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!

And, I would absolutely avoid the Eastern European countries- so, so much hostile staring. We were even stopped once by the police (no idea why- they spoke fluent English- and they wanted paying to let us go)- we played dumb and they finally told us to "go away and not come back"!

I do something feel sad that it’s likely I will never see all the beautiful cities and landscapes of Eastern Europe that white friends and colleagues rave about. I’m well aware I’d have a very different experience.

@OnHisSweaterAlreadyMomsSpaghetti been to Italy 7 times since I was 12,
no bad experiences, I am 43 YO male and Black.

They're not overly fond of the English in general IMO

@garlictwist almost in complete agreement apart from Prague, I did not feel comfortable there. I remember one old woman looking at me - not quite in disgust, but in complete incomprehension. Wouldn't go back there.

I've had barely an issue anywhere else

@BlanklyMyDear I don't lose any sleep over it, mostly moody ex-communist sh1tholes full of halfwit bigots

North Africa is definitely a good shout, Tunisia/Morocco.

The odd stare really shouldn't put you off though and there really can't be many people in countries that they would be surprised to see a real live black family. There's a lot of Africans in Germany.

Spain had got a lot more latin American immigrants other the last 20 years so it's more mixed these days. Marseille is really diverse, but France can be racist. There are definitely enough wealthy black people in Paris that the hotels should be able to cope with it though!

You might do better with a boutique hotel rather than an all inclusive. It seems harsh, but the large hotels do tend to be booked by people without the imagination to look beyond the obvious, both in terms of hotels and life. Plus in boutique hotels people tend to have plans for the day rather than lying on sunbeds with nothing to to but stare

Someone mentioned North Africa being good. I was in Egypt and got fed up of being called "brown sugar" in the marketplace.

My daughter was in Morocco with her friends and they were being called Nicky Minaj.

Sorry this is a late reply, I'm black, mixed Caribbean and white.

I was in Marmaris last year and felt very comfortable there, all inclusive budget hotel. A few Asian families from UK. Got chatting to a couple from Dublin in the queue for buffet, he was Brazilian, she was Russian.
Walking around the town is nice because plenty of the Turkish were also very dark skinned with ladies wearing hijab. I can't remember who told me this but Antalya is meant to more diverse in terms of Black tourists.

I have to say I felt more comfortable in Marmaris than Rhodes, we were there in 2020 in apartments where the Brits weren't friendly. Two years ago we stayed at a hotel in Crete which was predominantly French. I think the vibes I got were typical as they don't like Brits. What I'm clumsily trying to say is that I didn't feel out of place much in Turkey.

I used to holiday a lot in St.Davids Pembrokeshire when the children were young and always felt comfortable there, once a local lady was telling me how to get a council house in one of the picturesque villages. There were a few non white families that were camping which was really nice.

That might be something to consider if you want to avoid Cornwall, it's absolutely stunning in and around St.Davids.

I've always wanted to go to Italy but I will be cautious and do my research.

Italy is breathtaking in all sorts of ways - landscape, architecture, lifestyle, food, general effervescence and fun - and you might spend a month there and never have a bad experience.

But you might also hear people whispering as you go past, confidently assuming you can’t understand even basic Italian … And unfortunately that’s what you’ll remember of your trip.

Hi everyone I know I started this post a while back, but I wanted to give some positive feedback. In the end we decided to go to Turkey - we stayed in the Dalaman area and had the most amazing time. It was only a short break so we didn't venture out too much, but we felt very welcome - the Turkish particularly love children! Our hotel was AMAZING......other guests were extremely friendly. We would love to return!

Interesting. I found Cuba to be quite multi cultural and people in mixed social groups. But am white so could have missed any racism entirely. As tourists we obviously got pestered to fuck.
I did travel to Greek Islands with some black friends and they found it fine.
Went to Kenya with some other black friends (about 20 years ago), they did tend to be the only non white tourists and had in one hotel tourists asking them for drinks.
Our hotel in Morocco was very mixed and seemed no issues, but didn't notice outside.
It is so shit. I'm sorry.

I went to Cuba with my black partner and we got followed by police with guns (in small streets in Havana).
My impression was that society there is not racially equal.

But am white so could have missed any racism entirely.

Surely this is a good reason not to post on this thread?

@Sparklebaby111 - good to hear you found somewhere welcoming and fun.

Yes that is very true. I think I probably got a bit of a distorted view as we were staying with a biracial couple who friends with quite liberal arty people angotter twisted view of it.

Lovely.
I also went to Turkey and returned last week. It was great.

It was my second time there.

Another one here for Turkey - went to Oludeniz area in the summer and had a fantastic time. Would recommend!

I've been to a few destinations( Greece, Turkey, Portugal, Italy, Spain etc )and had some enjoyable experiences but also some dodgy interactions, but I've just recently come back from Thailand and all I can say is it's the first time ever I've been anywhere and I felt comfortable and not wary. Nobody looked, nobody stared and I could actually wander around and enjoy the places we visited. The people were so friendly and lovely. We were in tourist areas and non tourist areas and it was great. I felt a huge weight fall off by shoulders and would recommend it to anyone.

That sounds great - can I ask what areas/ resorts you stayed in? What were the beaches like? We love beaches!

Ooh! We were there in summer 2023 and loved it. In a moment of madness I even went paragliding 😬😂

Very good memories of the place.

I am black and in my experience, I found most European countries friendly. Germany was the worst though. The best places I’ve been to as a black person would be: Brazil, Malaysia, Japan, France, Greece & Canada.

Portugal

Thanks so much for this! My brother just returned from Japan, he said it was lovely!

Can you imagine a women saying she suffers DV from husband and other women coming on to say 'Well, my DH has never ever been abusive!' in an accusatory tone?!

No, you can't. Because it would never fkn happen, would it? It would be a batshit response!

Racism exists, and 'Fun' Fact: It's global!

Thank you, that's exactly how I felt with some of the 'well I haven't experienced that' responses, as if to insinuate that racism is a myth that I'm somehow perpetuating.....so sad, especially when coming from our own people!