Post: #26

French & Dutch islands in the Caribbean, yes. Trinidad, best not. Jamaica was a surprising yes, Cuba yes, DR fuck no.

Post: #27

"abroad" (or even name of a certain country) are too big as categories. Water may be ok in one ciy, not in another. (Different municipal supplies, water wells etc.) Ask your hotel or landlord. Personal experience: I usually drink the water (after asking.) Caution: Locals may be accustomed to bacteria that you are not.

Post: #28

I drank a litre of tap water in Rome. Ended up with stomach problems for following 2 weeks.
Subsequently lost a stone in weight by the end of the 3 weeks.

Post: #29

I go by a rule of thumb that, unless I'm told otherwise, I'm assuming it's safe not to drink. That simple.

Post: #30

Lima, Peru – No.

I drank from the water fountain at the gym and was sick for three days.

The locals are used to the water. It doesn't mean anything if they are drinking it.

Post: #31

(10-22-2015 10:43 AM)el conquistador Wrote:  . It doesn't mean anything if they are drinking it.

This. Tourist? Buy your own.

I'll always remember the time I tried to fill a bathtub in St Petersburg, and by the time the water was 4 inches deep, I couldn't see the bottom.

Post: #32

China: big nono.

I drank large quantities of tap water in Shanghai for 3 days last year. I thought I'd be fine as I drank tap water in KL, Bangkok and Cambodia without any problem.
I got severely sick for 2 weeks, lost weight, and a year later I can still feel the consequences. My stomach and bowels definitely took a hard hit, and they're not the same anymore.

Be cautious.

Post: #33

I am about to drop some serious broscience here but I am pretty sure if you actively consume probiotics you will not get any stomach/digestion issues from questionable water/food sources (such as in 3rd world countries) - unless it's like really really bad

Anecdotal evidence:

I am Korean and eat a lot of kimchi (one of the world's healthiest foods http://www.health.com/health/article/0,,...00,00.html and goes well with a lot of things, but I am extremely biased)

Basically, it has a lot of probiotics as well as some other good shit. When I went to Cuba for a study program, literally everyone on the program got sick except for me (will also note here I drank and smoked more often than I normally would, thinking that stuff would "kill the germs," - I know the broscience is heavy but bear with me).

Also in Nicaragua, there were 2 American dudes staying at the same hotel as me. They, too, got sick and were shitting their brains out for an entire day. Meanwhile, I was totally fine.

Disclaimer:
I am not a doctor and don't listen to my advice before consulting your own medical professional. However, kimchi tastes really good and helps me enjoy traveling more by eliminating food/water-borne illness (I think)

Post: #34

I normally play it safe and still drink bottled water even if people say tap water is fine. As my name probably gives away I love Jamaica, not a great destination for women but a cool place none the less. One of the things I really take for granted is being able to drink the water which is kind of surprising that such a poverty sticken dump has safe drinking water, I say a dump with love, it's a great place but it is a dump.

Anyhow, my first trip I spent the first few days buying water and carrying water around and then one day at dinner was like this is a huge hassle, had a ice cold water in front of me and decided to drank it, Never got sick and ever since been drinking out the bathroom tap and at restaurants and stuff. I take that for granted as when I travel to Mexico, South America or wherever I have a hard time remembering not do drink the water.

Post: #35

I take my LIFESTRAW anytime in abroad

Post: #36

https://www.google.com/search?q=lifestraw

Post: #37

Yes I lived in Kingston Jamaica for 6mos and besides how blueball inducing utter blowouts the local talent was, the most surprising thing was how safe the tap water was. From such a dump.

Post: #38

(10-23-2015 10:56 AM)whiteknightrises Wrote:  When I went to Cuba for a study program, literally everyone on the program got sick except for me (will also note here I drank and smoked more often than I normally would, thinking that stuff would "kill the germs," - I know the broscience is heavy but bear with me).

Talk to diehard boozers/partyers who travel (and smoke) and most of them can't remember the last time they were sick.

Quote: However, kimchi tastes really good and helps me enjoy traveling more by eliminating food/water-borne illness (I think)

Post: #39

Drank tap water regularly in Manila for months, all through Malaysia for months, Bangkok and Cairo a few times but mostly bottled water there. I drink tap water everywhere in Western Europe and the USA. No dramatic effects, maybe a bit loose a couple of times but that is how you build immunity.

Post: #40

(10-19-2015 12:40 PM)godzilla Wrote:  Decided to revive this one for informational purposes. I remembered some overcautious BS on the internet about bogota.

The best tell I can say is, if theres an airport water fountain, you should be good. These are places where Ive actually tried the water.

Usa/Canada/Western Europe/Scandanavia - Yes
Poland - Yes
Bogota - Yes (rural áreas in colombia is a no)
México - Never, however some new hotels, buildings, might use purified water.
Panamá City - Yes
Buenos Aires - Yes
Cuba - Yes and No (I didnt have problems but apprantly its a no)

Cuba is a no. I only drank bottled water there. The first night, though, I must have eaten a little bit of lettuce. I developed a weird infection that caused congestion and ”brain fog” for a month. The doctor had to prescribe me a powerful antibiotic for a piece of lettuce.

Post: #41

We didn't drink any tap water when we visited Iquitos in Perú. I can't remember what I had at the Lima airport.

I think I had a lot of bottled water when I visited Acapulco in Mexico last year.