In grade school, we asked permission for the little girls’ room. In high school, we also asked then went to the bathroom to gossip or put on make up. In college, we did not ask permission, we sauntered out of class. Public toilet Terror is non uncommon in The Women’s Travel Group.
As senior women today, some of us dread public bathrooms. Some of you tell us on the phone that you are nervous about public toilets. Why this fear? Women don’t fear actual bricks and mortar. What we fear is being on a schedule in conflict with ‘the trip schedule’. Who isn’t embarrassed to ask for a pit stop in front of strangers, a male driver and possibly male guide?
In destinations where the food is different, we worry about indigestion and side effects. When the food is too oily or rich, we worry about flatulence. Some of us worry abut feeling car sick even though we don’t at home.
Yes we also worry about the ickiness of public bathrooms. Yes we fret about using up a thin wad of paper then needing more. And we all hate airplane bathrooms.
Here is the reality. If you ask for a bathroom stop, it will happen! We can almost guarantee others will accompany you to the toilets.
If you eat unusual food and/or feel car sick, we guarantee you others will move so you’ll get the front seat.
Need more toilet paper? Someone in our hyper prepared group has it on hand.
For public toilets, here are some rules: Get ready, your own toilet paper in hand for instance. Try for the corner stall, so your possessions are walled on 3 sides. (Some sources say stalls closest to the door are the cleanest as people tend to use the middle ones). Use the hook for your bag; if no hook, place your bag, next to the wall. Wear easy to pull down no zipper pants or a long skirt. Bunch it all up, then squat as best as you can. If you need to touch the toilet, use a piece of toilet paper or towel.
Wash hands well, then use a paper towel to open the ladies room door. If you touch the sink faucet or other surfaces, use a bit of sanitizer. Ask the group, someone will have it if you don’t.
If you are in the airport, and there is a rest room connected to a restaurant, use that one. It will likely be cleaner. You might have buy a coffee to use it. Oh Oh. Coffee will make you need another bathroom stop.
PS inside note: drivers and guides know where the good toilets are. We had a guide in India who classified facilities as friendly all the way to unfriendly. That softened expectations. The photo is of the cleanest toilet ever in Saudi Arabia; we complimented the staff it was so perfect.
Join the club and we all worry together about our next pit stop. Brutally frank tips from The Women’s Travel Group, award winning tours for women. Contact us here: https://www.thewomenstravelgroup.com/contact or call us 646 309 5607.
