Laby, I am a "secluded beach" connoisseur!

Next time you want to head out, let us know where you are going, and I (or someone else) can help you.

Almost all of the beaches on all of the islands are public, so they nearly all have one or more.

Most are accessible by car, but a few can only be reached by a short hike after parking, or by water (dinghy or water taxi).

You just have to promise not to tell anyone else!

Diana, mum's the word. This will just be between you, me, and our other internet friends. Can you recommend a secluded beach on Nevis? That's where we're heading next October. Of course, from your words and my good intentions to actually getting my lazy behind into action may be another matter.

Yes, Lover's Beach on Nevis is a very nice one.

It's on the north side of the airport near Hurricane Hill.

In October, you'll likely be the only ones there. Really pretty.

Scott, that was a great way of putting it.

Anyone here remember when John Ashcroft spent $8000 of taxpayers' money to purchase a large velvet curtain to drape over the statue of Blindfolded Justice because of her bare breast? That amused and annoyed me in equal parts.

Ah, Lover's Beach. Hard to beat that name for romance. Thank you so much for the suggestion. It will remain our secret.

Diana, I was just going to suggest Lovers' Beach. It's a beauty, isn't it?

Though I was surprised to see it, there was a woman at the far end of the beach at Nisbet who was sunbathing topless on her chair. Same thing with Smuggler's Cove on Tortola--a couple of German women were sunbathing topless near us at the far end of the beach. Though still public, they were all clearly being as discreet as possible.

What annoys me is that Antigua has a clothing optional beach for folks to go to, but I see toplessness at Long Bay almost every visit. This is a beach populated more by locals than tourists and it really gets to me.

$8,000 to outfit Blindfolded Justice?? My Lord. Why didn't they just buy one of those $10 "I'm with Stupid" t-shirts and throw it over her judicial head. I'll bet she would have looked a lot smarter in that.

Laby, you just gave me a real belly laugh. Thank you!

As the statue in question was much larger than life it would've been difficult to obtain said t-shirt in a sufficient size, but what a laugh that would be!

We saw several topless women on Negril beach, but there was one heterosexual couple that sunbathed completely nude every day, and they were just a couple of hotels down from CLP. You really couldn't "miss" them. I know Hedonism is obviously clothing optional, but this was right on the main beach. Not too often do I see a guy strutting his "stuff" unless it's my husband.

Diana:

Are there secluded beaches in Turks & Caicos or Anguila?

dwm, Provo used to have one of the very best. It's called Malcolm's Beach, and there was a French movie company that filmed a "Survivor"-type series there and left the palm thatch huts. They were great for shade.

It is at the end of a nasty (thus the inaccessibility) road that required a 4 wheel drive vehicle with an intrepid driver.

It is my understanding that this area is now being developed.

On Anguilla, we went in October and had a rental car. We were literally the ONLY people on almost all of the beaches we went to. Going to the Caribbean in off-season can mean that some normally-populated beaches are deserted.

On many islands, a rental car, a cooler and a beach umbrella mean you can simply drive around and stop at a spot which catches your fancy. Nearly all of the islands' beaches are all public - no such thing as "private" (except for a handful of private islands.

ej, I agree with you about people going topless on the beach where locals and their families frequent. People need to be educated about how/where to do it if they are going to...

brendandg, I'd be afraid he'd burn his "nether regions." At a B&B we frequent in Key West, there was a fellow that beat me up to the sun deck to tan nude (him, not me) every morning. I used to finish my breakfast and tell my husband I was headed up to the deck for the "weenie roast." gt;

Will be traveling to Bequia in January. Are there any secluded beaches to go topless?

Good one Diana, weenie roast. LMAO. Also thought the "banana sling" comment was hilarious. I am in no way sheltered, have been a nurse for many years and nudity doesn't bother me. I don't want my DH's "nether regions" burned either.

Still waiting for the rest of your Grenadines trip report, can we come with you on your next vacation? Think we are very much alike! I say that based on your posts which I have been reading for some time. We like any island experience that is not the ordinary. We hate anything that is too much like the US. Love that Caribbean vibe and plenty of cocktails to go with it. We tend to indulge while in the ilons. Loved your last comments that you posted about your travels to the Grenadines. Pleny of rum to keep you happy. We work hard for our vacations, but I am more obsessed than DH.

Hi Nextel. Unfortunately, we did not make it to Bequia during our trip. (Next time!)

If you start a thread about Bequia, maybe Vinceygirl or curiousx - who both know a lot about the SVG region - will give you some tips.

Here is a website I found to give you some idea of the beaches on the island. (It has a section just on the beaches. Seems most are pretty quiet and low key.)

http://www.bequiasweet.com/

Looks great!

brenandg,

Yes, I agree we have also become Caribbean-obsessed. I am lucky in that my DH is as crazy about it as I am. He plans to grow dreads when we retire to an island to live.

The people, the culture, the beauty - amazing isn't it? I think we are like you in that we really work just to support our Caribbean travel "habit."

So many people I know just don't "get it." They think we are in a rut because we go so much. They're like, "why don't you go to Europe or somewhere else?" I've been to Europe once - may go back some day...

Of course, I can go to France on Martinique or St Barts, England on Barbados, Spain on Puerto Rico, the Netherlands on St Maarten, Scotland on Carriacou, etc. etc. - all with a rum punch in my hand, the sun on my shoulders, and a funky, irie vibe!

Happy travels!

Laby, we were on Lover's Beach in Nevis in October. We were not alone. Just a word of warning!

Thank you, Diana, I will.

Joan, thanks for the warning (although there's about as much chance of me going topless on a beach as pigs flying). Lover's Beach will definitely get a looksee from us. If nothing else, I have to see a beach that would inspire this name.

Diana, I was surprised to read that Carriacou has a Scottish heritage. Maybe you could tell us more about that in the continuation of your trip report. Consider yourself nudged.

Gotta say I agree so completely with Emily's statement:

"It is about judgment and manners and respect."

I'm reminded of our trip to Barbados, which was the quintessential British conservative island at the time. Think Dover Beach with no "beach boys".

One Sunday morning we were having breakfast at the resort open air restaurant right at the water at about 8 AM. (This is a restaurant that was heavily patronized by locals before and after church on Sundays.) As we were dining, a couple came and settled onto their towels and chair about 20 feet in front of the restaurant.They were the only people on a stretch of beach about 1/2 mile long, so there were lots and lots of places to go that would have been a lot more discreet. The lady then proceeded to make a huge display of removing the top of her bathing suit, stretching and posing for an extended period of time while doing so. (I regret to say that DH dumped his sugar on the table instead of into his coffee during this spell - LOL). It took the security guards at the resort about 3 minutes to scoot down and tactfully suggest to the pair that she should either get clothed or move elewhere.

On the other hand, later the same day, a lady spent some time sunbathing completely nude at the same resort on a much more crowded beach. However, she positioned her chair well away from others and very, very discreetly removed her suit and put it back on to go into the water or walk the beach. We only noticed her at all because we were "noodling" in the waves and I happened to spot the pale double moons from the water and watched to see what would happen after the AM experience. The security contingent passed by her several times and never once said a word to her.

Diana,
Just to clarify, I think I may have contradicted myself a little in saying that we don't like islands that are too much like the US and the next place we are going is STJ. That said, we plan on at least 2 day trips to the BVI's and have read so many positive things about STJ that I have to check it out. The island hopping bit sounds like fun to us. I like the sound of "funky" Cruz Bay and the fact that the island is 2/3 national park. I saw a great picture of a donkey sticking his nose in a car window looking for a snack. You will never find us in Aruba, Cancun etc. We did a day trip to The Grenadines from STL last year and loved it. What a beautiful region!! I hope you are getting busy finishing your trip report.