French Aire toilets

Other to say they are disgusting - No!

We do not often stop at Aires and the ones we have visited have all been in Normandy or adjacent regions but when we do stop to use them we have always found toilet blocks of the type we are accustomed to.

Where did you have this unfortunate experience?

Now you’re asking! It was coming back to Cherbourg from Brittany. I should’ve made a note...for future reference (avoidance!).

I had to use once and had loose legged trousers which had to be turned up first, hand bag around neck an then a wobbly squat! And I was a lot younger and flexible then!

The one place I came across this type of loo in France was in St Valery-en-Caux, in upper Normandy and they were in the town centre and it was quite a time ago.

We stopped at the viewing area for the Millau Viaduct in France about three years ago. It is a really beautiful, state of the art iconic structure, world famous, award winning etc. ……..and the toilets? A hole in the ground!

I first discovered them way back in the 20th century, my thoughts at the time were, I suppose this is how everyone went once........amazingly they still have them!

I think a lot of them have gone now and been replaced. Where very countrified places have them I have found the disabled toilet is usually a normal one.

The key is to stop at the aires that are service stations with petrol which will have the right sort of loo. The ones in between that have no services apart from loos are where the hole in the ground sort linger, but they are dying out.
The ones with Paul's have the best sandwiches imo.

Mamie: yep, the ones with the petrol are definitely the ones to head for! And, yes, the choice of sandwiches is great. However, sometimes, needs must ?!

I lived in China for a while and squat toilets are common there. I got better at using them although never mastered the squat. A knee bent and leaning forward, bum out at the back, was the best I could manage.

On a trip to India we had a stop on a long road journey the toilets were so disgusting the ladies went and found a bush. Almost as bad was the underground toilets in the center of Verona, to make it worse there was a crone selling toilet paper as you went in

I'm now used to squat toilets on the continent. Use like Gagajo says above - knee bent and leaning forward, bum out at the back. I can't manage a full squat now: if I did I'd never get back up again.

Some Aires are pretty disgusting. We found that the best were to be found in the bigger Aires with a petrol station and a shop selling sweets and souvenirs. The most revolting I ever encountered was just over the border from Geneva. The stench was so unbearable that I resolved to cross my legs until we reached our destination! Successfully, in case you wondered.

They are a bit smelly but no different to weeing in the fresh air as we did as children!!

( The countryside isn't as obliging these days.)?

Needs must.

GagaJo
Chinese swat ones were at there worst when you arrived on a ... no water allocation day and were still asked to pay. Oh, and some has a no door policy but that was a luxury as some had no partitions.

I always avoid the “Aires” we generally leave the motorway and find a L’Eclerc.
I have a real problem with toilets unfortunately, it can make travel a real chore.
I really want to visit India but I’m too nervous because of my phobia with toilets.

Pants down to heels not on floor. Spread legs either side in foot rests. Put weight on heels. Lean forward. Squat. Stick bum out. Put elbows on knees. Go. Alternatively find bush or nearest supermarket. Always carry tissues in bag. Job done (sic). Actually if you go on the autoroutes which have a toll there are usually decent loos after you’ve gone through the ticket collection point.

I think I actually preferred the hole in the ground than manky toilet seats! Once you get the hang of it, leave your coat and bag with your other half it is simple!

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Reminds me of a trip to France in the 70's. Stopped off at an auberge in the middle of nowhere, when I asked ou sont les toilettes? Was pointed to a door. Imagine my surprise when I went through the door and found myself in the middle of an overgrown field!!! I kid you not! As someone said....needs must ha ha.

This is the toilets I had in my own home in Malaysia you do get used to it but not good if you have a bad tummy ?

Memories are flooding back BlueBelle. Indian Holiday. I could just manage hole in the ground for a wee if I removed knickers into handbag and hoisted skirt above my neck!!
But at the airport with the runs...the attendant usually showed me into a western style cubicle but I went in so often (long stopover) that she realised I was in trouble and just ushered me into the first available cubicle!!

Visited India on a tour earlier this year. The toilets in the hotels we stayed in were fine though all had a bucket .and hose, not sure what for , but those we stopped at en route were generally holes, and take your own paper.
As for the French Aires they look like shining stainless ( ha) steel cathedrals and can be seen for miles, such expectation, but once again, disappointment with wet smelly holes. So far have managed to avoid. What to do with ones trousers, tres awkward.