When you’re packing for your trip overseas, toilet paper may not be listed on your packing list. It should be. Along with some hand sanitizer gel.
Depending on where you are going, you may encounter some foreign toilets that are nothing at all like the ones you’re used to using at home. In some countries, you will encounter toilets without toilet paper and that do not flush. You may not even have a place to wash your hands.
Squat Toilets
The most common foreign toilet that will alarm you is the infamous squat toilet.
Toyko squat toilet by pnoeric
You can encounter a variety of different squat toilets, which are most common in Southeast Asia. Some do not flush. Some have special porcelain places for your feet while you squat. Most don’t have toilet paper. Some have a bucket in the back where you’re supposed to put soiled toilet paper. Some have a bucket of water to be used instead of toilet paper. In really remote areas, it will just be a hole in the ground. And squat toilets almost never have doors for privacy. That’s right – everyone can see you doing your business in all of your glory – but just from the side. And don’t forget the smell – which can be downright putrid in some places.
With a squat toilet, you need to get as close to the hole as possible – without falling. If you’re worried about privacy, you can wear a long skirt or tunic – just be careful not to get it in the hole!
If you’re worried about the smell, you can dab some minty lip balm under your nose before entering.
Coin-operated Toilets
Pay toilets are another common occurrence when traveling abroad. You’ll likely see these in large cities such as Paris and Amsterdam. They are slightly larger than a phone booth and you must insert exact change. Once you do, the door will slide open for you to enter. When you’re done, press the exit button and the door slides open again.
Never try to save money by letting a friend go in the toilet as you come out. After each use, water sprays from the walls to clean the entire toilet. This means that anyone that tries to sneak in gets a surprise shower.
Some train stations in Europe also have public bathrooms that require exact change to open the door.
Train Toilets
Trains themselves actually have toilets on-board as well. You don’t have to pay for these and they are usually fairly clean. Of course, as the journey progresses the cleanliness decreases. Some toilets on trains actually empty onto the track, which means you shouldn’t use the facilities while it is still in the station – unless you really dislike the place.
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