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Original poster

A question about Greek Islands and toilets

35 replies

kissmyheathenass · 06/01/2015 17:24

Looking at the Greek Islands for a holiday and the one thing that puts me off is the toilet situation (not being poncey, one of us suffers OCD and fear of all things toiletish). Does anyone know of any hotels (maybe the big modern ones?) that have toilets which cope with paper being flushed?

OP posts:
EnglishGirlApproximately · 06/01/2015 17:29

Its not the toilets its the entire sewerage and drainage system. We stayed in a 5* in Crete this year and the advice was to not flush, although I'm sure people do.

Middleagedmotheroftwo · 06/01/2015 17:32

You don't see the paper. You put it in a bin with a lid. If you can't cope, quite a large part of "abroad" is probably not for you!

OneHandFlapping · 06/01/2015 17:33

Take nappy sacks and get everyone to put their used paper in one. Then you don't have to see/smell other people's shitty paper. At least in your own room.

HemanOrSheRa · 06/01/2015 17:35

I agree with English its not the toilets themselves. And trust me, they KNOW if you've flushed paper down the toilet!

Original poster
kissmyheathenass · 06/01/2015 17:49

Thanks for replies - lots of abroad is good for us thanks Middleaged, but one of my dcs has OCD and would struggle with this.

Ok, so if the plumbing is the issue, then I can see why even 5* hotels have the same system. Looks like it's Turkey then! (assuming Turkey has a different sanitation system).

OP posts:
EnglishGirlApproximately · 06/01/2015 17:54

I haven't been to turkey for a few years but last time I was there some of the toilets in public areas were little more than holes covered by planks! Can't remember about the hotel though sorry.

CorporateRockWhore · 06/01/2015 17:55

While you do have to put your paper in a lidded bin, practically every toilet I've been in on Greek Islands has been bloody palatial! Spotlessly clean and beautifully decorated.

GlitzAndGigglesx · 06/01/2015 17:59

When I went to Crete the holiday rep provided us with scented nappy bags to put tissue in. Being 8 at the time I thought it was odd but still had a great time

westcountrywoman · 06/01/2015 18:02

It's the same in Turkey I'm afraid OP (or at least it was last time I visited in 1998).

Original poster
kissmyheathenass · 06/01/2015 18:05

I remember the planks over holes type toilet from my travelling days - do they still have them in Turkey? I dont think ds would cope very well Sad. Im extremely cheered to read about palatial toilets though - that would suit! About these lidded bins, are the public ones generally clean or grim? We arent lightweights but Ds genuinely has OCD and this can cause so much anxiety and stress thereby defeating the purpose of a holiday.

The last few holidays have been in Balaerics/Canaries and I wanted to do something a bit different this year. Any other ideas anyone?

OP posts:
FairyPenguin · 06/01/2015 18:06

I went to Turkey last year and it was all flushable.

Gerberama · 06/01/2015 18:09

I went to crete last year and nobody ever mentioned anything about not flushing paper Confused

Original poster
kissmyheathenass · 06/01/2015 18:23

Gerberama, I think paper blocks the sewerage system up and I have heard of people finding their hotel room flooded with shitty water . Maybe you were jsut very lucky Grin.

Fairypenguin, where in Turkey did you stay?

OP posts:
youbethemummylion · 06/01/2015 18:26

I went to Marmaris last year and we flushed our paper there were no warnings not to do so anywhere.

mswibble · 06/01/2015 18:29

You'll find the bins for loo roll in Turkey as well, at least in the resorts we have been - Bodrum, Gumbet, Turgetreis and Marmaris. Think hotels were ok, at least I dont remember being asked to not flush the loo roll, but in all the bars and restaurants they had big signs asking to use the bin. Some places are nice with pedal bins so you're not having to touch anything, other places...not so nice...

FairyPenguin · 07/01/2015 06:48

I was at a hotel in Olu Deniz but we ate out as well and definitely don't remember not being able to flush paper. We have also been to Side a few years back and that was fine too.

Having been to Greece a few times, I would definitely have noticed if we weren't supposed to. In fact, I think I was expecting the bins the first time we went to Turkey.

Bunbaker · 07/01/2015 10:12

We went to Crete last year and could flush loo roll down the toilet.

Corfu has dreadful plumbing that can't take loo roll though so I would avoid it.

specialsubject · 07/01/2015 11:08

if you are in a big modern characterless all inclusive then it may have big enough pipes to take toilet roll. But no guarantees. And no guarantees that outside the hotel it isn't going straight into the sea.

if it is that important, Turkey and Greece aren't for you. I appreciate that this is a mental health issue but you may have to recognise that this limits travel.

Original poster
kissmyheathenass · 07/01/2015 16:39

After lots of thought, I have decided to avoid Turkey and Greece as I would be on tenterhooks the whole time. So now I am looking at Italy instead. It's shame we are limited but there lots of wonderful places to discover that do have more modern sanitation. I assume Italy is ok?

OP posts:
Bunbaker · 07/01/2015 16:52

Italy is wonderful. We have been to lake Garda twice recently and love it. You can't go wrong with Italy.

Original poster
kissmyheathenass · 07/01/2015 17:31

Bunbaker, I see you cropping up on Lake Garda threads, I can see you love the place - tell me more. What is the best town by the lake to stay in - we wont have a car and like to eat locally so somewhere with lots of restaurants close by is best for us. Do you have any recommendations for hotels? I know I can get to Verona by train but what about travelling around without a car - I would love to take dcs to Gardaland and also a trip up Mount Baldo would be fab. are these places accessible by taxi/bus? Just looked at flights with Flybe and am desperate to book them!

OP posts:
Behooven · 07/01/2015 17:38

Book it! You won't be disappointed

Original poster
kissmyheathenass · 07/01/2015 17:40

Where did you go, please tell me more - I cant book anything till dh gets home with his credit card as mine is maxed!

OP posts:
InfinitySeven · 07/01/2015 17:42

Italy sounds lovely, Kissmy.

I think you've made a good decision. I visited a few Greek islands in the Summer, and the sanitation varied hugely, but even the clean toilets were pretty poor. I've never been so happy to see an airport toilet than when we landed...flushing is a godsend.

DPs mum was so traumatised that she's refusing to leave the country again. And we were all pretty prepared, with lots of scented toilet roll and nappy sacks etc...it's just grim.

Bunbaker · 07/01/2015 17:51

We stayed in Garda the first time and Sirmione the second time. They are both at the south end of the lake which is flatter and nearer to Verona airport.

The ferry is the best way to visit the lake towns, but the bus service is very good as well. We don't "do" theme parks so I have no idea how to get to Gardaland. You definitely don't need a car for lake Garda. Friends of ours who did have a hire car found the driving a little stressful and busy.

We visited Lazise, Peschiera, Malcesine and Gardone by ferry and enjoyed all of them. We liked Garda and Sirmione equally. Garda has lots of lakeside cafes, whereas Sirmione is built up right to the lake edge, but both have loads of places to eat, as do all the lakeside towns.

This website lists all the towns worth visiting.

I know I go on about lake Garda, but it is breathtakingly beautiful, especially the further north you go, there is so much to see and do, the food is great and so are the Aperol Spritz cocktails.

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