Restrooms!

How plentiful (and findable) depends on the city - do you have specific cities in France & Italy? For example, in Paris, yes, there used to be 'pay' toilets but they are now coinless, at least they were in 2008. (If this has changed can someone let us know?). For other places we carry a good supply of the 20 and 10 euro cent coins. Or you can use the same stops as in the U.S. ... department stores, McD, Starbucks, ... As Steve pointed out, the locals have the same needs. Keep an eye tuned for signs that read "WC" and you should be fine.

In French cities, you'll see coin-op public toilet booths on the streets. They're very clean; sanitized after every use. Though not as widespread, they also exist in some Italian cities. The alternative in Italy, is to go into a bar and ask to use the facilities. This is quite acceptable. I have heard that it's actually required by law that they allow you the use, but I'm not sure if that's true. Churches usually have toilets, as well, sometimes with attendants who expect or require a small payment. Keep a supply of change with you.

My rule is to always take the opportunity when you have it. Visit the Louvre? Use the bathroom on the way out. Visit Santa Croce? The same.

If desparate, just wander into the inside of a bar or cafe as if you've been sitting outside and look for the stairs in the back. You'll see the WC sign.

Not entirely serious, but you might take this opportunity to wean yourself to an addiction to water if you have one. It is possible that rather than having a small bladder you are drinking more than your body needs.

Always take the opportunity to use the bathroom on a train before getting into your destination station.

I have the exact same problem, and will be FINE with having to pay whatever I have to pay to pee. I hate New York City because of the lack of restrooms--I would gladly pay tens of dollars per use for a restroom in Times Square! Though the the ones in Bryant Park are lovely, and right around the corner.

I have the same problem too, and I do find it to be a problem to find a restroom at times. I'm not always near a Starbucks, McD (and the ones I've been to you have to buy something to use the restroom) or a dept store. It's not been my experience that churches have restrooms (the only one I can think of that does is Notre Dame, in the park behind - but sometimes it is closed).

I find cafes to be the best bet. If it's not crowded they do notice you're not a customer, which can be awkward but I've gotten good at pretending like I am and if all else fails, I offer them money to let me use the restroom.

In my experience, it's definitely not as easy to find a restroom in Europe as it is here. I'm always on the look out for one, and if I see one I use it.

And I think Keri meant 1 and 2 euro coins, not 10 and 20.

Jeff,, only a man could say that,, hmmf,, and how many children have YOU had,, LOL

nicole, the coin op toilet booths you see in Paris are FREE now,, I personally do not like them much, I am always afraid they will start their automatic clean cycle with me locked inside( completely impossible but I think its my claustrophobia messing with my mind) .They are however clean and there seem to be quite a few of them. I always carry a bit of tissue in my purse,, just in case,, this is true for Italy too,, toilet paper can be non existant or like cardboard.

You can always find a loo in a McDonalds, but many of them have a coded entry lock on wc door, and the code is on the receipt they give you after you buy something. So, you are looking at a euro for cheapest item usually.

Museums always seem to have them.

My rule is never,, ever pass up a washroom,, if you don't have to go now,, you may in 1/2 hr ,, so use it when you see it.

And don't forget department stores. The WC is usually on an upper floor so you need to ask where it is and you don't have to pay (except in Harrod's, of course).

Hotels have the best restrooms -- especially large luxury hotels. Just look around. And for Times Square in NYC, try the Mariott Marquis. The restrooms are on the second level where the convention rooms are.

Whether traveling with my mom, wife or daughter. I've learned to take mental note of every toilet I pass. I never know when one of the women in my life will say, "I have to pee."

Also get used to the word toilet. Although most seem to be marked "WC", everyone will understand if you ask for a "toilet". They may or may not understand "bathroom" or "restroom".

There are enough toilets around but be sure to keep a supply of coins, 50 Euro cents seems to be acceptable.

We organize and stash the cash according to denomination: Euros, Eurettes, and Eurinettes. I always keep a pocketful of the latter.

Let me second the suggestion of large, expensive international chain hotels as good places for a pit stop--anywhere in the world. On the first floor, there is almost always a restroom nearby the lobby bar. And on the first two or three floors above are the ballrooms and meeting rooms for conferences--another prime place for public toilets.

Omg Pat!! I have almost the same fear about the public toilets...except mine is that the door opens while I'm in there! Now I can add yours to mine and be really afraid! Lol.

Let's move on to what you will find in some smaller places in Italy.

I also have bathroom issues...I always have a small bathroom bag that has hand sanitizer, wipes, toilet paper, and toilet seat covers in it.

Denny--your post made me LOL!

For Italy, I have generally found that train stations always have toilets that you have to pay for--something like 50 euro cents. I have seen change machines outside the bathrooms, but they tend to be broken.

General public facilities are rare. Museums generally always have a free bathroom (the one in the basement of the Uffizi is quite nice!). Churches rarely have bathrooms, although thankfully Santa Croce had one outside when my dad got ill.

Restaurants and cafes always have one and since we generally could time our bladder to our need for espresso, we never had the customer/not a customer issue. General tourist attractions may or may not have one. The Colosseum does, but they're not very nice (think port-a-potty). St. Patrick's Well in Orvieto doesn't.

If on the road, the Autogrille stations always have a restroom, generally with an attendant that you leave a tip for. Trains have bathrooms, but they are less nice than the Colosseum's in my experience.

1. keep a pkg of Kleenex w/ you
2. learn to balance/squat so you can pee even in a nasty toilet stall or along the road if out in the countryside Normandy warning: the thick brambles/nettles are vicious. I have respect for our WWII GIs on another level after darting behind a high hedgerow. I was doing the usual female balancing act of trying to keep my pants from getting wet and didn't realize my face and one hand brushed the branches. Within minutes my face and hand were on fire. I did find some ointment in a pharmacy, but it took sev hours and applications to give me relief.
3. delicate related subject: We've all had tummy upsets and had to use a public toilet or be subjected to someone else's odiferous problems. Magellan's sells individual packets of Just a Drop that you pour into the toilet bowl first. The main ingredient is eucalyptus oil which you can buy at a natural foods store; I found a 1 oz bottle that has an insert like an olive oil bottle that lets you shake in 1 drop at a time. It works as well as the pkgs, but would be less convenient to carry during the day in a purse.

Re "restroom", I even had trouble finding one in Canada a couple of times until I was enlightened that it was referred to as a "washroom" over there. Sounds like it's strictly an American thing?

Anyway, I agree, just get used to using the word "toilet". In Russian, "toilet" in fact refers to the bathroom, and not to the porcelain god itself.

Journey from CDG to Paris is over 30 minutes. Public transporation options do not contain toilets.

Edwin

I did mean 10 and 20 euro cent coins. In Ireland the pay WC was 40 euro cents, last we visited. It was 50 euro cents in Venice. In Istanbul it's running 1TL which is about 66 cents. If prices are now up to 1€ and 2€ coins then, wow, that's inflation of a different sort. ;-}

I do recall that "attended" restrooms tended to want the € coins, but I was thinking of the unattended, coin operated facilities on the street. And these are now free in Paris, yes? So it all averages out.

I'm sorry keri, my brain didn't read "cent", you're absolutely right!

I am like that too. Super small bladder. I went to both Italy and France and had no issues. The museum restrooms are always really clean, so I would go when I entered AND right before I left. Just like in the US, if you walk into a crowded restaurant, just pretend like you are eating there and walk into the restrooms. Don't carry all your bags because that is a dead giveaway (hand that to whoever you are with), do your business and leave.

Don't stress though. There was always somewhere to go.

I heard : in Paris the ground very near the Eiffel Tower is used as a "toilet" at night, because of a lack of public toilets there. (A strong odor of urine on the ground there).

Cindy,

I think your washroom bag is a wonderful idea. I am going to start packing my own when on vacation.

Paula

I agree with others, never pass up an opportunity to use a toilet in Europe. One recent irrritating experience while in Saltzburg - the public WC required a 1 euro coin to get the stall door to open. Although there was an attendent she claimed to have no change, even for a 2 euro coin. She wouldn't even take the 2 euro coin and unlock the stall. You either had the exact coin or forget it. While I appreciate attendants, and don't mind tipping them to keep the facilities clean, I have alway found it obnoxious to have to pay to perform such a basic function.