This is an interesting subject. I think it can be carried on on another forum. Thank you for your understanding.

Hey Linaa,where are you? in hamam

I have been to 4 hammams in Turkey: Cemberlitas in Istanbul (bad, expensive, touristic and they still ask for a tip - no way), Cağaloğlu in Istanbul (much better, less expensive), Sengul Merkez in Ankara (very good, cheap and cosy, absolutely only locals) and the hamman of The Marathon Hotel in Elazig (very very good, moderately priced).At the first 3 there were only women as staff, the last one only had a male for washing. In the first three I was without bathing clothes or peshtemal - I asked if I needed to but they all said no, the last one I covered myself in a peshtemal (they gave me 8, every time it was wet, I got a new one!). Used to sauna's in Holland I am not ashamed of being naked, even in mixed company but because I know my standards are not those of other people, I always ask what to do. If they do not speak English I ask with gestures. No problems ever happened. Next year I hope to go back to Elazig and I sure want to use that hamman in The Marathon again. That it was a male,it did not bother me. Besides if his hands were even a inch too far, I would not only have punched him very hard () I also would have complained of harrassment to the management (or even police), the same as I would do here when a staff member does not behave correctly.

my husband says that the hamam visited by the women were washed by men was just for tourists..thats not heard of in turkey as a man would NEVER wash a woman and a Turkish woman woudl not allow this..neither would i actually in answer to elisa'a question if u feel the need to visit such an establishment i would suggest u do shave ur pubic hair if u dont already do so.. to be honest ive never met amyone that didnt shave their pubic hair nowadays..and no i havent seen a lot of people's downstairs..its just from general chit chat

if u want my advice u want to make sure it's a woman and not a man washing u unless u want people to get the wrong idea if u feel the need to go to a hamam

@ Robin01 - you will be right in public hammams, but in hotel hammams they do not have a large staff most of the time. And giving the wrong idea? No way, you never saw my eyes and body language.... they are sure they can't try a thing!

BTW Of course I do shave, even the 'Turkish way'....

..well it doesn't really matter to me becuase i would never visit such a place..im a prude in that way..man or woman i don't want them to see me although of course i too don't have a problem with pubic hair..
i think the idea of someone washing me is weird..im not a child or incapable yet

and the hotel hamam is exactly my point..its four tourists..u wouldnt get a female turkish local going in these places..

for tourists i meant of course..

...

There is one on the coast in ölüdeniz which is hilarious to go to.
It is done by three men but they do not have a bad bone in their body. They were always joking around with men and women (tourists). Also every women who comes in wares their bikini and of course it is not objected to. There is only one women that worked there and she is the one serving the tea.

When people were finished in the steam room and had to wait to be scrubbed, the men used to fill buckets of cold/freezing water over the wall to get the tourist. We all ended up throwing water everywhere it was so hilarious and they are really nice.
Oh and guzel kiz the answer to the cold water was that some do pour cold water over you to sort of wake you up...but if they do it more than once it's a joke

Also if you have a turkish bath at the start of your holiday apparantly to foreigners it is helps you to get a better tan. Not sure if it's true though. :-S