indyamy

My husband and I are vacationing at Couples Negril in September and we've been to clothing optional beaches in the Caribbean but never been to jamaica.

I think we both look decent but not like 10 years ago (30 and 32 now). What I want to know is first, how secluded from the rest of our resort and neighboring resorts is the C/O beach? Also, how much harassment should be expected from locals or other tourists roaming the beaches? Finally, other than the C/O beach, where am I allowed to go topless?

I hate tan lines, but I'm not going to put up with gawkers to avoid them. Tell me CN isn't like that!

beachluver

Hi

I can't answer your question, but am interested in the answers, as I have the same concerns!! I am deciding between Negril and another location for next April and this is a question that is in my mind too!! Any answers out there?
Carol

JackieMRP

The Au Natural (it's not Clothing Optional anymore) section at CN is a nice little area. It's not very secluded from the rest of the resort though. There are bushes & fencing that separate the AN & main beaches. The back of the AN beach also has bushes, but if you are in either bldgs 9 or 6 on the 2nd or 3rd floors, then you can see down into the AN area. From the edge of the AN beach down to the ocean is public beach & there are lots of ppl that walk by & gaze in to the AN area. And, when you walk from your chair into the water (nude) you are likely to walk past swimsuited ppl.

The AN area at CN does not have a pool & the bar right there does not have a blender for frozen drinks. They do have one of those pre-mixed daquiri & colada machines though.

That said, CN was a really nice resort & the AN was just fine for us & I would not hesitate to use it again. We've been to AN/CO areas a bunch of times, so we didn't mind the lookey-loos or walking past them to go into the ocean. There are lots of chairs to choose from. And, the brand new (it has just been completed right before our trip there in January) hottub was very nice & was always the perfect, consistent temp.

I don't remember having any beach vendors approach us at CN. You can go topless on the main beach at CN, but just not up at the pool area.

We actually prefer the AN section at Grand Lido Braco. The pool is HUGE & the beach doesn't have people or vendors walking by (like on Bloody Bay).

The AN area at Couples Sans Souci is very nice as well (we were there 2x in pre-Couples days). The AN area there is totally secluded from the rest of the resort & (due to the geography) has no one walking by on the beach at all.

I have lots of pics of the AN area at CN if you're interested. They're in the folder "Couples Negril--Jan 2006".

http://photos.yahoo.com/jmrperotto

Jackie
p.s. feel free to ask more questions if you have them !!

LiznJack

Jackie,

Thanks for the good information. Have you been to Grand Lido Negril? What do you think of their c/o side. We've heard great things about GL Braco and would probably prefer that resort except for the beach which we hear is not as nice as Negril.

What would you say is the best A/N or C/O spot with the best beach?

Thanks!

Liz

JackieMRP

Liz,

Yes, we've been to GLN (2x). The CO section there is OK. There is really not much privacy there due to a few room blocks being right there, overlooking the beach (long story, short -- our 1st time there, our room overlooked the CO beach & that was what gave me the courage to try the CO thing for the 1st time !!). The pool is really small, w/ no swim-up bar & there are no bathrooms right there (we just ran back to our rooms, which were right there). The beach on the CO side is nice enough, but the water has lots of rocks & stuff, so it's not smooth sand underfoot.

That said, we loved GLN & would return w/ no hesitation, and would definitely use the CO area.

The beach at GLB is not as nice as at GLN -- GLB's water isn't that nice clear color & the sand isn't as white. But, when we're there (our 4th visit coming up in 34 days !!) we always hang out (no pun intended ) at the Au Natural pool & never go down to the beach. The facilities over there are great -- HUGE pool, w/ a swim-up bar; lunch grill; 24 hour clubhouse w/ a bar, pool table, ping pong table, & you can order off of the room service menu. If you're at one end of the pool, you have a nice view out to the water. If you're at the other end of the pool, by the clubhouse, Room Bldg 'B' blocks your view of the ocean. We love this resort !!

Gosh, if you could put GLB on a beach that looked like Couples Swept Away's it would be perfect !! We haven't yet found the perfect combination of an AN/CO resort w/ the best beach. CN has a really nice stretch of beach, but the AN facilities (while we enjoyed using them) weren't as extensive as I like (i.e. no pool or grill). As I said in the other post, we also really liked Sans Souci both times we were there & the AN facilities are really nice, but the beach there isn't the greatest (water isn't really clear).

I have pics of all of our vacations (not just CN). I try to get pics of the AN/CO areas as well (if I get up early enough & the security guards let me !!):
http://photos.yahoo.com/jmrperotto

I'd be happy to try & answer more questions if you have them !!

Jackie

LiznJack

Hi Jackie,

Thanks so much for the response. I wrote you back on the other website. I appreciate your help and for sharing your really nice photos.

Liz