elteegilbreath

My wife and I are a younger couple, late 20's, and both very interested in taking a vacation somewhere where we can really let our inhibitions go. To sum us up, we both work very busy jobs. I own my own business working in excess of 60 hrs a week while she is right behind me working around 50 hrs a week. We have very busy lives and don't get to spend a whole lot of romantic time together. When we take a vacation we want to TOTALLY relax. Our honeymoon was spent at Zoetry Agua Punta Cana, and while AMAZING, it was a little small for us, only having 53 rooms. We like the idea of being at a smaller resort (150 to 250 rooms) but do enjoy the occasional night life and most of all we like the idea of acceptable nudity/topless sunbathing. We don't really want to go to a resort like Temptation with a ton of people and we are not interested in going to a "lifestyle" resort. At the same time I'm not sure that a naturist resort is the way to go either as we don't want to feel obligated to be nude. Idealy, someplace where its totally acceptable to be nude on the beach, possibly the pool, your room balcony or terrace, that sort of thing. Any thoughts on where we should go, price is certainly a factor so since we live in NC we're thinking Carribean, or Mexico?

zootsi

Since a lot of Europeans go to the Mexican Caribbean, topless sunbathing is fairly common. I've been down there many times and I don't believe I've ever seen totally nude. If you want someplace quiet and somewhat away from it all, check out Tulum. Tulum is noted for it's alternate lifestyle, off the grid feel. The wide white sand beach just goes on forever, and many spots are deserted. I wouldn't be surprised if there are some clothing optional spa type places in Tulum. Have you been to the locogringo.com website? - tons of info on this whole area.

suze

I would look to the Caribbean instead. I believe you're much more likely to find what you describe someplace there. Mexico is basically a conservative country and nude sunbathing really isn't all the thing most places (outside the lifestyle or naturist resorts you say you don't want). You do see topless more over on the Caribbean/Mayan Riviera side because of the euro-influence as already mentioned.

I've spent 20+ trips in Mexico, Puerto Vallarta, La Paz, Cabo San Lucas and can count on one hand the times I've ever seen anyone topless, and I've never seen anyone nude.

Look at Negril Jamaica, for example, that seem closest to what you describe, and there are several resorts on the gorgeous "7-mile beach" there that have clothing optional beaches but are not nude resorts per se.

Dude

Whether people are doing it or not, it is culturally inappropriate in Mexico and is interpreted in a negative way. Try Spain.

cabron

I've seen a couple of ladies arrested here in PV for going topless, it's actually illegal.

Stewbear

St. Barts is the perfect place for nude sunbathing. Heck I even dropped my trunks to swim nude there. Never could lay on the beach that way but my GF Helen at that time had no problems. Just not done in Mexico unless you can find a really isolated beach.

schmerl

St. Martin....Orient Beach has nude sun bathing.

Bill_H

About ten miles south of Loreto, which is about mid-way down the Baja peninsula, there is (or was) a resort that catered to nude sun bathing by setting aside a small beach area as clothing-optional, also had clothing-optional hot tubs.

I heard it was full of chubby pale Canadians, but never had the urge to check.

Loreto is a bit hard to get to, there is a flight from LAX, not sure how many other places in the US you can fly in from. The town itself is pretty small and peaceful, mainly a place to fish or dive or whatever, so maybe not what you want. The only time I've been there was to meet a boat we had chartered for a multi-day live-aboard fishing trip.

Here's a link that mentions the clothing-optional resort: http://www.travel-wise.com/north-ame...co/loreto.aspx

Sample quote: <i>"This resort is one of the few with a "clothing optional" area which is discreetly situated at the south end of the property. Folks can stretch out along the private beach or lounge in the hot tub au naturel."</i>

suze

Sorry Bill_H, but that doesn't sound all that appealing -lol!!! Seriously check out at lesat the Caribbean side or better yet a Caribbean island instead.

colokid

What Dude said. Some women topless at resorts in Playa del Carmen is the usual during high season but it is not the norm. Especially on the weekends when there are a lot of locals at the beach with families.

elteegilbreath

Thanks to everyone for the responses. Very helpful for sure. I have heard of Tulum and it has certainly peaked our interest. Sounds like we may or may not find exactly what we're looking for in Mexico but won't know till we try! Does anyone have thoughts on Couples resorts in Jamaica? In all honesty it looks beautiful but I have a feeling it may cater to older couples. Am I way off in my assumption?

suze

Are you asking about the Couples resort in Negril? There's an excellent Negril forum over at Trip Advisor where this resort is often mentioned.

TC

Try St. Martin. Perfectly acceptable there. The Latin countries are heavily Catholic and are quite put off by topless sunbathing and public nudity. Having said that, why not get a private condo with your own rooftop or balcony?

Stewbear

The French side of St, Martin OK BUT not the Dutch side. You will must definitely be arrested in my old home.

sassy_cat

MOST of the Caribbean islands are as conservative as Mexico when it comes to nude sunbathing so research carefully!

Jamaica does NOT allow nude sunbathing on public beaches. It is acceptable/common at some resorts but does not reflect the island culture.

St. Barts and the French side of St. Martin have beaches where topless and nude sunbathing are acceptable.

suze, reread your travel guide.

suze

sassy_cat, I'm curious what you are referring to with your last comment? "Reread your travel guide"... about what exactly?

Any comments I made above were from personal observations from being in Mexico and Jamaica, not something I read in a guidebook.

sassy_cat

suze on Apr 7, 12 at 2:21pm
I would look to the Caribbean instead. I believe you're much more likely to find what you describe someplace there. Mexico is basically a conservative country and nude sunbathing really isn't all the thing most places (outside the lifestyle or naturist resorts you say you don't want). You do see topless more over on the Caribbean/Mayan Riviera side because of the euro-influence as already mentioned.


suze on Apr 8, 12 at 8:48pm
Sorry Bill_H, but that doesn't sound all that appealing -lol!!! Seriously check out at lesat the Caribbean side or better yet a Caribbean island instead.


I read these comments and thought they were misleading and I disagree.
How do you know that you see more topless on the Caribbean/Mayan Riviera of Mexico?
What was wrong with Bill's suggestion?

IMO European influences aside Mexico and the Caribbean are culturally similar with regard to nude sunbathing.

suze

What didn't sound appealing about Bill_H's suggestion was this part...
<I heard it was full of chubby pale Canadians>

Topless does happen more frequently on the Caribbean/Mayan Riviera of Mexico because there are more resorts that cater to that than those on the Pacific Coast like Cabo, Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta. How do I know this? From friends who vacation on that side vs my experience on the other side, that's how.

And you most definitely CAN be topless or fully nude at several of the resorts in Negril.

sassy_cat

<How do I know this? From friends who vacation on that side vs my experience on the other side, that's how.>

OK, heresay whatever.
I've seen zero people topless on the Caribbean/Mayan Riviera of Mexico after 5 or 6 trips to the region so I don't think it's commonplace.
Funnily enough the number of topless sunbathers on either coast of Mexico has never come up in conversation with friends.
Must admit I don't think I know anyone that would actually take a head count of naked people and I wouldn't consider it a significantly relevant survey if they did.

Yeah, you can sunbathe nude at several resorts in Negril but it's not permitted on a public beach and that's because the Caribbean culture is essentially conservative. Jamaicans tolerate topless sunbathing for the sake of tourism.

You suggested the OP look to the Caribbean as Mexico is a conservative country.
My point was that generally the Caribbean has a similarly conservative culture and as the OP wanted 'someplace where it's totally acceptable to be nude on the beach' but didn't want a 'lifestyle resort' it isn't the best fit.
$t.Barts would fit the bill except the bill would be high

suze

<Funnily enough the number of topless sunbathers on either coast of Mexico has never come up in conversation with friends>

Well it comes up quite frequently on internet travel forums. It comes up near weekly on the various Trip Advisor destination forums.