Scenic and highly recommended weekend getaway area with a lot of romantic opportunities to make it extra memorable for couples. It’s a short flight for us from the UK, you can stay in any of the villages on the north shore, they’re connected and all seem to have quality hotels, spas, restaurants, vineyards and a very welcoming atmosphere.
I’m sharing this as a warning to other tourists especially women about a photoshoot experience I had in Phuket that became stressful, unprofessional, and at times made me feel uncomfortable.
I booked a photoshoot while traveling and paid in cash. The communication initially seemed fine, but there was no clear written agreement about deliverables, timelines, or how photos would be sent.
During the shoot, the photographer extended the session across multiple locations and also entered my hotel room as part of the shoot. He offered things like a dress (flying dress shoot) and transportation, but none of this was clearly explained in terms of cost or expectations. The boundaries were blurred, and I personally felt uncomfortable with how informal, unprofessional and unstructured everything was especially as a solo female traveler. There was point during the shoot in my room ( I had a private pool villa with a infinity pool that gave amazing ocean views and I wanted a picture there) where the photographer told me multiple times he thought I was “so hot” and he was “finding it hard to control himself”. I ended the shoot there and while changing out of the dress he entered my bathroom area without permission saying he needed to “ help me out of the dress” I did not need his help. I paid him $4,000 THB and he said he would get me my pictures that night (all the raw material) and the edits 3 days later. I also later found out from hotel staff he put “Do not Disturb” on the Villa when I inquired about why the didn’t make my room or bring my laundry.
After the shoot, the situation got worse:
- I did not receive my photos within the promised timeframe. He told me he would deliver everything to my email all RAW photos and videos.
- Communication became inconsistent, with long periods of no response
- I was repeatedly told to “wait” with no follow-through every day I kept being told I would have them by that night all day he kept saying he was busy doing other shoots if he even responded at all
- When I pushed for my photos, I was redirected into selecting paid “packages” that were not clearly agreed on beforehand and was told I would only receive certain edited photos
At one point, I had to escalate publicly just to get a response. Even then, instead of receiving a gallery (which is standard in my experience), I was told I had to select photos one-by-one in real time, (he sent 3 photos on WhatsApp with the view once setting on and told me I had to be online the same time as him to pick pictures which felt inefficient and controlling.
After 3 days he stopped responding altogether even though I paid him.
The entire experience became stressful and took time away from my trip. I also felt uncomfortable with parts of the shoot setup and how boundaries were handled, which is something I think other women should be aware of when booking private photoshoots abroad.
Advice for anyone booking a photographer in Phuket (or anywhere while traveling):
- Do not pay in cash without a clear written agreement
- Confirm exactly how many photos you’ll receive and in what format
- Ask for a clear delivery timeline
- Avoid situations where a photographer suggests entering your hotel room unless you are 100% comfortable
- Trust your instincts if something feels off at any point
- Go to the Police and file a report with 24hrs of broken contract ( I wish I knew then to do that I might have gotten help)
I’m sharing this so others can be more cautious and protect themselves. Traveling solo is supposed to be enjoyable—not stressful.
If you’ve had similar experiences, I’d be interested to hear how you handled it. Posting pictures so you’re aware of his WhatsApp and the Instagram he was using although he’s likely changed it now
Over the past two weeks, my mom and I have been vacationing in the south of Thailand. I’ve been living and working in Bangkok, so I was really looking forward to seeing her again and finally taking a proper break after months without time to travel.
Unfortunately, instead of being able to fully relax, we encountered several uncomfortable situations that affected my overall experience.
At the first island and hotel where we stayed, I consistently felt unwelcome. The staff and manager would primarily acknowledge my mom while ignoring me during interactions. At first, I tried to brush it off, thinking someone might just be having a bad day. However, as the week went on, I began to notice a clear pattern. Staff would greet my mom warmly—smiling, making eye contact, and even initiating small gestures—while completely overlooking me.
One moment that stood out was when a server brought my mom a drink and wished her “Happy Songkran” without acknowledging me at all. This was especially confusing because the same server had previously served me alcohol when I ordered. That incident made it difficult to ignore what I had been sensing, and it left me feeling uncomfortable and excluded. Although there were a few staff members who treated me kindly, those interactions were the exception rather than the norm.
At the second hotel, the staff were much more welcoming and treated both my mom and me with equal respect, which I appreciated. However, I still felt uneasy at times due to the behavior of other tourists. People often stared at us, particularly when we were together, but didn’t engage or speak to us. It created a sense of being watched and made it difficult to fully relax.
Overall, what was meant to be a restful and enjoyable vacation ended up feeling overshadowed by these experiences. As a woman of color traveling with my white mother, the difference in how we were treated was noticeable and, at times, disheartening. Am I overthinking what I went through? Has anyone else experienced this?
Hola a todos,
Acabo de ver un video sobre Argentina y tengo un par de preguntas que espero que los residentes puedan aclarar.
Primero, ¿es Argentina realmente tan cara como la pintan en internet, o es una exageración? Por lo que vi, los precios parecían muy altos, pero al mismo tiempo mucha gente se veía bien vestida, saludable y con una buena situación económica. ¿Cómo se las arreglan en el día a día con un costo de vida tan elevado?
Segundo, ¿qué tan diversa es Argentina en realidad? En el video, vi menciones de peruanos trabajando en fruterías (¿es ese su trabajo principal? Todas las fruterías eran peruanas), un barrio judío y comunidades como la armenia y la árabe. También escuché que hay una pequeña población afroargentina. ¿Es cierto todo eso?
Y en cuanto a la vida social, ¿se relacionan mucho las personas de diferentes orígenes (amistades, relaciones, matrimonio), o las comunidades tienden a mantenerse más dentro de sus propios grupos?
Agradecería mucho la opinión de quienes viven allí. ¡Gracias!
Family of 5 flying into Munich and out from Vienna 2 weeks all together. Current 2 days in Munich train to Salzburg 2 days drive from Salzburg to Prague spend 4 days take the train from Prague to Vienna and spend 4 days. Is this absolutely crazy? Especially curious about the drive up from Salzburg to Prague google says it should be 4hrs. 3 kids ages 4-12
Land July 16 morning
July 17 and 18 explore Munich
July 19 am take the train to Salzburg
July 19 and 20 explore Salzburg
July 21 road trip from Salzburg to Prague
July 22,23,24 Prague
July 25 train from Prague to Vienna
July 26,27,28 Vienna
July 29 fly home
I decided on a while to go into the city for the NY Yankees vs KC Royals game. Before the game, I had lunch at Red Rooster. I had the sweet potato coconut soup, cornbread, Mac and cheese, and pan fried catfish with black eyed peas and cucumber pickled onion salad. The cocktail was called a Rose in Harlem. The Yankees were having a promotion for a Yankees hockey jersey. I think I got a good seat.
Who you got on this game?
Is Aaron Judge better than Derek Jeter or Alex Rodriguez?
Hello,
In case you're living in or want to chill in Cambodia, a few of us have put together a Facebook group, For & by Black people in Cambodia, to compete with the "Black in Cambodia" group created by a white guy and populated with fake Black accounts he made.
Hoping to have in person events soon, but first we need to get the word out to Black folk here.
First time experiencing Songkran in Bangkok… I wasn’t ready at all 😂 i got soaked within minutes. Have anyone here ever experienced it?
Thinking about visiting Morocco and want to experience culture, history, and authentic cities? Our Morocco Imperial Cities Tour is one of the best ways to discover the country.
This journey takes you through Morocco’s most historic and fascinating cities:
📍 Marrakech — Explore vibrant souks, palaces, and the famous Medina
📍 Fes — Discover the oldest Medina in the world and traditional artisan quarters
📍 Rabat — Morocco’s capital with beautiful coastal views and historic landmarks
📍 Meknes — A quieter imperial city rich in history and impressive gates
📍 Casablanca — Visit the iconic Hassan II Mosque and modern Morocco
Along the way, you’ll experience traditional riads, local cuisine, guided medina walks, and comfortable transportation between cities. This tour is perfect for travelers who want to explore Morocco’s culture without worrying about logistics.
Why travelers choose this tour:
• Rich history and cultural experiences
• Comfortable pace between cities
• Professional drivers & local guides
• Private and small group options available
• Ideal for first-time visitors to Morocco
If you’re planning a trip to Morocco and want to explore beyond just one city, the Imperial Cities tour is a great choice.
Happy to answer any questions or help plan your Morocco itinerary!
#MoroccoTravel #ImperialCities #VisitMorocco #Marrakech #Fes #Rabat #Casablanca
I'm now approaching my 60s. My child is grown and myself and partner need a holiday abroad, that's chilled out, not ridiculously expensive and suitable for aging Black folks.
Curious what people are looking for when they visit Jamaica 👀
Each area offers something different, so it really depends on your style of travel.
If you’re still figuring things out, I can share some recommendations based on what you’re looking for
Who’s going to Ghana for the Karnival kingdom festival?
I've been researching Morocco travel planning and keep seeing the same issue: tourists can't tell legitimate guides from scammers.
So I'm testing a simple idea before building it fully: government-verified guides with transparent pricing and a no-shopping stops guarantee.
How it would work:
All guides are licensed by Morocco's Ministry of Tourism (license numbers visible)
Fixed transparent pricing (no haggling, no surprises)
*Guaranteed no forced shopping stops (or full refund)
*Book in advance, pay 50% deposit, rest to guide in cash
I have 3 verified guides available for May/June in Marrakech:
-Half-day medina walking tour: 400 DH per person
-Full-day city tour (medina + major sites): 700 DH
-Atlas Mountains day trip with Berber village: 900 DH
Before I build more, I need honest feedback:
-If you were planning a Morocco trip, would verified licensing and a no-shopping guarantee make you book in advance?
-what would make you trust the verification?
-Does this pricing seem reasonable for guaranteed legitimate service?
If you're actually planning a Morocco trip in the next 2-3 months and want to test-book one of these guides, DM me. Running a small pilot before building the full platform.
Appreciate any thoughts—trying to make sure this actually solves a real problem before investing more time.
Hi! My husband (25M Latino) and I (25F Black) are going to Japan at the end of the summer! We’re beyond excited for this!! My husband is super into Pokemon, so we are going to go to as many of the Pokemon centers as possible. I’m more of an anime/foodie/sci-fi type girlie, so I’m looking forward to seeing as much in that realm as I can. Also, I’d love to go to something uniquely Japanese that you can’t find anywhere else. Where should I explore? And what’s the best place to get ramen? Unique foods (I’m allergic to seafood though)? Please share your favorite places and experiences. I’ll be going to Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Nagoya, and Chiba.
TL;DR: Going to Japan soon. Please help me figure out where I should explore.
5 friends and I will be in London at the very beginning of September and want to travel some place warm (in Europe) By train(Maybe stop mid-France for a break) Or plane. Money isn’t much of an issue, but we’d really love some clear water. We would like a city that maybe has a party scene.
Hello, I plan on going to Rui Montego Bay either from Fri-Tuesday or Sun-Thur. Is it better that I stay during the weekend (Fri-Tue) or it doesn’t matter? I’m just wondering is there more events on the resort during the weekends? Is the resort more fun during the weekend? Thank you in advance.
Hi guys, currently looking to stay in Italy for close to 2 weeks during July (longest stay to date) and I was wondering if I could get help on American (preferably black) connections in Naples/sicily.