Serious Question
 

Before you all slam me I have questions about a person's race and where they vacation. I live near NYC and work in NYC. I work with folks that are Latino, Asian-American, African-American, Indian-American, etc...

Wherever I go on vacation I never see any of these groups represented.

When I was single I went to several Club Meds.

On my honeymoon (first marriage) we went to Hawaii.

On my honeymoon (second marriage) we went to Tahiti (Moorea and Bora Bora).

We have since taken trips to Cancun, Martha's Vineyard, Montreal, etc...

At the Club Meds there was not one single non-White guest there. I work with plenty former-Russians and I didn't even see any of them. The same goes for Hawaii and Tahiti.

I feel that there are plenty of non-White folks who are in the exact same economic bracket as I am. Heck, I work with dozens of them. Where do they vacation?

I have taken several business trips and have been on planes leaving NY without a single non-White person. What's wrong here?

Ask the people you work with where they vacation and why they do not choose Club Meds.

Its just really awkward doing that. I work with single people and family people in a well-paid professional setting where 40% are White. Of that 40% most are Former-Russian. That makes me one of the few USA-born, Christian Whites.

I listen to the talk around the office and these folks never mention a vacation. Its like they don't vacation at all.

A number of the non-white people I work with are first generation US residents/citizens. They often use their vacation time to visit family in their country of heritage or origin. (Just as we may use some vacation time to visit Grandma somewhere in US - it is just that Grandma is farther away.) Also, in a number of these same cultures, visiting family has a much higher value and priority than it does for my WASPy friends.

However, I do not share your experience with seeing only white faces on planes and in other tourist destinations.

Go to London - I find its multi-cultural demographics incredible. But most of all, I think it is a hoot to see people who obviously have ancestors from somewhere other than the British Isles speaking with a British accent.

Am I the only one who feels like this thread should be deleted before it gets really ugly?

Boy.....I guess we cannot talk about race any more here.

I noticed this today because I started to look into a trip in the next few weeks and was talking about it with my wife.

Last I looked I can freely talk about race, national origin, travel habits, etc....

I am by no means putting anyone down.

Yeah, I'm with ya, Rachel. (Backing slowly out of the room....)

For many people, vacation does not equal recreational travel, especially not as automatically as it does for people who frequent a travel board.

Most of the people I know, of any race, do not hop on planes for vacations in distant places. They use their vacation time for puttering around the house, visiting friends and family (yes, sometimes those family members are in, as my grandparents would say, "the old country"), community-based activities, day trips.

Many of the places mentioned in the original post -- Club Med, Tahiti, Hawaii, Martha's Vineyard -- are usually visited by people who are accustomed to elaborate travel vacations. Everyone makes choices about their disposable income, and there are lots of places for it other than travel.

For instance, all of my relatives have lived in the Boston area for generations, and none of them have been to any of those places, not even MV. In fact, hardly any have ever ventured beyond New England. My parents went to New York on their honeymoon, and my dad says that World War II gave him all the travel he'd ever want. They have a comfortable middle-class existence, just don't want to travel.

I guess I'm usually having too good a time when I travel to take a tally of what color all the other people are. What an odd way to spend your time when traveling.

But I know you're not alone. Other people concern themselves with things like how fat all the other travelers are, or how "funny" they talk. Maybe I'm just too self-centered, but I really don't concern myself that much with what other people are like or do.

Actually, I am from the Philippines, and growing up, my family didn't take one vacation. My parents had vacation days, of course, but we never went anywhere.

But now, I will go anywhere and everywhere. I've been to numerous countries in Europe. I've also visited different places in Mexico, and I've been to Belize and Costa Rica. Plus, we've traveled to many cities in the U.S. Everywhere that I have traveled, I have seen more races than just Caucasians. I have never been on any vacation where there were only whites.

I think any post that requests a stereotype or generalization about another group of people as a response is bound to rub some people the wrong way.

Nine responses - and we haven't gotten offensive yet - a true miracle.

I find Martha's Vineyard quite diverse...especially when you compare it to Nantucket.

I found this on www.soulofamerica.com website which seems to concur...

"America's Black Resort

A maritime town, the "Vineyarders" have always reflected a diverse group of cultures: Native Americans, Europeans, and African descendents. The latter contributed greatly to the economic, political, and religious communities here over the past several hundred years. Today they continue to be a significant force in the island's philanthropic, technological, hospitality, and art communities, making Martha's Vineyard the largest Black resort in the U.S. and one of the top travel destinations for those seeking an Afrocentric resort experience"

I also find Miami, Orlando, Canada and cruises also have a very diverse group of people that seem to visit.

I can venture to say that most people on this board are the exception, not the rule. Most of the people I work with think that a week at Disney is the end-all be-all of vacations. My sister goes to the beach every year, stays in the same cottage, goes the same week, etc. As a youngster, we did that as well, w/an occasional side trip to the Mts. That was it. For many of us to travel as we do you must sacrifice other things or at least make decisions that allow you to do so. I waited until I was 40 to start having kids for example. Truth be told, I would guess to the general population, we are the odd ones, not them, regardless of race, creed, religion, etc. I won't even get into the economics & $$ portion. I also believe that people think going to Europe or out of the country is out of their reach financially w/out ever checking it out. Many folks would also be outside their comfort zone anywhere but their home country. Make sense ?

It's just my opinion, but I think that a large percent of people DON'T go any place on a vacation. They stay around home, especially if they have children, do one day trips, and go to visit relatives.

There are several reasons why we never went on vacations. I hate to plan where to go. I hate to pack. I hate hotel/motel beds. I hate to unpack. I hate to travel. Maybe I would enjoy myself after I got there, but the going and coming back is something that I dread too much.

When we go places, my husband notices if there are pretty much only white folks, but then he isn't white and we live in a really diverse area, so I guess that sort of thing really stands out for him. It is strange to find ourselves in a homogenous environment and even on vacation it doesn't happen very often. We've never been to an all-inclusive resort or anything like that though. That may be the difference. Most of the places we go aren't just filled with people on vacation - except when we go camping. Most of the time we just go someplace - New Orleans, San Diego, or wherever.

People vacation in diffferent places for all kinds of reasons. To me - your choice of vacation desinations is very restricted - to just do-nothing beach spots.

We are white and have good incomes. We have never been to a Club Med (you couldn;t pay me to - everything I;ve heard says they're ghastly). I have little desire to see Hawaii, Tahiti or Cancun for two reaons.

For us - beach does not equal vacation. I hate beaches - too hot, too much sun and nothing to do. For my vacations I want history, museums, culture, fine dining (in fact - mainly europe - although we have, happily, done other places).

Also - I have a very fair complexion - and burn very easily - so much sun is a no no.

As for seeing no "non-white" people not sure exactly what that means - on planes out of New York - you must be wearing two eye patches. Planes out of NYC - and I fly all the time - mostly on business - are populated by people of every color - and I'm sure ethnicity and religion.

Separately, this is a very odd question - verging on bigoty - and I'm answering only because I assume you're doing this out of gross naivete - not hatred.

>At the Club Meds there was not one single non-White guest there. I work with plenty former-Russians and I didn't even see any of them. The same goes for Hawaii and Tahiti.<

I live in Hawaii and I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. Were you walking around with a blindfold on?

We travel a lot, and all over the world, and I have not had experiences similar to the OP's. On the contrary, I think we've encountered ethnic/racial minority US folk rather disproportionately to the percentages back home. Maybe it's where we travel, or the style. Don't know anything about Club Med, though.

It's certain that some destinations may attract one ethnic group over another, and why not? We encountered as many or more Afro-Americans as not visiting South Africa than when we were there, and (I'm guessing here) there were more Irish-Americans in Galway last summer than Italian-Americans. Go figure.

Few nonwhite visitors to Hawaii? Huh??