To think this is fucking crazy

@babyproblems No it's not illegal to wear a Hijab in France, but it is illegal to wear a Burka

The thing is if OP doesn’t go now, she won’t be taking a stand against racism so much as letting this guy keep her money while enjoying the place to himself. I don’t think that will feel like someone taking a stand against him.

It might be different it is was possible to recoup the money by showing his message to booking but I am not sure if that would work because although he is showing that he does refuse on grounds of religion, he hasn’t actually refused OP’s booking on those grounds.

It’s an incredibly infuriating and rude message, would really spoil things for me. I would be tempted to reply saying that you are struggling with the French and it sounds like he is saying someone was turned away on grounds of religion, but since that is illegal…have you misunderstood? See what he replies.

You should reply “We’re English and Muslim” and see if his head explodes. Enjoy your holiday!

It is illegal to wear a hijab - his views are not uncommon. Possible you’ve hit a nerve and he’s had issues with people complaining about sharing the pool or issues with guests and neighbours. I would just be polite and enjoy your holiday.. I’d probably not leave excellent feedback though. Racism and discrimination (particularly towards Muslims) in France is absolutely rife. I’m saying that having lived here for a long time… we’ve moved around France over the years to different regions and there hasn’t been one place I haven’t witnessed discrimination to be honest. It is shocking to brits yes. It’s one aspect of french culture that is really really behind the times. Also sexism still very much alive and kicking here- discrimination at work etc also rife in my experience. The recent election debacle goes to show what people here really think/feel imo. It was pulled back from the brink but make no mistake people hold very racist views.

Is it true that the majority of French people hate disabled people? This is a genuine question as I was a planning a trip there but I read somewhere that they're openly hateful towards anyone disabled and intolerant of children with Autism

You would take your non-white and/or muslim children to stay at the home of someone you knew was racist and make them share a communal space with them for the week?

Knowing they were likely to make racist / anti-muslim comments casually in front of your child, asking them if they were English or Muslim? etc..

I understand that, though when you purchase a iPhone it doesn’t have a label on it saying ‘produced by child labour’ on it, most people don’t think of that when they are buying the latest gadget, even though we all should, it’s very much out of sight out of mind, however the OP has been directly informed of the owners racist views of which the OP abhors, it’s the handwringing and posting on Mumsnet about how awful it is but goes ahead anyway, as if the virtue signalling on here absolves her somehow.

they've had some serious problems with extremism from Muslim groups (probably triggered by Israels invasion of Gaza).

Sorry, what? Are you seriously saying the Jews are to blame for religious extremism? On a thread about racist attitudes?

France had serious problems with extremism from Muslim groups way before the atrocities carried out by Hamas in October 2023.

Don't know whether it's funny or depressing the number of people on here who are oblivious to the racism and think the OP's dilemma is about the sharing of the pool...

"It's a shame you didn't ask about the pool earlier but not to worry I'm sure you'll still have a good trip!"

I would, and if refused entry I would call Booking.com and get a refund immediately.

About the pool!

Yes, they could do that and use the immediate refund from Booking.com to book somewhere else with a pool, checking for racist views before booking the new place. It depends how near to the destination they are.

sorry, I'm very slow. I can read that they would like to know why you would find it annoying that they share the pool with you. The part about being muslim; may he mean that muslim women would not feel comfortable sharing a pool with men?

I'm not saying its right, but the sad truth is many people in the country can't afford to not look the other way.

I doubt anyone in the country agrees with child labour, but many will still go out and buy samsungs and iPhones or cheap clothes from primark etc that have a history of exploiting child labour.

People can virtue signal all they want until it actually affects them.

Sorry, there's 8 pages and I lost interest 💐

France is a secular state; their attitude to religion/religious displays is vastly different. Also, if you post the original message, maybe I or other native french can explain to you how it is meant

The hypocrisy of going but then planning to report them. Either stand by your principles and cancel, asking booking for your money and the reason why or go and forget it.

It doesn’t sound like the owner is outright banning Muslims, he is banning full face coverings like everywhere else in France because of the law. He also wants his family to be able to use their pool whenever they want, without either party feeling uncomfortable. He has obviously had a tricky situation previously.

If you want to test whether he is racist or not, I would try donning a balaclava in the pool, see what transpires.

I’m French, the tone of the message is polite - the q about ‘english or muslim’ is not ok though. In France people aren’t allowed religious signs in public places (not just Muslim, any religion) just to give you the context. Reading between the lines, he might have an issue in the past with people using the pool fully clothed or complaining about the owners being able to see/access tje pool area and women not being able to able to use it because of that.
Personally, and keeping in mind you want the holiday to happen, I would explain that you were asking out of interest and that you don’t have any religious constraint around it (of not the case ofc)

I'd go, enjoy the holiday and report after. The poor family that got turned away for being religious.

Define what you mean by “woke”.

It's been done, a few times.

Exactly. If one of the children was muslim or a person of colour you wouldn't still be going in order to avoid disappointing them.

OP could you post the reply in French, there must be speakers on here who could check the Google translation, it may well not have been intended as it came across.