As fun as this could be to list out all the differences, no one really cares. However, we do care about the restroom because it is an essential for all of us, yet we all have preconceived notions of what the bathroom is supposed to be like on our trips because of our own experiences from our own bathrooms. So when we're not prepared for other styles, well this can surprise us.Public bathrooms abroad tend to be holes in the ground or a clean, well-kept bathroom that costs money. It usually only costs 1-2 dollars in their currency, so make sure you have change on you at all times. It's usually worth it, although this is not a guarantee to cleanliness.
Public bathrooms are not very common as they are in the U.S. where you can generally find one near you at all times (except in NYC!). Sooooo whenever you're getting a meal, use the bathroom because no restaurant will let you use one unless your a customer, and it'll be fairly clean. This was a trick that my Mom and I learned on our trip in France.
Always, always, and always bring kleenex and hand sanitizer with you. There may not be toilet paper or soap.
Don't be alarmed if there are other guests in your stall, and I mean bugs or some lizards. In Cambodia, there were geckos (not Geico) that usually hung out in the bathroom stalls because it was a cool, damp place. If you don't bug them, they won't bug you. **I actually did call the lizards, "Geico" until my friends reminded me while laughing that it was "geckos."**My last final tip is for the ladies, and that would be knowing how to squat. If you've gone rough camping (not glamour camping with plumbing) then you know what I'm talking about. Many public bathrooms don't have a toilet bowl above ground, but rather it's on the floor. So there is nothing for you to sit on, and you'll have to squat. The best clothes for these occasions is dresses and skirts.
Do you have any other tips or stories to share about bathrooms from your own trips abroad?
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