To think this is fucking crazy

[itstheendoftheworldasweknowitnow]

We’re en route to a holiday rental in France. I wasn’t sure if the pool was shared or not between other guests so emailed the owner to ask. This is his reply - which I put in to google translate
Could you tell me if sharing the swimming pool with us who occupy the ground floor bothers you and for what reason? Recently we refused the rental because the wife and the two young daughters were veiled; are you english or muslim? We do not want you to make the trip and see yourself refused access to our property for reasons of displaying religious beliefs which are very resented by the neighborhood.

Fuck Fuck Fuck
What the hell do I do?
I am not a Muslim.
I am also not a racist.

I think you should go home OP.

What if staff in restaurants you plan on eating in have views you disagree with? The supermarket staff? The boulanger? The other guests? Whatever will you do?

"the neighbours won't like it" is "I'm not racist, but...". I mean, honestly, the neighbours can go fuck themselves.

Have you ever lived in a French commune?

If the neighbors are the mayor or related to the mayor that might not be the best attitude to take.

It is entirely possible (though unlikely) the gite owner is a card carrying member of “the be kind to everybody” brigade but if they pee off local officialdom then they will get serious grief long after the OP has gone home.

So you'll stay in his place, thinking he's a racist, then you'll dob him in.

Actually think this is pretty shitty behaviour tbh. Think you should do one or the other.

I really hate racism but I wouldn’t disappoint my children by cancelling the holiday en route. I would do all in my power to make sure this property disappears from the listings afterwards. Being racist comes at a price.

Is it because there was a veil ban and the owners do not want to get in trouble with the authorities ?

He should make clear in his listing that he’s racist, then people can make an informed choice before booking.

I’d ignore his nonsense and text again asking if the pool is shared or for sole use of your family.

You hate racism but only if standing up to it doesn’t come at a price to you?

I think the world over, and particularly in parochial, rural areas where there is next to no ‘outsiders’ you are going to find racism and xenophobia. It’s borne of a place of ignorance and intolerance.

I don’t think he should have been spouting this bilge as the idea of renting out a holiday property is that any property should be open to all ethnicities and denominations so he’s a bit thick to have even engaged in this conversation. What if you were Muslim? Now THAT would be an even worse start to your vacation.

I would go and enjoy the vacation. I would exchange pleasantries and say how marvellous the property/pool is and I would then write a review. I doubt very much you’ll get anywhere with Booking.com as they’re cheapskates but a review would be cathartic and a good way of warning people off him and his shitty views on an entire religion (bar the right wing contingent obviously!)

I don't see an issue. He's asked a relevant question to make sure you won't be breaking the French laws.

To be pragmatic, they're on the way,

Where else are they going to stay?

That's completely untrue 😂

So you'd be happy to stay at his property, speak with him, share his pool and then get him banned from Airbnb? Antiracism comes at a price. Hypocrisy is fine on on Mumsnet though, I guess.

Like enjoying a holiday in South Africa in the 80s and coming home and saying "I've got to say, I did think the pool being whites only was dreadful though, can't believe those terrible people!"

I don’t. I think the OP is doing other holidaymakers a huge favour by leaving an honest review, reporting to booking.com and leaving a copy of the text in the review too.

he can be racist if he wants to be. People who find that objectionable should be able to make informed decisions about where to stay on holidays.

I’d avoid booking there!

I agree. And not that it's the most important thing but how are you possibly going to enjoy the holiday?

If the hosts are generally awful / constantly racist you'll feel terrible, be avoiding any communal spaces and it'll cast a dark cloud over your holiday.

If they're super nice to you - because as you say, you're not muslim so they'll be relieved when you arrive and see that you're one of them - then you'll feel terrible the whole week thinking how two faced you are because you have to dob this guy in at the end of the week.

And he will almost certainly know it was you.

If it's the second outcome I can almost guarantee you won't report this but will try and explain it away to yourself as a cultural difference / language issue / not really that racist.

It's an awful situation to be in. Are you sure you can't report this to Booking.com now and look for somewhere else to stay? If you're driving doesn't that give you more options?

It's a difficult one with children involved though, no? We dont know how old the children are. How do you explain to a child and ruin the holiday they've been looking forward to based on an assumption from an email thats been translated from a foreign language? Would you in the same predicament?

Exactly, it is so disingenuous for the OP to pretend to be horrified about it. Just be honest that it isn’t enough of an issue for you to inconvenience yourselves by cancelling the booking.

As previously stated, I would stand up to it but not en route with my children excited about a holiday.

I would still go, but be sure to leave a negative review once you have left. Use this as a learning experience to do thorough research if you book a private rental again. I'm surprised you didn't check about the pool being shared or private before you booked it.

Enjoy your holiday and avoid talking to the racist. Post his text message in a review once you’re gone, you don’t owe him anything!

Perhaps he just got the wrong end of the stick and as PP said maybe is worried re the ceiling ban. I would send short a.reply using short and.clear sentences to clear it up.

I think the world over, and particularly in parochial, rural areas where there is next to no ‘outsiders’ you are going to find racism and xenophobia. It’s borne of a place of ignorance and intolerance.

As a lighthearted aside, for some reason that brought this classic clip to mind:

I wouldn’t pontificate on MN about how horrifying it is.

He is not being racist. He is asking if you why you do not want to share the swimming pool with them, who occupy the ground floor. He had to cancel a reservation recently because the wife and daughters who were renting, were veiled and refused to share the pool with anyone else.
He also says that he wouldn't like you to go all that way and feel resentment by neighbours if you are being opening religious. Whatever the religion it is a sensitive subject in some areas in France.

What area are you going to?
I think that you'll be fine. He was just being very cautious. Perhaps once burnt, as they say here, the cat is also afraid of cold water.

"Are you English or Muslim?" isn't racist in your world?!