Most restaurants, bars and tourist areas in Thailand have modern and clean Western toilets so there is no need to worry if you are caught short when you are out and about. In the majority of cases the toilet will have what looks like a mini shower appliance next to it which serves the same purpose as a bidet does in the West. In some places in Thailand the plumbing system isn’t always as good as it might be, so you may occasionally use a toilet and see signs in English and Thai asking patrons not to flush paper down the pan, but place it in the bin provided instead.
When it comes to visiting some local restaurants and bars, particularly away from tourist areas, you may encounter Asian toilets. For those that don’t know, an Asian toilet is basically a private cubicle with a hole in the floor. There is no seat to sit on so it’s just a case of squatting down until you’re done. You will see a large container of water in the corner of the cubicle with a small bucket which is used to flush the toilet. Be aware that Asian toilets are often a magnet for mosquitoes who are attracted to the container of standing water, so be on your guard!
