If you’ve ever squatted over a hole in Asia, desperately trying to hold your breath with a fly buzzing around your head, only to realise the ‘toilet’ you’re in has no paper, then you’ll know the true value of a prize winning toilet.
You also may just be a little bit excited to learn that six toilets in tourism destinations around the world have just won coveted titles in the 2018 International Toilet Tourism Awards.
Submissions were received from tourism destinations across North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. The toilets were judged for their design, quirkiness, location, accessibility, and economic contribution to their locality.
Now, let’s get down to business and reveal where you can find these beautiful porcelain thrones.
The Best Design
You will find it in the Saskatchewan Science Centre in Regina, Canada.
The design for the newly refurbished 2nd floor restrooms was inspired by the boreal forests of northern Saskatchewan.
The loos feature floor to ceiling visuals of the deep forest and audio of birdsong and woodland sounds. Whole wall panels are covered in immersive images of the calming deep Canadian forest by award-winning photographer Todd Mintz.
Best Economic Contributor
That would be The Cummins Mosaic Loos on the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia.
Yes, an Aussie dunny made the cut.
The local community converted a bland red brick toilet block from the former railway station into a public loo with personality.
Thanks to word of mouth, tourists now seek out restrooms, which feature statues, mosaics and paintings reflecting a more genteel bygone era from the early 20th century.
Local businesses now benefit from passers-by stopping to visit the old fashioned themed restrooms in the centre of town.
Best Location
The toilets inside the Hotel La Jolla, California.
Sitting on the 11th floor overlooking La Jolla and the sea, the restroom offers a breathtaking view of the coastal urban village of La Jolla and the Pacific Ocean off San Diego.
The judges reckon the view from the loo connects visitors to the beautiful destination that surrounds them.
Best Accessible Toilet
Australia has done it again because this toilet is at the beautiful Brisbane Airport in Queensland.
Brisbane Airport’s upgraded accessible toilets have been designed to exceed accessibility legislation.
The toilet includes an adult change table, hoist and a toilet with removable hand rails for people with severe disabilities.
The spacious, flexible design makes travel accessible to thousands of people with disabilities and their carers.
And how awesome is this? Brisbane Airport even has an indoor loo for guide dogs that travel with people with disabilities.
Quirkiest Experience
If you’re into quirky toilet experiences you need to pay a visit to Bowl Plaza in Kansas, USA.
Bowl Plaza is a public restroom with bling!
The restrooms, which took four years to build, are now a major attraction in Lucas, the small town grassroots arts capital of Kansas.
The bathroom’s walls are covered inside and out with detailed mosaics created by local residents and artists.
The entire building is shaped like a toilet tank.
Say what?
The entrance is designed like a raised toilet lid with benches that represent the curved toilet seat. The sidewalk to the loos flows from a large concrete toilet roll.
Overall Winner and Category Winner for Overall Contribution to Toilet Tourism
The James Bond Loos at Piz Gloria in Murren, Switzerland located at at cool 2970 metres at the top of Mt Schilthorn.
The Piz Gloria revolving restaurant and visitor centre has embraced a James Bond theme since the location was used as Blofeld’s Lair during filming of “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.”
Refurbished in 2017, the toilet experience now has James Bond audiovisual effects: Bond girl Diana Rigg appears in the mirror when men wash their hands.
There’s a sign for men in the toilets saying, “Shake, don’t stir” and “Aim like James.”
The ladies’ loo has music and a shot ringing out as an image of James Bond appears in the mirror beside a bullet hole. In the ladies restroom there’s an audio of Bond saying, “Tonight, my place – just the two of us.”
READ: Let’s put toilets on the tourism map
READ: Why are Japanese toilets so weird? Your questions answered