You Could Get Arrested for Bringing Sex Toys to These Countries
You Could Get Arrested for Bringing Sex Toys to These Countries
Parilov/Shutterstock
https://www.fodors.com/news/photos/8-countries-where-sex-toys-could-get-you-in-trouble-at-the-border
Planning a trip? Some destinations ban sex toys and may confiscate them—or worse. Here are 8 countries where packing a vibrator or other devices could cause legal trouble.
Whether you’re taking a vacation with a loved one or seeking some relaxation time as a solo traveler, there might come a point where you return to your room, lower the lights, and pull out your sex toys. We’re all for folks using pleasurable devices to enjoy themselves while traveling; however, some countries don’t feel the same way.
If you’re lucky, countries like Bali or St. Kitts & Nevis might just confiscate your dildo at the airport. At worst, you could be charged a fine or even go to prison for packing your rose in your suitcase. We’re of the mind that no one should be jailed for sex toys, so we’ve gathered a list of countries where they may arrest you for being in possession of what they see as an “indecent item.” Keep reading to discover which destinations urge travelers to leave their pleasure devices at home.
PHOTO: Frank_Peters/Shutterstock
1 OF 8
United Arab Emirates
Tourism is booming in the United Arab Emirates, thanks to Dubai’s luxury hotels, shopping, beaches, and cultural offerings. While the UAE is more accommodating to foreign travelers than ever, they’re still sticklers when it comes to their public decency laws, of which sex toys fall under. Travelers could face jail for up to a month and/or a fine of up to 100,000 AED ($27,229 USD) for possessing “indecent materials.” While sex toys are not explicitly stated in Article 416, it’s pretty well known that bringing a vibrator or other sexual pleasure devices to Dubai could get you in trouble, whether you’re visiting or just stopping for a few hours on a layover.
PHOTO: cowardlion/Shutterstock
2 OF 8
Thailand
Despite Bangkok having a booming red-light district, sex toys are prohibited under Section 287 in Thailand. Travelers could be imprisoned for up to three years, fined 60,000 baht (about $1,855 USD), or both for bringing a clitoral stimulator or other pleasure device into the country. There haven’t been any reports of tourists being arrested at the airport, but your sex toy could be confiscated, and you don’t want to risk being the one tourist who gets made an example of.
PHOTO: Icemanphotos/Shutterstock
3 OF 8
Maldives
The Maldives is a popular honeymoon escape, and yet, pornographic material, which includes sex toys, is banned from entering the country. Will you be arrested for bringing a sex toy into the Maldives? Probably not. It’s more likely that it’ll be confiscated, which means you can’t use it when you return home. That said, the Daily Star reported that a Maldivian man was imprisoned for six months for possessing sex toys, so it’s up to you if you want to chance it.
PHOTO: GagliardiPhotography/Shutterstock
4 OF 8
Turks and Caicos
Beautiful beaches and a turquoise sea are the perfect setting for a frisky good time – but if you’re in Turks and Caicos, it’ll have to be enjoyed sans sex toys. According to the Turks and Caicos Border Force website, sex toys are “obscene publications” and thus, prohibited goods. They add: “These goods will be either confiscated, a severe fine imposed, and/or you could be prosecuted.” Again, we haven’t heard of any arrests for sex toys, but the law is the law, and you never know if you’ll be singled out to face it. Just as the five tourists detained in Turks and Caicos for having loose bullets in their suitcase in 2024.
PHOTO: Xamnesiacx84/Shutterstock
5 OF 8
Botswana
In 2018, Botswana was abuzz over the importation of sex dolls and whether they were considered “sex toys.” Ultimately, they were embargoed under Section 178, which prevents any person from possessing obscene objects or objects that “corrupt morals.” Sex dolls, dildos, vibrators, and all the like are illegal in Botswana, so you’ll need to leave them at home when you go on safari. If not, you could face up to two years in jail or a fine of up to P200 (almost $14).
PHOTO: Fivetonine/Shutterstock
6 OF 8
St. Lucia
Like many other countries on this list, St. Lucia doesn’t explicitly state that sex toys are prohibited goods on their customs page or in their laws. That said, it’s strongly inferred that sex toys are considered “indecent, obscene, or pornographic matter,” which is illegal to bring into the island nation. Thankfully, tourists haven’t been arrested for packing a masturbation sleeve or vibrator, but St. Lucia does note that you could suffer “severe penalties,” like up to 5 years in prison. Perhaps such a penalty isn’t a surprise when you learn that cussing or any harsh or insulting language that causes alarm or distress to another could land you three years in jail.
PHOTO: Eva Mont/Shutterstock
7 OF 8
Zimbabwe
Women’s rights groups are fighting against a law in Zimbabwe that prohibits sex toys from entering the country, especially since several women have suffered jail time and fines. It doesn’t appear that these groups have been successful in repealing the law, despite a booming black market for sex toys in the nation. Zimbabwe’s customs site is adamant that tourists can’t bring in pornographic materials, “any goods which are indecent, obscene or objectionable,” or “any goods which might tend to deprave the morals of the inhabitants, or any class of the inhabitants, of Zimbabwe.”
PHOTO: Ayman Zaid/iStock
8 OF 8
Saudi Arabia
Sex toys are a big no-no in Saudi Arabia, whether you’re traveling to or through the country. One government website notes that Saudi Arabia will fine those who bring in “sexual organs, tools and devices,” while another site by the Saudi postal service explicitly states that “pictures, porn movies, sex toys, and any item under the same [name],” is prohibited from entering the kingdom. We couldn’t find anything that said that Saudi Arabia would imprison someone for having a sex toy, so why include Saudi Arabia on the list? Because the country takes its public decency laws very seriously (they fine people for skipping waiting lines) and has no qualms about jailing tourists for posting certain things on social media. We want travelers to have a good time no matter where they go in the world, and when it comes to traveling (and sex), we always promote safety first.
Hotel deals aren’t significantly down. They are just different.
https://hotelsmag.com/news/hotel-deals-arent-significantly-down-they-are-just-different/?
The narrative that the U.S. hotel single-sale transaction market has been in a deep, slow slump is largely untrue. Though sale transaction volumes have not set record highs, the market has demonstrated remarkable resilience despite headwinds, such as elevated interest rates.
A review of the “LW Hospitality Advisors Major U.S. Hotel Sales Survey” (single-sale transactions over $10 million) during the past nine years yields interesting conclusions:
Between 2017 and 2019:
- Total number of trades ranged between 164 and 182 properties
- Total number of rooms sold ranged between 48,800 and 51,100
- Total dollar volume sold ranged between $13.6 billion and $18.3 billion
- Sale price per room sold ranged from $267,000 and $363,000
- Average deal size sold ranged from $75 million to $108 million
2020, the year of the COVID pandemic, was an anomaly:
- Total number of trades was 79—a 52% decrease compared with 2019
- Total number of rooms sold was 19,450—a decline of 60% compared with 2019
- Total dollar volume sold was $5.3 billion—a decline of 70% compared with 2019
- Sale price per room sold was $272,000—a 25% decrease compared with 2019
- Average deal size sold was $67 million—a decline of 38% compared with 2019
2021 was also an anomaly as the COVID-19 pandemic entered a complex phase characterized by the dual emergence of life-saving vaccines and more contagious viral variants like Delta and Omicron. While 2020 was defined by initial lockdowns, 2021 saw a transition toward phased reopenings and a shift in how the world managed the virus.
As swiftly as the pandemic led to widespread closures and cancellations beginning in March 2020, signs of an equally robust recovery were percolating, with expectations of the strongest growth ever in key lodging industry metrics. A wave of loan defaults impacted the lodging industry, with lenders and servicers considering forbearance and loan modification requests. Numerous hotel bankruptcies led to a trend that was anticipated to increase as owners of struggling assets were unable to pay their debt service.
During this time there was an extraordinary amount of liquidity in the market, particularly relative to limited availability of opportunities. Domestic and international private equity funds, hedge funds and high-net-worth investors, along with U.S. REITs, were actively pursuing prospects to deploy capital at an attractive basis, as the disparity between assets with capital needs and depth of money sources seeking to invest in lodging assets was never greater.
In 2021, the U.S. hotel sale transaction market gained traction, and with the accumulation phase of a new market cycle having clearly begun, sophisticated contrarian-minded investors perceived epic near-term appreciation potential.
In 2021:
- Total number of trades was 308—a nearly four-fold increase compared with the prior year
- Total number of rooms sold was 84,200—roughly 73% greater when compared with 2019
- Total dollar volume sold was $36.2 billion—a nearly two-fold increase compared with 2019
- Sale price per room sold was $430,000—an 18% increase compared with the prior year
- Average deal size sold was $118 million—a 9% increase compared with 2019
Between 2022 and 2025:
- Total number of trades ranged between 356 and 481 properties
- Total number of rooms sold ranged between 52,500 and 78,300
- Total dollar volume sold ranged between $12.8 billion and $19.9 billion
- Sale price per room sold ranged from $209,000 and $254,000
- Average deal size sold ranged from $38 million to $41 million
It is noteworthy that during 2025:
- Except for 2022, the total number of trades of 392 was the largest amount realized during the past nine years
- Total number of rooms sold of 70,700 was greater than the amounts achieved between 2017 and 2020, as well as in 2023 and 2024
- Total dollar volume sold of $14.8 billion was greater than the amounts achieved during 2017, 2020, 2023 and 2024
- Sale price per room of $209,000 was the lowest amount realized during the past nine years
- Average deal size of $38 million, which equaled the same amount during 2023, was the lowest amount achieved during the past nine years
In summary:
- The total number of trades between 2021 and 2025 eclipsed the numbers that occurred between 2017 and 2019
- Total dollar volume between 2023 and 2025 is within a similar range to what occurred between 2017 and 2019
- The sale price per room between 2022 and 2025is significantly below what was achieved between 2017 and 2020
- Average deal size between 2022 and 2025 was below what occurred between 2017 and 2020
During the recent past, while the U.S. hotel sale transaction market has not been in a deep, slow slump, sale price per room and average deal size have remained below pre-pandemic levels.
The current landscape in the hospitality sector presents a rare, time-sensitive, and compelling opportunity for a run-up in sale transaction activity and property values. Supported by sustained travel demand and steady performance trends, lodging facilities are one of the most resilient and profitable commercial property types and desirable assets for investors seeking portfolio diversification and long-term value.
Tourist Faces 15 Years in Prison for Racist Gesture
Matthew Ansley/Unsplash
https://www.fodors.com/world/south-america/brazil/experiences/news/tourist-faces-15-years-in-prison-for-racist-gesture
Brazil has strict anti-racism laws.
An Argentinian tourist is facing trial in Brazil after she made racist gestures toward bar staff in January. A video recording of Agostina Páez imitating a monkey went viral in Brazil and caused widespread backlash for the 29-year-old woman. If convicted, she could be sentenced to up to five years in prison.
Páez and her friends were at a beachside bar in Rio when the altercation with the staff occurred over the tab. She said in interviews that they were overcharged and, as they were leaving, the staff made obscene gestures toward them. She then imitated a monkey and called them racial slurs—actions that are illegal in the country.
Brazil has strict anti-racism laws, and offenders can receive sentences of up to five years. In Páez’s case, the prosecutor has demanded two years in prison and a fine of $150,000 for the three victims.
She was arrested after the employees called the police and was charged with “injúria racial.” Páez had to give up her passport and wear an ankle monitor while awaiting trial. She faces racism charges against three people, which could add up to 15 years in prison, but prosecutors have unified it into one charge. Páez has since apologized publicly in videos and in court, saying that she regrets her actions and understands the seriousness of the offense.
The judge allowed her to return to Argentina under house arrest after she was detained. She was required to pay a bond of $18,000 and can await sentencing in her home country. The judge may reduce the sentence, which she could serve in Argentina, or assign her community service because she has no prior convictions in Brazil.
The case has divided public opinion. Conservative politicians in Argentina believe the situation has gone too far and are framing her as a victim. Meanwhile, in Brazil, it is seen as the justice system holding individuals accountable.
Brazil has the largest population of African descent outside Africa, and more than half the country identifies as Black or mixed race. Around 2 million enslaved Africans were forced to come to Brazil from the 16th to the 19th centuries. The country banned slavery in 1888, and although laws against racism have existed since the 1950s, it became a punishable offense in the constitution in 1988. Systemic discrimination against people of color, however, persists, and Black and mixed-race citizens are more likely to live in poverty than white Brazilians.
With a long history of injustices against Black people, activists have been pushing for better enforcement of anti-racism laws. The case of the Argentinian tourist is seen as a means to seek justice, prosecutor Fabíola Tardin said. He said in an interview that she cannot waive Brazilian law because she was unaware of it. Her behavior is not justified, he told the court.
This may be an extreme situation, but travelers have a responsibility to follow local customs and abide by the law. European countries are increasingly fining tourists for acting brazenly in public places. Many land in trouble in Bali for ignoring the sanctity of temples, as the country now takes a tough stance against such acts—you could be deported. Punishments in other countries can be even harsher, so make sure you read up before bringing anything illegal or saying something inappropriate.
This may be an extreme situation, but travelers have a responsibility to follow local customs and abide by the law. European countries are increasingly fining tourists for acting brazenly in public places. Many land in trouble in Bali for ignoring the sanctity of temples, as the country now takes a tough stance against such acts—you could be deported. Punishments in other countries can be even harsher, so make sure you read up before bringing anything illegal or saying something inappropriate.
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