SUNSET STRIP

 

THROW CAUTION – AND YOUR CLOTHES – TO THE WIND ON A NAKED HOLIDAY WHERE AN ALL-OVER TAN IS GUARANTEED

By Netta Justice

 

Never quite got the hang of travelling light? Well, we’ve found the solution – on a naked holiday, there’s no need to pack any clothes at all.

Baring all on the beach is now so popular that more than a million Brits admit to dumping their inhibitions (not to mention their clothes) and stripping off on holiday. Even celebs like Jade Jagger have flashed the flesh.

So what’s the attraction of revealing your wobbly bits to the world?

Well, I can guess that from where you’re sitting now, there’s probably none whatsoever. But I’ve been there – and taken the plunge. And before you ask, I’m not an exhibitionist or a pervert.

I’ve gone naked in France, Florida and the UK (one word: chilly), and discovered that I love the freedom and the feel of the sun, wind and sea on my body.

And as much as I love designer clothes, it’s liberating to cast them aside knowing that underneath nobody’s perfect.

Unfortunately, there’s no gentle introduction to a naturist holiday. You either get your kit off or you don’t.

The first time I did it in the naturist town (yes, town) of Cap D’Agde in the Med (Capdagdefrance.co.uk), I was so nervous I spent most of the time lying face down with a sarong over my bum.

But so many other people were happily strolling around with their bits out, I just thought: “Why not?” Plus you can’t remain a ‘textile’ (naturist slang for a clothes-wearer) for long when you’re so clearly in the minority.

By the end of the holiday I had an all-over tan and far fewer body hang-ups – remember, there’s always going to be someone with worse cellulite than you.

Most naturists never look back (even if they try hard not to look down), so here are some of the best places for a break in the buff…

 

EUROPE

Naked holidays started in France in the ’30s and it remains a top clothes-free destination (France4 naturisme.com). Spain’s Costa del Sol boasts a naked holiday complex, the Costa Natura (Costanatura.com). Germany has naked flights – take care buckling up your seat belt (Ossiurlaub.de) – while nude sailing is popular in Greece (Naturistholiday.info/greece/sailing.htm). In Scandinavia beaches are designated ‘clothed’, not the other way round.

 

BRITAIN

There are 10 official naturist beaches in the UK where you can skinny-dip without being arrested. Holkham in Norfolk is one of the wildest, Morfa Dyffryn in Wales one of the longest, and the pebbly East Beach in Brighton the best known. British Naturism (British-naturism.org.uk) has more information, and also hosts Nudefest near Newquay in Cornwall, June 19-22.

 

THE REST OF THE WORLD

Some of the best American nudist resorts are in Florida, including Cypress Cove near Walt Disney World (Cypresscoveresort.com). In the Caribbean, party-loving naturists head for the Hedonism resorts in Jamaica (Superclubs.com/brand_hedonism), which have ‘nude’ and ‘prude’ areas – be warned, anything goes. The really brave can go on a naked game drive at the NudistEcoPark in South Africa with Kalypso Tours (Kalypsotours.co.za).

Peng Travel (0845 345 8345 or Pengtravel.co.uk), Britain’s biggest naturist holiday company, offers packages to 25 naturist destinations worldwide with prices starting at £335pp based on two sharing at the four-star Vera Playa Club
in Spain on a half-board basis, including flights.

Photography: Photolibrary.com. All prices correct at time of going to press.

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