Hotel terms

Bidets and water in the toilet abroad

You are about to check in and want to know if the toilet has water.

A bidet or hand shower gives you water to clean yourself after using the toilet. Muslim travellers rely on it daily, and it is not the same everywhere you go.

How will you meet it on the trip?

You will meet four set-ups. A hand shower fixed to the wall is the simplest.

A bidet is a separate fixture. A wash seat on the toilet gives water with a button. Some bathrooms give you only paper.

Hotels use different words, and a listing that says “bidet” can mean any of the first three. Public toilets, coaches and sightseeing stops are the places where water is least likely to be there.

A tip for the days away from the hotel

Pack a small refillable bottle with a spout and keep it in your day bag. This also helps with wudu, which you will want to keep on the way between sights. Our prayer-stop itinerary checklist lists facilities to plan for each day.

For the hotel, ask in writing before you pay. Use the private-stay requirements builder to turn this into a message to the hotel.

See how to plan sightseeing around five daily prayers for where to wash and pray on the road. More terms are in the halal labels and evidence hub.

If you are choosing a hotel for parents or for a long trip, send us your needs and we will help you write the bathroom questions in one message.

Ask about rooms

Common questions

What is the difference between a bidet and a hand shower?

A bidet is a fixture beside the toilet, while a hand shower is a small hose with a spray head fixed to the wall. Both give you water for cleaning. Some modern toilets have a built-in wash function instead. Any of the three can work, so ask which one the room has.

What can I do if the toilet has only paper?

Carry a small bottle or a travel water bottle with a spout and use it in the stall. A bottle you can refill from a tap keeps you independent of what the toilet offers. Plan this for coach rides and sightseeing days, where hotel facilities are not nearby.

Should I ask the hotel before booking?

Yes, and ask for it in writing. The word bidet can be read in different ways, so name what you need: a spray hose or a wash seat inside the room bathroom. A photo of the bathroom from the hotel is a useful answer.

Keep planning

Private-stay requirements builderYou know what the room must have, but writing it to a hotel without sounding demanding is hard.Which arrangements must be confirmed in writing?You cannot chase every small promise, so you want to know which ones really need a paper trail.Prayer-stop itinerary checklistYour itinerary lists every sight and no place to pray, and the afternoon is where it goes wrong.Plan sightseeing around the five daily prayersYou want to see the sights and still pray on time, without rushing either one.