[Dilligaf]

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

[mammal]

"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.

[Ruivinho]

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.

[CodyB]

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

[el conquistador]

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.

[LeeEnfield303]

(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.

[Hafran]

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.

[whiteknightrises]

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)

[jamaicabound]

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.

[Virtus]

I take my LIFESTRAW anytime in abroad

[Virtus]

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

[Dilligaf]

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.

[Laner]

(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)

[Sp5]

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.

[Hombre]

(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.

[puckerman]

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.