Jim Eagles: Hold on and buy chips

Going to the loo in a foreign country, or even in an unfamiliar part of New Zealand, can be quite an adventure. In many parts of our own country, finding a toilet can be quite a challenge - it's one area where Australian towns seem to do much better - but in unfamiliar lands it can seem like mission impossible.

It's also, as previous columns have discussed, a mission which may be unpleasant to complete because of the very different customs throughout the world.

Fortunately, we have lots of good advice from some very experienced travellers - local travel agents - on how to make the best of the situation.

The almost unanimous advice from travel agents is, when in need in a foreign land, go to a McDonald's, (and some add Burger King as well).

United Travel says that "no one here has ever struck a McDonald's in any country that wasn't clean". House of Travel staff agree and add, "Buy chips if you can't sneak in."

If there isn't a McDonald's nearby they suggest you try petrol stations, motorway stops or "walk into a five-star hotel like you are staying there and find the restaurant, bar or coffee shop".

Cathy Ortiz Suarez, from Manurewa Flight Centre, adds that although the McDonald's option works well in Buenos Aires, "If you want to go in comfort you should head for a nice cafe. As public loos are non-existent, no one minds and the waiters, who get more good looking the more expensive the cafe, even greet you with a 'Good day'."

Vivienne Heatley, of United Travel, says that on a trip to Italy she combined a coffee stop with a toilet stop so she could use the cafe's bathroom.

The only public toilets she found were at railway stations. "The smaller stations had fairly grotty toilets but the big stations like Florence had toilets that were clean and spacious."

One problem when you're overseas is finding the loo in the first place.

Melissa Rendell, from Pakuranga Flight Centre, advises that "in countries where you don't speak the language it helps to take a photo to point to when needing directions".

United Travel's Fiona Brown prefers to "check a phrasebook before you go to make sure you understand the difference between male and female signs or words. I've walked into the wrong one."

Everyone agrees that in most parts of the world, particularly Asia and Europe, you also have to be prepared to pay to go.

"Always, always have loose change in your pocket when heading for a European public restroom," advises House of Travel. "In Europe it is definitely user-pays.

"Don't think you can escape the toilet toll, as every public bathroom seems to be guarded by a Gollum-like lavatory leprechaun."

Nikki Dalley, from United Travel St Heliers, reckons it's a price worth paying. "Normally the paid ones are cleaned more regularly."

Her colleague Jan Unsworth warns against taking advantage of finding a pre-paid toilet with the door open. "Do not enter. Instead, shut the door, put your money in, then re-open it.

"If you think you have found a freebie toilet you are sadly mistaken because you will be locked in ... and you could have a long wait until you are rescued." To make things worse she says, it's impossible to get under or over the door or walls.

Another recommendation made by just about everyone is to carry toilet paper, tissues and disinfectant.

Rendell suggests preparing the way with a toilet disinfectant spray, which you can buy at most travel shops and airports, or a packet of Janola toilet-seat disinfectant wipes which are sold at many supermarkets.

The staff at House of Travel offer several suggestions including:

"Always carry WetOnes and use them instead of the cleaning facilities in public toilets. Keep it in your hand for the door handle and discard once you're out."

"Before you leave home, save a couple of toilet rolls just before they finish ... and flatten them so they take less room in a bag ... for when paper is missing or in countries where they use a hose instead."

"Take some air freshener spray or a perfumed hanky to counter any other aromas."

"Travel with a small bottle of Cuticura antibacterial hand sanitiser."

United Travel's Stephen Jennings reckons it's a good idea to use antiseptic handcream not only after a visit to the loo but also before eating. "Once applied it dries very fast and kills 99 per cent of all bacteria."

For some places special precautions are recommended.

United Travel's Natasha Chambers says that when you're somewhere like Turkey or Macedonia you should "wear shoes that are easily washable".

Suarez advises that if you have to use the toilet on an Indian train, you should hold on to the support rail no matter how dirty it may look. "Indian trains are notorious for stopping suddenly and it can get a whole lot messier if you're not holding on."

James Highstead, of Auckland's United Travel CBD, suggests that if you're forced to use the toilets in a Morocan long-distance train you "take your own toilet paper, a portable cleaning kit and a peg for your nose".

Shernaz Engineer, from Hamilton East Flight Centre, warns anyone travelling in the rural parts of northern India to "be brave as you will have to go in the bushes" and "never try to use the leaves as toilet paper ... because you would be mighty sore if you did that".

In countries like Mexico, Turkey or Greece you should never flush your toilet paper, advises House of Travel, "because the sewage system is so ancient that even in the most luxurious 5-star hotel if you flush the paper the toilet could well regurgitate the last offering ... use the bin beside the loo".

Several travel agents had some advice - gleaned from personal experience - about using squat toilets: secure all loose objects.

"Even take the sunglasses off the top of your head," says Caroline Ellett, of United Travel Birkenhead. "I once lost a pair in Turkey while trying to position my feet correctly."

Several travel agents advise that if you're going to countries with squat toilets you should, as Sue Mist of United Travel Howick puts it, "strengthen the thigh muscles so you don't need to sit down".

When all else fails, the Travel Doctor suggests buying a Travel John.

A what? "A personal urinal bag. For men and women this is the 21st century solution when you have to go. The Travel John contains Liqsorb which is a super-absorbent gel. The bag is leak proof, hygienic, odourless and disposable."