Instead I approach the bar, ask to use their facilities and prepare to hand over some change for it. How much? At least fifty cents, sometimes one euro.

A dearth of cost-free commodes

Public toilets in the Netherlands are something of a hassle. Forget finding freebies in grocery stores. And rarely will you run into a sympathetic clothing store that will scoot you to their private bathroom. By day, many cafés have signs on windows that announce: “Toilets Cost 50 Cents.” Maybe you can get away without paying at some places, but if an employee sees you upon exiting they’ll bluntly ask you to throw them a bone.

As the brown bars fill up at night it’s easier to get away with a “hit and run” bathroom break, but clubs and some music venues will always charge. In these establishments, there is usually a bathroom employee ready to make it worth your money by offering candy, lotions and perfumes.

Important: Never try going au naturel in bushes or parks—it’s illegal and can result in an hefty fine.

The Port-a-John gender gap

This is all strictly speaking from a female’s perspective on toilet options in the city: Men have it way easier. Numerous green-painted metal pissoirs are scattered about Amsterdam downtown, offering a privacy screen and free outdoor set-up to take a leak in anytime of the day or night.

City festivals load even more temporary urinals to the downtown areas, but always designed for men. Of course, the clubs and bars that charge do so for both sexes, but for free use of public bathrooms, men will always have options.

Reliable options for relief

My advice for those who gotta go? These are reliable options:

• Cough up small change and run to your nearest McDonald’s or Burger King for a guaranteed clean bathroom.

• When exiting museums and attractions, make a note to stop by the restrooms. These are usually free and well kept.

• You can always find clean public toilets in main train stations for about fifty cents.

And if you’re taking the train, the big rule is to never, ever, flush when the train is stopped at a station! Even the most advanced looking trains in Europe can have deceiving toilet techniques: they flush straight onto the tracks.

When the tank’s empty, empty the tank

Driving in Holland? Many gas stations don’t charge for their bathroom facilities. If they do, it’s similar to Germany, where the fifty cents you pay turns into a fifty cents coupon you can use for snacks and drinks at the convenient store. These bathrooms are usually sparklingly clean, too.

A history lesson on latrines

When walking in Amsterdam, look out for large cylinder containers covered in advertising posters and strategically placed in busy downtown areas. Those were once free stalls for women created in the 1970s after a demonstration demanded equal public toilet opportunities.

Unfortunately they’ve been closed for years due to improper use—notably drug use—by locals with bad habits.

More toilet tips?

Do you have your own strategies for using the bathroom on the run? Have you used one of Amsterdam’s plentiful public urinals? Share your stories and any questions you have in the comments section below!

The post Going Dutch: Where to find public restrooms in Amsterdam appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

When walking the streets of Paris, every experience seems special, from buying that perfect baguette to spotting your new favorite article of clothing in a store window. So why should something as necessary as going to the bathroom be any different? If you can drink a glass of wine in a beautiful café, you should be able to relieve yourself in style, too, without paying too much for the experience.

Bathrooms in Paris range from elegant department store spa-like treatment to “Turkish toilets” (holes in the ground) that clearly predate air fresheners. But the curious and daring traveler should have no problem entering some of Paris’s most luxurious hotels to freshen up with a touch of refinement. It just takes a bit of know-how.

The challenge

Entering a hotel to use the toilet is a great way to find some of Paris’s most elegant bathrooms while avoiding the fees at stores like Printemps and the hordes of other Cheapos at Starbucks and McDonald’s.

But you can’t just enter any old hotel. Hotels with small lobbies, tiny staffs, or no bar area will most likely call you on your bluff. But the larger, more palatial hotels, equipped with various lounges and restaurants, are the perfect places for a quick and free potty break.

The perks

Quality hotel bathrooms, once inside, usually have fine smelling stalls, cloth towels, and a level of cleanliness that would make a Turkish toilet blush with embarrassment.

And above all, they’re free! The excitement of doing something that feels naughty also gives your nose-powdering an extra thrill in addition to a good story for your friends. But fear not! No laws are being broken.

The poise

It’s easier than you think. Walk into a big hotel, say hello to the doorman as if you were old friends, and beeline for the café, bar, or restaurant area. Invariably these are the areas where you’ll find a bathroom open to customers, and who’s to say you aren’t one?

At the Hotel Carillon, on the Place de la Concorde, for example, walk all the way back to the bar area – don’t stop at the first restaurant area on your right. Around the corner you’ll see the bathrooms, waiting to be used.

The poised traveler will fight shame, fear, and most of all guilt to enter these bathrooms, but it’s not a crime to explore the facilities for a potential future stay, right?  Walk with confidence, don’t ask any questions, and don’t speak to anyone unnecessarily.

The names

Look for the big name 3 and 4-star hotels for the best, most easily accessible bathrooms. The Carillon, the Georges V, the Meurice – they’re all fair game.

Larger chain hotels like Novotel and Pullman will also have accessible toilets, but they’ll be less elegant. They are good to keep in mind when they are convenient, and when needing to relieve yourself is paramount to an elegant, ritzy experience.

The risk

Getting caught is a valid fear, but what concierge is going to ask to see a client’s room key before using the lobby’s bathroom? Besides, one need not stay at a hotel to consume drinks at the hotel’s bar.

The worst that could happen is an evil eye from a hotel worker on your way out – if you’re that obvious. However, your mission will be accomplished and all that they can do is say au revoir.

Also in our guide: Looking for a loo of your own? We also have recommendations for great budget hotels in Paris, all visited, inspected and reviewed by our editors. Read more in our Paris hotel guide and follow these tips for where to stay during your visit.

The post Paris Bathroom Undercover: Find relief in the city’s ritziest hotels appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

1. Je ne regrette rien—NOT.

Dear Musée Edith Piaf, You broke my heart. Was it really necessary to slam the door in my face back in November when I arrived at your doorstep without a set rendezvous? I’ve loved you since my first visit back in 1998, and every visit since. So what gives? Do the math. For over a decade, I’ve been sending folks your way. In this easy, breezy social media world, perhaps a new system is needed? Just asking.

Regrette rien at Anna’s music box shop.

If operations get switched up for the better, do let me know. Nothing in this world would give me more pleasure than happily spreading the word about the “little sparrow” and your collection once more. (5 Rue Crespin du Gast, 75011)

Happy alternative plays on

Yearning for a little “La Vie en Rose” to take home with you? Then trek it to Boîtes à Musique Anna Joliet. Located at the northern end of the Jardin du Palais Royal, Anna and her collection of hand-cranked music boxes have held court here for three decades. Prices start at only €8.

Looking for a specific tune? Just ask. Listen for Debussy, Chopin, and Charles Trénet, along with Mozart, Beethoven and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Yes, fellow felines, “Memory” is always in stock.

The Centre Pompidou. All that plumbing… and not one decent toilet.

2. Skip the loo—entirely.

Dear Centre Pompidou, I love you, but it’s time to clean up your act, as my grandmother Helen would quip. I’m no restroom diva, but golly gee wham—I nearly fainted during a recent visit. All that piping on the outside of the building and there’s still a problem? It makes the mind reel! Perhaps it’s time to get Point WC on the horn. After all, their restrooms at the Louvre and Printemps are state of the art and consistently spotless. It’s just a thought.

By the way, the Point WC washrooms are pretty hot. One euro gets you private seating in a water closet lit by rose-colored lights, and stocked with fluorescent toilet paper in blues, pinks, and greens. Just don’t leave your soda pop bottle behind. They will hunt you down, and give you a scolding at sink side! My-O-My, bad.

Alternative pit stop

Cheapos, if you plan to visit the Centre Pompidou, pick your potty spot prior to your arrival. Or run nearby to the grand washrooms at the BHV department store (Bazaar de l’Hotel de Ville), which also boasts one of my pet views of Paris. It’s a straight shot down rue du Renard. Make a left at rue Rivoli. It’s also definitely worth the wait (or trot)!

So what’s red hot? Follow my lead!

Farewell, Sympa.

1. Sympa

Due to a recent fire, two of my favorite Sympa shops have closed. Located at the historic “Bal de l’Elysée Montmartre,” this is where Can Can starlet (and muse of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec) La Goulue got her start before joining the Moulin Rouge.

I nearly cried when I spotted the damage. Confession: I did cry. Its façade is still a beauty, on the outside at least. I’ll keep you posted on any future reconstruction work.

In the meantime, the Sympa bargain bins on rue Steinkerque and along Boulevard de Rochechouart are still overflowing with tremendous deals.

Wendy at the Starbucks kitty-corner to the Moulin Rouge.

2. Starbucks

Café Royalists, look away because you’re going to hate this tip. During my sister Wen’s recent trip to Paris, the Starbucks at Place Blanche is where she picked up her morning coffee.

Located kitty-corner to the Moulin Rouge, the place was bustling, but by the end of her week-long visit, the amiable staff not only knew her name, but also her standard “Café Latte skim” order. Did they make fun of her French? I don’t think so!

Inside and out, the jaunty joint was packed with locals, not tourists, by the way. Don’t hate me because I’m truthful.

Pumped and ready at Minutit moins 7.

3. Minuit moins 7

And speaking of red hot steals, I recently scored a pair of Christian Louboutin kitten heels at a flea market for just €15. They’re real and they’re spectacular. Except for the soles, the black leather shoes were in perfect condition.

So what to do? I took them to the Minuit moins 7 for a much-needed official red resoling. Located in the historic passage Véro-Dodat, the repair will cost just €20. Also, this is where Monsieur Louboutin takes his very own shoes. Ask about their signature homemade (and affordable) shoe polish.

“Gaz à les étages around 1880” at the Bibliothèque Forney

4. Bibliothèque Forney

While strolling about in the Marais, I stumbled upon the “Gaz à tous les étages” exhibition at the Bibliothèque Forney in the Hotel de Sens (1 rue du Figuier, 75004). It’s definitely worth a pop in. Named as a nod to the little blue enamel signs that can still be spotted on buildings throughout the City of Light (“All floors have gas”—a 19th century boasting), the exhibit recounts the brilliant history of gas in Paris.

Highlights include antique lighting and cooking equipment, gas company uniforms, and a stellar collection of advertising posters along with a 1920s kitchen and hair salon, an Art Nouveau bathroom, and Frédéric Kastner’s weirdly entrancing gas organ. It’s a looker, and one of only two in the world. “Gaz à tous” will stay on through January 28, 2012.

Happy New Year, Cheapos!

The post Paris: What’s hot (and what’s not) in 2012 appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Just ask and you shall (hopefully) receive:

1. Water at meals

All meals, from the ritziest restaurant to the lowliest donor kebab, should come with a free pitcher of tap water. Even an espresso comes with a glass of room temperature hydration.

If you don’t have a pitcher when your food comes, simply ask for “une carafe d’eau, s’il vous plait,” and don’t hesitate to ask for refills.

2. Bread at meals

Bread is also a staple at the table, so don’t hesitate to ask for it. In typical restaurants, mustard, salt, pepper and bread will be put on the table before you receive your meal. Of course there are many exceptions, but if you’re having a sit-down meal, asking for bread (“le pain, s’il vous plait”) will surprise no one. This is the birthplace of the baguette, after all.

3. Maps

Tourists hitting the streets of Paris with their guidebook maps are often disappointed by the missing streets and tiny Metro maps printed inside the cover of their books. Fortunately cartography is a big business in Paris. Metro maps, in both large and small formats, can be obtained for free at most Metro stations. (Simply ask for “un plan de Metro, s’il vous plait.”)

And the Galeries Lafayettes, one of Paris’ famed department stores, prints free city maps (“plan de Paris”) that can be found in the reception areas of most of Paris’ hotels and hostels, along with other major tourist sights.

4. Samples

This one’s delicate. Free samples are abundant in Paris – if you know when to ask. Many chocolate shops will offer a taste if you linger long enough, but play your cards right. If the shopkeeper can tell you’re going to buy something, he or she will have fewer qualms about offering up a sample to help you decide. And sometimes not.

When you stroll through outdoor markets, merchants are all too eager to have you taste their pineapples and mangos, so just say “Merci!” and taste away. Cheese shops will also be fairly willing to cut you a sliver if you ask to taste the difference between two choices, if you’re clearly going to purchase some fromage.

5. Toilets

While there are many free public bathrooms that look like small space pods located throughout the city, bathrooms are also available with any purchase at a café. If you purchase a café or a Perrier at the café bar (remember, it’s cheaper at the bar than at a table), you can ask for the bathroom without worries.

Note: If the bathroom door looks like it is coin-operated, simply ask for the “jeton” (token) from the server and he or she will hand you a silver coin that will open the door.

6. ATM withdrawals (for Bank of America clients)

Free money? Well, almost. If you want to avoid paying pesky bank fees, you can withdraw without charge from the BNP Paribas bank if you have a Bank of America account. If this applies to you, you will curtail any travelers’ checks or foreign exchange fees that have troubled travelers for so many years. (Read our guide to ATM bank fees for Americans abroad.)

7.  Wi-Fi

I’ve said it once and I’ve said it again: paying for the internet in Paris is a scam. With Paris’ public Wi-Fi program, and the various wireless networks available in cafés and McDonald’s, there is no reason to drop a dime to check your email.

For more information, read my previous post on where to find free Wi-Fi in Paris. Trust me, it still works as long as you have a smart phone or laptop.

Your favorite free things in Paris?

What other freebies have you found in the City of Light? Tell us, Cheapos, in the comments section.

The post Paris: 7 things that are always free in Paris appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Here are my top picks for where to ‘go’ when the going gets tough.

Cafes and Restaurants

Italians are a little protective of their places of hygienic refuge. This is why they usually put up a sign saying that the toilets are for paying customers only. However, various Florentine restaurants, bars and cafés have recently been told to share their toilet love—even when no one’s buying anything. As you can imagine, proprietors are still a little “pissed” about this new rule so you have two choices: piddle and run or buy a drink to go with your visit. I recommend the latter.

Department Stores

Coin (Via Dei Calzaiuoli, 56/R) and Rinascente (Piazza della Repubblica) are two big department stores located near the Duomo. What else do they have in common? Free toilets!

Both stores are open daily too though hours vary.

Public Toilets

The city of Florence has graciously built a series of public toilets in and around the city center, and most tourism offices now offer a guide to said public potties (see image above).

Although I have never tried these out, word on the street is that they’re not too bad. However, they are not free. A sitting at a Florentine public outhouse will put you out €.60-1 depending on location. If you feel the need to shower too, this will cost you €3.60. To plan your toilet tour, here’s a helpful map.

Mercato Centrale

After filling your basket with fresh produce from the Mercato’s stalls and maybe wolfing down Florence’s fabled lempredotto sandwiches, take advantage of the free stalls in San Lorenzo market’s main building (see map here). Toilets here are frequented, but clean.

Finally, a word on “Turkish Toilets…”

I feel the obligation to forewarn you on something you might encounter whilst public bathrooming in Florence. There is this monstrosity, this relic of the past that was somehow overlooked by the Renaissance movement. If you do come across that legendary ceramic hole in the ground  (i.e. the Turkish Toilet), please keep these steps in mind. First, use the foot grips. Second, empty your pockets. Third, relax and stand back while you flush. Amen.

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