Throughout our travels, we got the chance to talk with many people who enjoy some sort of social nudity. It could be just at home or in the garden with close family members, or at meetups with friends. Some go to nude events, nude yoga classes, or nude beaches. But we’re always surprised how only a small percentage of these people have ever been to a clothes-free resort.
The number one reason why not, is “the step”. For us, it’s about 15 years since we took “the step”, but we can still remember it as if it was yesterday. Excited on the one hand, scared on the other. Millions of questions race through our heads. What if this is something weird or awkward? What if I do something stupid? What if I don’t really want to be naked?
Today, we realise that these feelings are very normal. “The step” isn’t just a step into the reception office, it’s a step outside of your comfort zone, into a world that you really don’t know much about. To make things a bit easier for you, here are 10 things you should know about clothes-free resorts.
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1. What’s in a name
We used the term “clothes-free” in the title, for one because we really like this term, but also because it’s a bit of an umbrella of different terms. When you’re looking for a clothes-free resort, you’re likely to find “naturist”, “nudist”, or “FKK”. Basically, they all mean the same: You are expected to be naked at some point. When and where depends on the resort (see further).
A slightly different term is “clothing-optional”. As the name suggests, technically you have the choice of whether to go naked or not. However, the general consensus is that people who visit clothing-optional resorts have at least one person in their company who intends to get naked. These are a great choice if your partner likes to be naked and you don’t, or if you’re with a group of which only some like to be naked. Clothing-optional resorts are also popular among women who like to be topless but don’t feel comfortable doing so in a clothed resort.
Other terms that you want to keep an eye out for are “lifestyle”, “libertine”, and “sensual”. The latter probably already gave it away, these are resorts with more going on than just being naked. In this blog post, we’ll be uniquely focusing on resorts where non-sexual nudity is the norm.
2. What to do
Other than “the step”, also “what am I supposed to do there?” is a common concern. Well, it’s pretty simple. You get in, register, take off your clothes, and then you just sit there naked until your stay is over. Just kidding, of course. In fact, clothes-free resorts are very similar to clothed resorts in the sense that they often have plenty of facilities and entertainment to keep you busy.
If you don’t like to just lay next to the pool all day, it’s best to scan some resort websites to see what they have to offer. A general rule is that the larger the resort, the more will be going on. At some resorts, you can participate in so many sports, arts, and cultural activities that by the evening you’ll be so exhausted that you miss the live band. Other resorts really focus on guests who just want to be naked next to the pool all day.
Also important to mention is that clothes-free resorts are not prisons. We know many people who never leave the resort throughout their whole stay, but also many others who just use the resort as a base to explore the area and make trips to different sights.
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3. When to be nude
The general rule at most clothes-free resorts is that you’re supposed to be nude in and around the water facilities (including spa and wellness) or sunbathing facilities. Basically, where you’d otherwise wear a bathing suit, you’re naked at a clothes-free resort. To walk around or participate in activities, it’s often not a problem to cover up.
The rules for when and where to be naked depend a lot on the resort. Some resorts have a “nude obligatory” policy, which means that you’re expected to be naked everywhere and always, as long as the weather allows it. On the other hand, some resorts also have “no nude” areas where you’re always supposed to cover up, often the shop or the restaurant. The policy of the resort you like to visit can often be found on the website or in reviews on Google or Tripadvisor.
4. How long to stay
One thing we were not aware of when we took our first steps into social nudity is that many resorts have a day pass system. This can make “the step” significantly smaller, at least the financial aspect of it. If you realise that social nudity is not your thing, with a day pass you only lose a handful of money instead of several hundred if you booked a one-week stay.
We heard from several people that for the first time, they just booked an Airbnb nearby and visited the resort on a day pass. 99% of them stayed inside the resort the next time though. At some resorts, day passes are only valid during a certain part of the day. So it could be that you miss any of the evening activities because these are only for people who stay at the resort. In any case, if you really want to experience the clothes-free world, we recommend staying at least one night in the resort.
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5. How to behave
There are many stories and blog posts about how to behave and not to behave at clothes-free resorts. Some of these are such long lists that they probably discourage the majority of the readers. In our opinion, the clothes-free etiquette is pretty simple and has a lot to do with common sense.
The most important thing is to not make the other guests feel uncomfortable. Don’t stare, keep your eyes at eye level most of the time when talking to someone, don’t take pictures of others, and try not to invade their personal space. Oh, and don’t have sex in public areas.
6. Where to have sex
Clothes-free resorts, except for certain ones we mentioned earlier, are all about non-sexual communal nudity. You don’t visit these resorts to have sex in public or to find someone to have sex with. If you’re uncertain whether something is appropriate or not, ask yourself “Would I do this at the Hilton?”. It’s as simple as that. The only thing that’s allowed at clothes-free resorts and not at Hilton hotels is that you can be naked. Otherwise, exactly the same rules count.
This being said, in your private accommodation you can do whatever you want. The non-sexual element only counts in public spaces. Really, it’s just like the Hilton.
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7. Hygiene
Something that surprises many who haven’t gotten a taste of the clothes-free world yet is that the nude body is actually much more hygienic than clothes. But it’s very true when you think about it. Most people shower at least once a day, but not every piece of clothing goes in the laundry after just 24 hours. Swimming will also clean your body, while it doesn’t really clean a bathing suit much. Lastly, bacteria love warm, dark, humid places. Clothes provide the perfect environment for them.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that our bodies are 100% clean all the time. So when you use any piece of furniture, it’s appreciated to put something between your body and whatever you decide to sit or lay on. This can be a sarong, a towel, a piece of clothing, or whatever you have at hand. We prefer a sarong because it can also be used to cover up when it gets chilly or when you have to go to a “no nude” zone.
Interestingly, since we’ve learned to always sit on something at clothes-free places, we also started doing this at clothed places. It’s just the perfect way to separate ourselves from whatever the previous person may have left behind. And it’s softer to sit on too.
8. Safety
One of the big advantages of clothes-free resorts compared to public spaces like nude beaches is that there are several layers of security. It starts at the entrance. If the people at the reception feel uncertain about a visitor, they’ll either deny entry or keep an extra eye on the person.
Clothes-free resorts also often have trained staff that can spot misbehaviour. Often, these aren’t actual security personnel, but rather everyday staff members who know what to look for while they are cleaning, gardening, or tending the bar. Most importantly, unlike any public space, people can get kicked out or banned at resorts.
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9. Bring a friend
Many resorts maintain a gender balance or limit the number of single visitors who are allowed to enter. This system has been food for many online discussions and we’re not going to have another one here. It’s just important that you know this and if you have the chance to bring a friend, it might make your visit smoother.
Other than that, especially if this is your first visit to a clothes-free resort, you really want someone to share the experience with. Nothing is worse than discovering something amazing and then having nobody in your circles who understands what you’re talking about.
10. You look great naked
We get a lot of questions about the “undress code” of clothes-free resorts. How are you supposed to look? And how can you improve your physical appearance when you won’t be wearing clothes? The thing is, it really doesn’t matter how you look, but one tip we can give you is that less is really more. Heavy makeup looks kinda strange when you’re naked and only wearing a bowtie makes you look like a Chippendale.
Whether you shave your body hair or not is completely your own business. Tattoos are usually not a problem unless they are extremely sexual. The only tricky thing is genital jewellery. In most places, if they are not meant to drag attention to your genitals, it won’t be a problem. But some resorts have strict rules against genital jewellery, so that’s something you may want to double-check.
The most important to remember is that no matter how you look, you look great the way you are. Everybody is different and everybody has strengths and flaws, but in the end, we’re all unique and that’s what makes us special. And between us, most people look a lot better naked than dressed anyway.
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One thing my local resort, Avalon in WV, USA does, is have events that can draw an interesting crowd, and takes the emphasis off of just being naked. I’ve been to motorcycle shows, and every summer I go the weekend long Music Festival they have. It’s in August, and it’s on the side of a small mountain, so the air is warm but fresh, and the views are great. They also have vendors there for these events, so there are other distractions, too. These are good events for first time visitors to participate in.
We really like this approach. Although social nudity is a central element in nudism, emphasising it too much makes it more difficult for newbies to join.