gail

Melissa - yes, I thought the same thing. My mother-in-law bought one of these devices - who knows when or where she used it, since they never go anywhere unfamiliar or more than 10 miles from home - and when I expressed mild curiosity at it, she went and bought me one for Christmas. Hers was called a "Piss Helmet" (I am not kidding) and the top was designed to look like a pith helmet. But she comes from a generation who were told by their mothers that you could catch just about any disease known, including cancer, from a toilet seat.

lynn

thanks everyone who replied, it's all useful stuff and gives us a good idea of being able to use hotel restrooms without fear of embarrasment - it sounds like its done quite alot. i also had a few chuckles along the way at the funnel, but thats not a put down to the person who replied because i appreciate any ideas offered. The cover charge info was useful too, it's a term that is sometimes used in our bigger cities in UK, but being a country girl I wasn't sure. Thanks all

Scarlett

Linda,
whenever I have been in London, the same tricks have applied. Any bar,pub, restaurant,museum or hotel will allow you to use their bathroom.
Even shops that you might buy something in, if you ask nicely to use their loo.
about paying for a drink, sometimes when you are traveling with others, they feel awkward standing in a bar while you run use the facilities, and the bartender stands there and glares, because it is NOT a public bathroom..for someone to sit down at the bar and order a drink of any kind is sort of in the same way of paying for use of the toilet, keeping everyone comfortable.

Scarlett

Sorry, I meant LYNN

Marny

lynn,

Do you have a Palm Pilot or similar handheld device? If so go to www.vindigo.com and set up an account, I think it's about $25 for the year. You can get informations on restaurants, museums, and in some cities such as New York even public restrooms (ie: location, cleanliness, location, etc.) This is very convenient. You just put in your location and presto, a list of the nearest restrooms and their ratings are right in your hand.

MelP

Starbucks are hit or miss, and usually you need to buy something there since most of the time you need to be buzzed in. Barnes and Noble stores (and Borders) have been lifesavers though. Of course department stores are good as well and if a hotel is close by that is the best and cleanest option. Also can often pop in and out of a busy coffee shop and use their bathroom without anyone asking if you'll be eating or not (although not always).

jor

Living in the Midwest is fantastic. I have never had to beg or pay to pee.

I never have to pay to park, drive on roads, use a restroom, get into an apartment building, cross a bridge, get into a bar, or see the horizon.

suzanne

I live in nyc, and I don't have to pay to park (I don't own a car), drive on roads (ditto), use a restroom, get into an apartment building (huh?), cross a bridge, get into a bar, or see the horizon.

I also don't ever have to buy a car & pay for car insurance, cook a meal, fix a roof, mow the lawn, rake leaves, dig dirt, cut wood...(let's see...what other tortuous chores did my parents make me do when we lived out in the boonies...?)

To each their own!

Scarlett

suzanne, LOL

MFNYC

Some other decent public restrooms I've come across over the years are at Lincoln Center, Forbes Gallery (in the village, free admission and clean bathroom), Hunter College, Manhattan borrough community college (it's been a while since I've used these college sites so don't know if they are now stricter), winter garden and of course, Barnres & Noble, Starbucks, hotels and dept. stores.

olivia

Just hover like your mama told you.