Frank

Hello, all. I'll be going to Italy shortly, and wondered what the toilets are like. That is, do the facilities tend to be up to U.S. standards? Are public restrooms generally available, or where might be the best places to find them (eg- restaurants, cafes, shops, etc.)? And how's the toilet paper? I've heard that in some countries it's none to gentle to delicate body parts, and of course I'll bring a roll of my own to be safe. <BR> Thanks for your help, <BR> Frank

Holly

Pack a few of those pocket-sized kleenex packs. They're less conspicuous than carrying around a roll of toilet paper.

Tom

Frank: They only use "John Wayne paper" in Europe, as in "tough as hell and won't take s**t off anybody". <BR> <BR>However, I believe that toilet paper is the least of your problems.

Caitlin H

Italy does have some pretty dreadful toilets. Most are fine, but you will find the odd stand up, hole in the ground, surrounded by filth, job. Definately have some tissues in your pocket, and some 1000lire pieces.

Ed

The only remaining Turkish Toilet (hole in the ground with porcelain 'footprints') that I know of in Rome is behind San Pietro in Vincoli. There are undoubtedly others, but there were and are far fewer than in Paris and the rest of France. <BR> <BR>Most of the 'gabinetti' in Italy are in good to excellent shape. As in the US some in hole-in-the-wall restaurants are a little ancient. Most of the public toilets (e.g. airport) are better than their US equivalent. (I believe all of the bottom 10 toilets I've been in on my travels around the US and Europe are in US filling stations ... nothing in Europe quite compares in my 35 years of experience in travel. <BR> <BR>In nice restaurants and top-drawer hotels you'll find far better (attractive) bathrooms from an architectural point of view than in the US. <BR> <BR>John Wayne wallpaper is a thing of the past. 35 years ago you could count on crepe paper toilet paper. All I've run across the last few years is perhaps just a tad firmer than the puffy cotton paper many Americans use, but is unlikely to be uncomfortable except for princesses who are bothered by peas under their mattresses. <BR> <BR>In general, while I hope I won't offend, the question, and some of the answers, sound like they could come from folks who believe the US is the leading civilization and all else third-world at best. Anyone who travels to Europe with that attitude is usually better off staying home. <BR> <BR>Do not, under any circumstances, take the natives nylons and chocolate hoping to seduce these savages. <BR> <BR>Ed <BR>

julie

Well, you haven't lived until you have endured a "chinese" toilet! Especially, in the country, but this forum is about Europe. Best not to expect too much if you get off the beaten track. Go into a cafe and order a coffee and then use the facilities when you find them, and take some disinfectant if you are worried. Public restrooms usually have an attentant who will hand you paper and expect some coin in exchange...some are pay toilets. I did not find too many free ones, except in hotels and restaurants, often down a long flight of stairs, buy hey! you want a change of scene, right?

Holly

Hey Ed - Where do you get off making a comment like that, and prefacing it with "I hope I won't offend"? That's exactly what you meant to do! I think telling someone to pack some tissues for a trip to Europe is pretty sound advice. What's your problem?

Ed

Uncas, I think telling people to pack toilet tissues on a trip to Europe is stupid and insulting. <BR> <BR>This thread is beginning to turn me toward the belief I've rejected for years. Do Americans make good travelers? Starting to sound like not only no, but hell no. <BR> <BR>Take your toilet paper. Take your bottled water. Take your instant coffee. But for heaven's sake, learn to speak with a Canadian accent so the Europeans won't think you're American!

American

There are still some "Turkish" toilets in Italy -- even in one of the major museums in Florence (but at least it was clean). (I don't happen to remember which museum.) In my last two trips to Italy (l997, 2000), I do not remember seeing any pay toilets. They were either free or nonexistent, but they seemed to be more plentiful than in the USA. Compared to 35 years ago when there were filthy Turkish toilets and the toilet paper, if any was often just last week's newspaper, the toilets now are fine, certainly no worse than Ameican ones, although the plumbing design is more quirky and often less modern. It is often hard to figure out how to flush. It may be a foot pedal, a string from the ceiling, a button -- just push, press, pull. turn everything in sight until flushing occurs. If you're hiking or strolling in the countryside both women and men may be happier using the "bushes" (obviously not right near houses, gardens, crops, churches, cemeteries)instead of waiting for a public toilet or counting on a cafe or church with a toilet in the next town. So of course you should carry tissues or toilet paper or whatever paper you're comfortable carrying and using, plus zip lock bags to carry it out until you find an appropriate place to dispose of it. And just as in the USA, it is stupid to travel without such paper or to assume that every indoor public toilet will have nice paper, or any paper. Stopping at little shops for a granita, a cafe, a pastry, a cold drink, etc., and then asking to use the toilet is perfectly acceptable, and unlike in the USA, the shopkeepers always seem to cheerfully direct you to thier toilet (i.e., it's not employees-only).

norena

<BR>Ed, I think you owe American travelers an apology because I, too, found your posts to be very insulting to us. <BR> <BR>Evidentally you not only have a problem with American travelers but you need to read some other travel websites' advice other than your own. Many I have read do recommend we take tissues "just in case" and for those with delicate stomachs traveling through certain countries or multiple ones, drinking bottled water can help. What is so wrong with trying to take precautions to make sure one has a better trip even "if" it is just carrying extra tissues. Would you prefer we walk around Europe stinking and having diaherra! I carry tissues for this purpose even in America! <BR> <BR>Since your website and your advice is usually so excellent, I will just hope that you wrote your replies "before" you had your coffee and I don't resent you if you drink "instant". "I" do and I would even if I lived in Italy!

american

P.S. Bottled water may CAUSE diarrhea!!! Note the mineral content on the label. Europeans like spring water with a high mineral content. Often the label lists a very high content of magnesium. It may be good for you, but is probably more than we are used to in USA unless we take magnesium supplements or drink certain bottled waters. So if you drink a lot of typical European water at the beginning of the trip, it may have the same effect as taking milk of magnesia! If so, don't blame it on the few drops of public water you got when brushing your teeth; it's probably from the bottled water you bought in order to avoid the sink water! In a country with safe water (e.g., almost all, if not all, of Italy), it is best to drink sink water (where reliable people tell you it's potable) as well as bottled water, until you get used to the high mineral content of the store-bought wateer.

americangirl@

Ed, women need paper. We don't like to drip dry. Only an idiot would refrain from carrying tissues.

s

<BR>I think Ed's points are right on (as they usually are). I, too, found Frank's question ("up to US standards") to be borderline provincial and chauvenistic. In fact, I was going to compliment Ed on his tact and restraint; the response on the tip of my tongue (fingers??) was more blunt (somthing about toilet seats dribbled w/urine, toilets clogged w/paper & feces, paper stewn all over the floor but not a sheet to use -- all here in the good ol' USA's public restrooms at malls, gas stations, even college hallways). And, as Tom suggests, toilet paper may be the least of Frank's troubles in Europe. Travelling is about discovery, joy, and experimentation, not <BR>trepidation and judgment. BTW, I'm one of those nervous Americans with plenty of digestion problems, so if I wanted to, I could really get upset and worried about the facilities in my travels. It's a decision. I travel; I cope. <BR> <BR>BTW, there's nothing wrong with taking tissues "just in case" as we do here in the US -- but you know you can buy all of your toiletry needs overseas! No need to "pack" toilet paper. <BR> <BR>s

Ed

Norena, first thanks for the kind words. Unfortunately I had my coffee earlier. <BR> <BR>I'll stand by my statement re bottled water. I cannot believe it when I hear of people taking bottled water from the US to drink in Europe. I find it idiotic. I apologize to any whom I offend with that opinion, but it's my opinion. <BR> <BR>As to the toilet paper Norena and Americangirl, irregardless of what others may counsel, I think it's completely unnecessary to carry rolls of toilet paper from the US to Western Europe. <BR> <BR>You say you may not like the toilet paper in your hotel? Go to the grocery store (alimentari) and find a brand that seems softer. Yes ... Europeans actually sell toilet paper in their stores. It's been a year or now since they had to depend on American tourists importing the item for them. <BR> <BR>American girl: as to carrying a bit of tissue in your purse, in fact Julie does that all the time. I do understand that even the fanciest restaurants and museums in the US and Europe occasionally allow a TP roll to be depleted. That, however, is quite different from carrying rolls across the Atlantic. Julie's stash in her purse comes from the roll in the hotel room. <BR> <BR>As to my liking American tourists? I'm one of their biggest defenders. I believe the stereotypical boorinsh 'American tourist' has never <BR>been typical. And I promote that thought to anyone who cares to read what I have to say about the subject on my website. <BR> <BR>That said, some tourists do stupid things, sometime. And, to be honest, I believe that happens more often with more Americans than Europeans. <BR> <BR>Europeans have not grown up with the notion that they own a whole continent ... whatever their country, they have to share the continent with others. Living side by side with other nationalities many Europeans have more practice at living in and dealing with different cultures than Americans. <BR> <BR>Let's get up to date on what we should expect in Europe. Tales our grandfathers told us about what they saw in Europe as GIs right after the war are no longer accurate. Europe has gotten over the bombings of civilian areas by the Allies. Their economies have recovered, and many Europeans enjoy a much higher standard of living, however measured, than the average American. <BR> <BR>Things may be different than they are here ... but I don't recall Moses bringing back tablets saying, for example, Thou Shalt Drive on the Right Side of the Road. <BR> <BR>Let's stop believing that all of American culture and circumstance is superior to anything in Europe. Conversely, whether European or American, don't believe that European culture is superior across the board. <BR> <BR>And for heaven's sake, stop stuffing your suitcases with toilet paper and bottled water whose source is a city water supply. <BR> <BR>Ed

Rose

Hi Frank, I've read this thread and found a bit of info missing. You will have to pay to use the 'loo' in Italy at most places, about 30 cents US, 500 lira to be exact. <BR> <BR>It is worthwhile. I've heard some tourists complain about paying, but have told them you haven't seen the 'loos' you don't have to pay for! It really is worth it to have a clean environment to do your business. <BR> <BR>The cleaners stand at the entrance and take your lira. Be sure to have change, they will give you change but only if they have it. This is their living, be nice to them. <BR> <BR>As for toilet paper, it is good to carry a little packet of kleenex just in case they're out of it. <BR> <BR>In the 'auto-stops' the toilets are in the basement.

Rose

I meant to mention the cafes have small bathrooms that you do not have to pay a cleaner for, but you should at least buy something in the cafe before asking where the 'loo' is. <BR> <BR>In Italy they are required by law to let anyone use the loo but, as a courtesy, it's best to buy something to negate any nasty looks from the owner you may get (or may not). <BR> <BR>I made my cappacino stops equate with the 'need'....

Santa Chiara

Where in Italy, other than the train station in Florence and at some Autogrills, but certainly not all, do you have to pay to use the toilet? I have lived here nearly 2 years and have traveled here for 15. The only place in recent memory that I have been required to pay is the above-mentioned train station. I am not questioning your statement, just curious about what I must be missing? Also, my observation is that toilets in restaurants, stores, Autogrills, etc. are generally better kept than American ones, especially those at service stations. Yuck. <BR>

Judy

Did not want to reply to this, but I could not let this pass. In Rome, where my cousin lives, she has a little map of all decent toilets that she may use. I am not making a judgement, just stating a fact....there are few and far between acceptable toilets in Rome(and she always carries a hand sanitizer and tissue packs) and there is always McPlumbing......oh I mean McDonald's!

Rose

Santa Chiara, you're right, you only pay at the Autogrills, and their like, anywhere where the establishment caters to tourists. <BR> <BR>That's why I added my additional post regarding cafes, and the courtesy of buying a coffee to offset the use of the washroom. I can't imagine the 'abuse' a bathroom would take if everyone simply traipsed through an establishment to use the loo. My opinion only, take it or leave it..

Ed

Santa Chiara: One would have to add the airport terminal to the list of pay toilets. But overall you're correct ... there are few pay toilets. Many do have an attendant ... thankfully as these facilities are generally kept sparkling. Alas, such used to be the case in the US many years ago but now mainly disappeared. <BR> <BR>As to relative cleanliness, again, you're right on. The only thing worse than the average American gas station toilet is an outhouse at a US state park filled with flies. <BR> <BR>I've not lived in Rome but have traveled there for something like 34 years. I've seen relatively few pay toilets, only slightly more than the US, even fewer dirty bathroom facilities ... far fewer than in the US. Ancient, cranky, tempermental, inadequately designed ... absolutely on occasion. But that doesn't make them dirty, unacceptable or 'not up to American standards'. <BR> <BR> <BR>Ed <BR>