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May 09, 2008
You Pee, You Pay!
Bus Station Pay Toilets, Querétaro
They lack the vitriolic signage of some facilities in the United States, but Mexico has its fair share of toilets where one has to pay for entry. These are especially common in bus terminals, like the one in Querétaro, pictured above.
In most cases, they cost MXN $3, which is roughly USD $0.28. The machines as shown above make change for 10 or 5 peso coins, but they do not accept 20 or 50 peso notes. If there is a human standing or sitting outside the entrance of the facility, they usually can make change for smaller bills.
The theory is that the money goes toward the upkeep of the bathroom and to provide things like toilet paper, hand towels and soap. I'm not convinced that there is not some serious skimming off the top going on.
I do not expect scented terrycloth towels and a foot massage for that price, but I have been to several such bathrooms where it seems like a rip-off. At times, an attendant will give you three squares (yes, three individual squares) of toilet paper for your MXN $0.30 as you enter. It's better if they have an actual roll of toilet paper you can use as you need it, but often, when these are provided, they're not in the stalls where you use it, but rather out by the sinks where you wash your hands. All the stalls share one big industrial roll from a dispenser mounted on the wall, and the user is supposed to tear some off as she enters. I do not understand where the economy is in that. I think the idea is that they only have to pay for one dispenser that way, but when faced with the decision in advance about how much toilet paper one is going to need when the actual time comes, the tendency is to over-estimate. No one wants to get caught with his pants down, literally, in such a situation.
It doesn't hurt when traveling in Mexico (and probably anywhere, for that matter) to bring one's own toilet paper. It seems odd to me that no company has come up with any kind of product for this here. I've seen Charmin travel rolls (small, packed in a hard plastic case) in the United States, but to my knowledge, they don't sell those in Mexico. Go figure. The best commercially-available product that I've seen here are moist wipes that are used for babies, and those seem to be available everywhere here. Otherwise, you should try to remember to wad up a bunch and stick it in your bag or pocket before going out and about.
Sooner or later, you'll be glad you did.
Posted by crispy at May 9, 2008 12:10 PM
Comments
that's actually: You Pay? You Pee!
Posted by: brett at May 10, 2008 05:26 PM
Avoid at all cost...
I'm mexican, and believe me, the bathrooms and toilets that charge you are the ugliest, dirties ever, don't know why, sounds silly, since they charge you.
If you need to use a toilet, just go to a restaurant, don't ask where is located, just find the signs, (look always at the end of the room) and use it.
By the way, there are charging toilets everywhere in the world, I used one in Boston, a cabinet that charge you $0.25 (almost the same that the one in the photo)
Posted by: Jorge Arturo at May 10, 2008 10:03 PM
I just use my hand :)
Posted by: Akira at May 12, 2008 12:27 PM