Traveling by car through France, Germany, Austria, Italy. Local excursions on foot. Where to look for restrooms?

Mickey D AKA McDonald's (although at some they have caught the dragon lady disease).

You will find plenty of public restrooms in all of these areas and they are generally clean, which is a nice change from the USA. Be prepared to tip a small amount, 50 eurocent, in public restrooms. If you don't find a public facility just stop for a glass of wine or capuccino somewhere and use the facilities while you are there. Don't go into cafes just to use the facilities without buying anything though.

By the way, only yanks call them "restrooms." Nearly everyone else calls them what they are - toilets.

If you ask for a bathroom or restroom, you will get looked at funny in most of the civilized world.

..loo...gents' room....lavatory...facilities....all the same.

The abbreviation "WC" is useful to know in Germany.

Local tourist offices, train stations, department stores and rest stops on motorways. Just keep your eyes open for signs. Have a great trip. CJ

hi, topgun,

a good rule is to use the "facilities" every time you have a meal/drink in a restaurant or cafe, or if you stop for petrol. That way, you avoid having to pay!

regards, ann

The Bathroom Diaries has a search feature. Here's their link:
http://www.thebathroomdiaries.com/default.html

Forgot to mention supermarkets, which in France, you will find out of towns and are easy in and out. When you get in one, just look for the sign. CJ

often there are no signs
for men / women .

I recommend traveling with tissues/Kleenex. Not all of the bathrooms you come across will have a plentiful supply of toilet paper/towels to dry your hands.

Some stores such as Monoprix have pay toilets that automatically clean. DO NO TRY TO SHARE IT ON ONE COIN! The second person will regret it considerably. Any place that has a coffee bar has a toilet (Stores that look like small stop 'n shops). You can always use water. Buy a bottle then ask for the toilet.

This is good poop. I hadn't thought much about this on the road in France next week. Are there any other McDonald-like free access places. Any other common US chains where we can go? Not that I would dream of eating there...

Rick et famille.

I have been to Mickey D's throughout most of the civilized world and not once have they ever said anything to me for using the facilities and not buying anything (although cleanliness, especially in Paris, would be a problem to McDonald's inspectors).

In Italy all "bars" are required by law to have toilets available to the public. "Bar" in Italy has a different meaning than in the US...think "Snack bar". They all seem to serve liquor but they are really more of coffee shop, sandwich and snack bar.

xyz-

sorry- what was your reference to the dragon lady disease and McD up above?

Rick

topgun
I note that you say you will be traveling by car. We always travel by car in Europe, and have found that the rest stops in Germany, Switzerland, and Italy are very nice. They are often large roadside buildings (usually one on each side of the auto route) where you'll find "facilities"... sometimes you pay... plus restaurants, gift shops, etc. These rest stops are plentiful! They are usually busy too. It's a nice opportunity to stop for coffee, snacks, maybe something to grab for a snack in the car. You don't have to drive for miles and miles like you sometimes do in the USA to find a rest area.

I distinctly remember these trips to the loo at a McDonalds:
- Paris, metro Cadet - required a token
- Paris, Champs E - required a code or token, can't remember which
-Paris, Denfert-Rochereau - required a passcode
- Amsterdam, that pedestrian shopping street off the Dam - coin in a dish
- Haarlem - no charge
- Rouen - I think that one was also free
Don't recall any other McD's...