Comfortable holiday destinations for black people

[Sparklebaby111]

Hi I feel like I'm hitting a wall.

I was considering a nice hotel in Turkey for a last minute holiday, but I really really can't take the 'lets stare at the black people' routine. Anyone willing to share their experience of holidaying in Turkey - more specifically Antalya/Belek. Where else would you recommend where you weren't stared at constantly? In Portugal we found the other hotel guests - mainly Russians and Germans -to be constantly staring. Now we have our 8 year old, I don't want him to experience this. We went to Mexico last year and loved it - our son is keen to travel the world - bless him! Thanks!

Do people actually do this! Are you sure you're not just a beautiful family

I promise you they do! No, we're big standard!

*bog standard!

I can’t help specifically but imm sure it will be hotel specific. Trip advisor will give a flavour.
I’m not black but have felt intimidated by groups of Russians in the past (no disrespect to any Russian mumsnetters). I think very few Russians will be in Europe this year (Turkey excepted) because of the EU flights ban.
Hotels we have been in Portugal have been full of British/Irish/dutch and French and I can’t imagine it would be a problem.

Most places in America won’t stare especially in New York, Washington DC and California. Chicago too. Otherwise, the Seychelles and Kenya. It sucks.

Thank you, looking for a beach destination so will consider the Seychelles - although it's convenient, Europe fills me with dread!

Ugh the stares! Found Greece is good as so many visitors there. (I’m brown not black) other than that Americas. My husband never got why I hated visiting Devon until he went to India and got all the stares. Hard to relax when eyes follow you around.

It really does suck! I wish I didn't have to think k about this!

We have this same concern so following with interest

I think you'd be fine in Cyprus. So sorry that you have to put up with this crap x

Thank you, after spending hours on the internet I just got fed up! My little one (who is actually 7 not 8) has been under the care of Great Ormond Street - had three operations on his lungs so we just want a stress free break. To be fair, he will probably be oblivious to any staring, it's me and the hubbie - can't be dealing with it!

What about the Canaries? Or Cape Verde?

Try The Gambia.
Definitely won't have any issues with stares there.
Turkey is now the major destination for Russians.
Cyprus gets a fair amount of non white brits too, but that's mainly the party areas.

The Caribbean or Thailand, you would love either place and no stares.

In Europe I would avoid Cyprus, Greece, Turkey and probably Italy like the plague. All places with staring and on a really bad day touching. Italy was the only one where it was obvious dislike rather than overly, uncomfortably, keen interest.

Portugal is a lot more diverse so less staring. Madeira whilst a small island was absolutely lovely but not really a beachy place.

North Africa can be hit or miss if you are darker skinned, there is a lot of 'concern' with sub Saharan immigration, rest of the continent fine. Gambia is popular but I found the flagrant sex tourism nauseating.

I usually go to USA ( I mean the country does have race issues but gawping at me and shouting 'hey sexy chocolate ' or 'hello Beyonce ' isn't one of them, or Caribbean.

I haven't been but I wonder about the Southern France? Always looks quite diverse on TV.

Thanks so much everyone, some great suggestions!

Actually I forgot Ibiza. I go every couple of years for a few days in autumn and have a lovely time. I stay just outside of San Antonio which has a tiny beach close by, but a 20 mins meander along the seafront to main beach.

Definitely not Turkey! Very hostile and starey. I found Morocco the same.

Plenty of people who were darker skinned at my hotel in Tenerife last year, a real cross section of nationalities too. Quite a few Asian families including women in hijabs which is more unusual but so no overt staring (I was chatting to the 20 something daughter who had an amazing dress on, love Indian dresses) quite a few Afro Caribbean decent too, many were French, well speaking French.

One thing to be aware of OP is that staring itself depends on the culture. In the UK it's rude to stare, this isn't the case in every country. Knowing this of course doesn't help in making you feel more comfortable with it though.

Jamaica is wonderful if you stay in boutique family run hotels like https://www.charelainn.com/ or https://www.goblinhill.com/ otherwise the US, Belize, the rest of the Caribbean or most African countries :)

Thank you, that is a very useful perspective that I'll consider

We want to Mauritius a couple of years ago. Lovely people v diverse. Lovely resorts, food and beaches. Although I thought I’d never say this Dubai felt v safe, but didn’t stay longer than a weekend, so pinch of salt as didn’t really explore far.

Interesting posts and responses.

We're flying out to Turkey on Saturday for the third time. Haven't encountered staring when we've been before (went to Antalya the two previous occasions) but I should point out that my DH is white and our 2DC are mixed-race.

Went to Paphos, Cyprus in February and there was a large cross section of nationalities. We stayed in the Chloraka area, which was lovely.

Been to the Canaries (Lanzarote and Tenerife), Portugal and Spain in the past and recall it not being that diverse but things may have changed since we last went there.

I’m so sorry that you are having to even consider this in 2024! it makes me so angry.

I would suggest the Caribbean. We’ve just got back from St Lucia. It was lovely. It’s off season which meant it was a bit cheaper (not that it was cheap) but it might well be a bit wet if going now or later this season. And hurricanes are a worry.

or canaries? Or maybe Corsica (like Italy but French so maybe less staring) though I’ve never been