be a pretty good option.
​
A well designed outhouse and properly dug latrine can be a hygienic and relatively comfortable option. And there are many innovative and dedicated organizations who are working hard on making this kind of toilet even more safe and efficient, bringing improved hygiene and health to people throughout the world.

My best advice when it comes to using outhouses is to roll up your trousers and carry absolutely nothing that can possible fall out of your hands or your pockets. Put your smart phone in your backpack! This is one environment where a headlamp is your best friend at night.

Squash your squatting fears.

Clean white squat toilet and sink Picture
This doesn't look so scary, right?
You've likely heard horror stories about "hole in the ground' squat toilets, but just like with outhouses, they're not always as bad as you imagine. A squat toilet is usually made of porcelain and the toilet bowl is recessed in the floor. Like the name suggests, you use this toilet by squatting down low. Really low. And it's surprisingly manageable!

If you've ever had to awkwardly 'hover' over a yucky Western style toilet, you'll find the much lower squat you employ to use a squat toilet a million times more comfortable and stable. It's actually remarkably hard to tip over or wobble in this position, as your center of gravity is so low. It is a much more natural position than the 'hover'. Your body never touches the toilet and as such it's a very clean experience. (Still not convinced you can master the squat? A number of companies make special funnels that help women pee standing up).

There are two kinds of squat toilet - wet and dry. Wet toilets have a water tank and a flush mechanism (often mounted on the wall) that you flush like any other.  A dry squat toilet is flushed manually after each use, either with a hose of running water in the stall or a bucket of clean water. You will often be encouraged to not flush toilet paper and there will likely be a nearby garbage bin for it. 

Persnickety paper problems. 

White car next to an outhouse in Death Valley Picture
Not much toilet paper is for sale when you travel off the beaten path.
Speaking of toilet paper..... Believe it or not, much of the world never uses it. It's an expensive luxury for some, it can interfere with the composting process of some latrines, and it can clog up the delicate sewage systems of older cities. Most people use clean water from a nearby bucket or hose to splash themselves clean. In many countries you traditionally use your left hand to do this and thus its considered impolite to use that same hand for eating. Before I moved to Malawi, I prepared by sitting on my left hand during every meal for weeks, training myself not to use it.

But in all honesty, I have never really gotten used to the splash method and I always travel with my own tissues. They come in handy for many purposes and my own brand is much softer than what is available around the world.  All the same, I'm glad I did my self-imposed 'left hand training'. Gestures of politeness are just as important as good bathroom habits! 
Complicated public travel toilet in Paris Picture
This public toilet in Paris was free to use - a rarity in Europe.
Toilet paper isn't the only think you should carry around with you. Keep some spare change with you at all times. In many places in the world, you have to pay a small fee to use washrooms in public setting. Sometimes it's a requirement just to enter the facilities (like at Amsterdam's Central Station) and in other places it's more of a suggestion, like a kind of tip for the attendant (as it was in Myanmar's Mandalay airport). 

I also carry lip balm infused with essential oils - yes, for the bathroom! Lip balm isn't just for your lips!  One of the most crafty travel tips I've ever heard is to scrape a little balm out of the tube and rub it under your nostrils. The soothing smell of the lavender, peppermint, or other essential oils will temporarily block any unpleasant bathroom odors. 

Be of good cheer. 

Chocolate Manneken Pis in Brussels
A sense of humor always helps.... You can't help but smile at these candy "Manneken Pis" in Brussels!
Finally, don't beat yourself up if you just aren't comfortable with less-than ideal-toilets. It doesn't make you a bad person or a bad traveler if you get grossed out by a squat toilet. It happens to everyone! What's more important is that you're exploring a new land, meeting new people, and enjoying the beauty and excitement that you otherwise would have missed had you not stepped out of your comfort zone... and into the outhouse!

A little discomfort, combined with an open mind, can actually make you a more kind, understanding, and respectful traveler as you now have a new appreciation and empathy for the kinds of challenges, big and small, faced by the local population on a regular basis. 


It's your turn! Tell us a GOOD toilet story! Have you ever found an unexpectedly clean toilet in an unusual location?


Looking to stay healthy on the road? These articles will help!

Sleeping Tips For Tired Travelers
Footcare for Travelers 
Malaria Prevention for the Value Minded Traveler 


vanessa workman link
6/11/2015 06:13:17 pm

Despite the popularity of squat toilets, Malaysia often has a cleaning crew stationed in the bathrooms, to keep on top of things. (also often collecting 30sen). Sometimes almost a bit embarrassing because no sooner than you exit the stall they are suddenly mopping up the same stall. (They have their fare share of skanky bathrooms too) but for the most part A+.

Vanessa
7/11/2015 07:24:40 pm

That is awesome! I too get a bit embarrassed when an attendant is waiting to clean up after me. I want to say "If it's a mess, I swear it wasn't my fault!".

Lesley Carter link
7/11/2015 10:25:59 pm

Toilets are always an issue for me when traveling. I despise using a dirty toilet, I hate trying to hover and outhouses are a nightmare. I've found clean toilets in most countries but it's because I seek them out and I'll wait.

Vanessa
11/11/2015 08:21:02 pm

A good guidebook can definitely help with information about public spots with clean restrooms (like hotel lobbies, museums, etc).

Betsy Wuebker link
8/11/2015 04:52:20 am

Here's a good toilet story: having mastered the butt sprayer so common in Asia, I was initially intimidated by the "smart" toilet seat in our most recent Bangkok Hotel. Three bidet dials and a no-slam mechanism are just a little more complicated than we are used to. Fortunately the instructions are printed in English as well as Thai. Pink dial sprays your front, green dial sprays your back, and blue is for odor masking. What wil they think of next! I took photos.

Vanessa
11/11/2015 08:22:04 pm

I have yet to see a "smart" toilet and I definitely would have taken photos too!

Karla (Karla Around The World) link
8/11/2015 10:08:08 am

I do love the humor in your write up. Lots of travelers may have already experienced all of those problems you stated above and thanks to you light way of discussing ways how to solve them, answering call of nature out there wouldn't really be as a daunting task to do.

Vanessa
11/11/2015 08:25:03 pm

When all else fails, humor can usually help you get through the day.

Brenda Tolentino link
8/11/2015 12:28:01 pm

Yes, I have experienced unexpectedly clean toilets all over the world actually. I found a whole in the wall type bar in Lucca, Tuscany which was so clean and modern it was a complete surprise given the very simple bar. It was so impressive I took a picture of it. I've also found many clean and modern bathrooms all over S.E. Asia, which is not what my impression was before I actually traveled here.

Vanessa
11/11/2015 08:26:50 pm

There's always a great feeling of relief when you can 'relieve' yourself with some comfort and cleanliness. :-)

Holly link
8/11/2015 01:33:35 pm

I haven't gone anywhere where there isn't a toilet. Happy to say that lol.

Vanessa
11/11/2015 08:28:42 pm

Let's hope it stays that way!!!

Andrea Leblang link
8/11/2015 02:29:13 pm

This post is hysterical, and I've loved reading all of the stories in the comments. I've experienced so many different kinds of toilets, and what is surprising is how after months hiking around Turkey, I became SO used to the squat toilet that it felt weird (and kinda gross) to sit on a seat when we returned to Europe!

Vanessa
11/11/2015 08:29:43 pm

There's really nothing that you can't adjust to, is there? I adjust to new toilets really well but I never stop missing my bathtub!

Carol Colborn
8/11/2015 05:48:08 pm

What a comprehensive discussion of one of the issues for travelers. I have also learned to carry toilet paper. But tbhat lip balm idea is great! The best toilet experience for me though is having a bidet and then wiping with toilet paper! Next best is carrying water wipes.

Vanessa
11/11/2015 08:30:54 pm

Wipes are awesome for so many things! We use them for cleaning out tray tables on the airplane - I'm guessing they have more germs than most of the toilets out there!

Trisha Velarmino link
9/11/2015 05:21:42 am

I am so glad I already done with this phase but I am still not over China. I can never use any toilet in China. This is a very good insight and is really important to travellers!

Vanessa
11/11/2015 08:31:20 pm

I've never been to China - tell us more!

Jo link
11/11/2015 01:50:13 am

Squat toilets are my travel kryptonite. Give me a marginal western loo or a dunny (outhouse) and I'm happy, but I literally just can't use a squat toilet........

Vanessa
11/11/2015 08:35:11 pm

We all have our weak spots!


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