So what are the differences we can expect in the toilets from the USA?Do we need to know any rules? What about public bathrooms in Germany, Switzerland or Austria.My son is really concerned.

It depends where you are. I just returned from Germany and Austria and found the toilets to be very, very clean and well stcked with decent TP...even the porta-potties in public parks were spotless and clean smelling. Some are better than other s though...I found Austria and Germany to have the best WC's in Europe...I have paid many Lira to pee in a smelly, dark hole in the ground in Italy and no TP to be found...take little tissue packs with you just in case. Always take advantage of a bathroom in Europe...you never know when you'll find one again. In Venice, I spent an hour looking for one and ended up sneaking into a hotel lobby.

Actually, the public toilets in Europe are much cleaner than those of the US. The reason for this is that many employ attendants who keep the place sanitary. Many Americans bristle at "tipping" these attendants, but, hey, what would you rather have, a filthy toilet? Plus, they also supply toilet paper. <BR><BR>The Germans, Austrians, and Swiss are spotless people.

Be sure to have some change for toilets, probably around 25 cents in their currency. I found that necessary in both France and Germany, even in restaurants located in heavy tourist areas.

On trips to Italy and Hong Kong my friend and I would eat lunch in restaurants rather than picnic so we could be assured a clean bathroom. We were always successful. Even in the U.S. I go into hotels (the fancier the better) just to use the bathrooms. The idea of an attendant is a great one as you can be assured its clean. It's worth the few cents it costs.

The toilets in Europe are great - I've never had to flush twice there. Unlike my low-flush (read: no-flush) version here at home...

hi<BR><BR>you may need to do some research on la toilette a turque here in France.<BR><BR>Tip............. open the door before pulling the chain !<BR><BR>There are not many left now.<BR><BR>Peter<BR>

When my daughter was 10 or 12 or so, she filled her travel journal with drawings of the various toilets and flushing apparatuses she found on our trip to France, Italy and maybe Germany. She found it one of the most interesting aspects of the differences between Europe and the US. Alas, some of the more elaborate or ancient variations are dying out so try as many as you can while they're still around. <BR><BR>One aspect of European bathroom activity that is especially difficult is the lighting. Sometimes the only way to get the light to come on is to close the door, or even to engage the lock. Sometimes the lights are timed also so they go out by themselves while you're still using the facilities. Luckily these types often have little lights on the switch so you can find them to relight. <BR><BR>Not only did we find bathrooms in the countries already mentioned very clean, we were also impressed with the cleanliness of bathrooms in Spain and the Czech Republic. Possibilities of finding a Turkish toilet are still best in Italy although some of the most aged bistros of Paris still have them. L'Epi de Or on JJ. Rousseau in the 2nd does. Our friends actually took a picture. My daughter's first experience with one of these included her return to the group with her eyes all but popping out of her head.

Why do toilets in the US always have a gap down either side of the door?

Good question S. I don't know why there are gaps down the sides of our doors. I find them annoying and I really appreciated the privacy in the public bathrooms in Europe. I have been to restaurants here in the States that have the same kind of doors but it seems to be only in more upscale restaurants.

I'm glad I'm not the only person that has wondered this. I never know if I should try and hang my coat or bag over the sides!

Some years ago I recall entering a unisex restroom in a transportation terminal in europe. Of course the "stalls" were fully private & set apart from the wash basins. Wonder if they still exist?

Yeah,<BR>Watch out for those fully automated self cleaning ones. The mechanism assumes that the first time door opens with coin, someone gets in. Then when the door opens the second time, the system assumes that the occupant has left so it starts self cleaning cycle of everything inside. Those who thought they could save few coins by entering the WC when the person before leaves the place are in for a surprise, unless it is a model with functioning people detection sensor.

James,<BR>Your son should not be concerned. My son's only comment about European toilets was how come there are so many places where there's just ONE toilet, for men and women, instead of 2. Maybe that's the reason why the one toilet is fully enclosed!<BR>The toilets in Germany are lovely, except for the porcelin lump in the hole directly below where you sit which, how do I put this delicately(?), ends up looking like your "business" is sitting in there on a throne before you flush it down.<BR>In Switzerland, again, very clean (the Swiss are, in my humble opinion, the cleanest people in the world). One rule however: they are almost militant about propriety: if it's a pay toilet, you put your money in to use the toilet, but do NOT offer the open door to the next person in line so that they can save the centimes -- I have had at least 1 person slam the door, then insert the money.