How to Survive a First-Time Naturist Holiday: Tips & Advice

Going On a Naturist Holiday for the First Time

First of all just to give you some background information – I am not the sort of person to whom going around as nature intended comes naturally. I have never thought that clothing was optional, and I do not wander around my house in the buff, even when I am the only one at home. I do occasionally run unclothed from my bedroom to the bathroom, but a disapproving look from the cat would be enough to make me regret it for the rest of the day. I am just not that comfortable naked.

So, when my husband of 20 years, Martin, suggested a naturist holiday I thought he had finally, after all those years, lost his mind. Very much against my better judgment I allowed myself to be persuaded, on condition that I chose the next holiday destination.

(I am planning to suggest Hawaii. Well, a girl can dream, can't she? I hope that I can be more gracious about the look on his face when I tell him about Hawaii than he was about the look on my face when he proposed the naturist thing.)

Famous Naturist Beach: Studland, Dorset, UK

Naturist Holidays: Tips and Observations

Here are some important things to remember if you want to make the most of your naturist holiday.

Don't Look in a Full-Length Mirror Before Leaving Home

The best advice I can give to anyone contemplating a naturist holiday is don’t strip off and look in a full-length mirror before you leave home. Not unless you have the body of a 20-year-old supermodel, in which case maybe you should think about some other sort of holiday and give the rest of us a break.

I did take my clothes off before the trip and give myself a good once-over. Big mistake. Huge! Just like my bum, which is also a lot nearer my knees than I remember. In fact, everything was a lot further south than I remember.

I came to the conclusion that I didn’t want to see myself undressed, so why should I inflict myself on other people? Not that I ever felt people were looking at my body at the site – naturists just don’t seem to be like that. The people we met on our holiday were all friendly, warm and welcoming, and none of them seemed to be the least bit worried about their wobbly bits being too wobbly, too far south or too wrinkly.

Everyone Else Will Be Naked, Too

One of the most important things to remember on a naturist holiday is this: Everyone else is wearing as little as you are, too! It sounds simple, but it’s an easy thing to forget when you venture outside as nature intended for the first time.

Look People in the Eyes

Remember to look people in the eyes, not in the ... well, you get the picture. Especially as a first-timer on this kind of holiday, I appreciated that others were looking me in the eye as they spoke to me and not making me feel conscious of my unclothed body.

Choose Your Destination Carefully

We chose a smallish campsite in Cornwall for our first trip. Although there are some very good naturist beaches in England, including Studland, at the particular site we chose people were also allowed to wear clothes. When we were there, however, the vast majority of people had chosen not to, during the day at least.

Take a Towel to Sit On

It does seem to be the norm for people to carry a towel to sit on or for emergency cover-up. I took my biggest bath sheet but ended up having to fold it so many times to fit the chairs that my feet didn’t touch the ground, so I suggest taking a beach towel or something similar.

Take a Sarong for Sun Protection

A few of the women carried sarongs with them, useful if the sun was very strong to wrap around your shoulders until you can find a nice patch of shade. We arrived, unpacked our meagre possessions, disrobed, slathered on the factor 50 sunscreen and feeling pretty brave, took the plunge.

Don't Take Photos Without Permission

Don’t take pictures of naturist people without asking permission. This guideline kind of applies to all people, actually, clothed or unclothed. It’s a bit on the rude side to just snap away. I wouldn't want someone taking sneaky pictures of me, so I don't take sneaky pictures of other people.

Naturists Smile a Lot

One thing I noticed is that naturists smile a lot – although in some cases I suspect the smile is actually a grimace of pain. It can get pretty cold in the UK at any time of year. I’ve been known to sling on an overcoat in early August, which kind of defeats the point of going on a naturist holiday, so if it does turn cold the order of the day seems to be grin, or grimace, and bear it. Pun intended.

That could have been because when we were visiting this particular camp a large party of friends were also there, around thirty of them, all of whom seemed to be trying to outdo each other as to who could go without clothes the longest and who could smile the widest.

Smiling is fine – it make you feel good – but giggling behind your hand like a schoolgirl whilst pointing at all the other people is so far from fine it has left fine a hundred miles away in a bin outside a motorway service station. It also opens up the possibility that people might just point and giggle at you. Fair’s fair, after all, and it could be a long run back to the sanctuary of your accommodation.

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No Tan Lines!

One good thing about going on a naturist holiday is you don’t get tan lines. Then again, tans are bad for you; they age the skin and give you cancer and realistically the only people who are going to see that you don’t have tan lines are other naturists, your doctor and your partner.

Other naturists don’t have tan lines either, so tan line–free is their natural state. Your doctor will probably tell you off for getting a tan, and if your partner is anything like mine, by the time you are undressed enough for him to notice your lovely all-over brown body his mind is on other things, probably wondering how he could have forgotten it was his birthday.

Packing Is Easy

I have been known to spend hours searching for the top I want that I know goes with the jeans I am going to wear – only to find that the jeans are in the wash covered in bean juice and the top is on my eldest daughter.

Because of the lack of apparel needed on a naturist holiday, you don’t have to pack much. You'll need shoes of course and just the odd thing or two for trips off-site and for evening cover-up. You'll save lots of time on all of the usual pre-holiday ironing and packing. Although I must admit, my birthday suit could do with a good press ... but that’s another matter.

It's Freeing

I found that being a naturist is also very freeing. It’s a wonderful feeling to get out of bed in the morning and not have to worry about finding something to wear.

Did I Feel Embarrassed?

We spent our days wandering around the beautiful wooded site, sitting by the poolside or enjoying a glass of wine and a meal outside our chalet – all done mostly unclothed.

Did I feel embarrassed? Truthfully, yes, at first, but I did get over that towards the end of the week.

People told me that you soon forget you are undressed. Personally, I didn’t find that to be true – I always knew I was undressed. I am far too body-conscious, I guess.

I stood up straight, shoulders back, tummy sucked in the whole week, which made me feel vaguely uncomfortable and gave me a killer backache. I did find that my posture improved once I was back home, though, and the backache was short-lived. I felt at least two inches taller as a result of standing up straight.

Would I Do It Again?

I wish I could be more like my husband, he took to naturism like a duck to water. Then again, he is always walking around in the buff at home so I wasn’t really surprised at his reaction. Did I enjoy the experience? Yes, as an experience. Will I be going again? Maybe. After Hawaii.

So if you have ever been tempted to give naturism a try, my advice is to go for it!

Naturist Holiday Packing List

I would suggest the following essentials for a naturist holiday:

• Factor 50 sun block: A must for all those bits that have never seen the light of day. I use Banana Boat Family Size Factor 50, it's large enough to last the whole holiday, even covering your whole body. The pump action top is easy to use and it doesn't have a detachable lid to lose.
• Beach towel: For hygiene reasons when sharing chairs.
• Clothes: You'll need some clothing for off-site field trips, as well as for warmth, if the temperature drops in the evenings. Also, be sure to pack a lightweight kaftan-type garment if you’re a woman, good for throwing on if the wind blows or for evening wear.
• Sunglasses: I suggest really dark ones, the type that hide your eyes. This might just have been me, but for the first couple of days I couldn’t stop looking places I really shouldn’t have been looking. It’s just not normal to be surrounded by undressed people – and though I tried as hard as I could I felt my eyes drifting. Around day three I really didn’t notice the lack of clothing at all. Honestly.
• An open mind: This last item is perhaps the most important thing to take with you! It's natural to have preconceived notions about the types of people who might be interested in this type of holiday, and it's also natural to feel anxious about how you'll feel without your clothes on! My advice, and this is based on my own personal experience, is to keep an open mind. You may be surprised by how you feel a few days in.

The Best Factor 50 Sunscreen

Comments

Galaxy Harvey (author) from United Kingdom on May 02, 2018:

Thanks, Carrie. It is a different experience for sure!

Carrie Lee Night from Northeast United States on May 01, 2018:

Interesting. Never thought about the psychology of it or tips for this type of vacation

Thanks for sharing

Kleivy on July 21, 2013:

To whom it may concern:I am a ntavie Californian and a tax payer. I am an avid fisherman and was a hunter. To follow the law, I secured a fishing license by purchasing a license from the state to fish in the state of California's waters. I did the same for hunting. The state of California requires a resident to aquire (Buy)a license to Fish, hunt, off roading, boating,camping,and many other activities. The State of California designates most of the areas that a person can do these activities. The State of California benefits with moneys for up keep of the area. Why can't the State of California require a person to ubtain a license to enter an area (beach or lake)which is designated for clothing optional or nude sun bathing. It would seem that this would be a good way to legalize this type of recreation and keep unauthorized people out of the area. This is how the State keeps control of people and areas.

Galaxy Harvey (author) from United Kingdom on February 03, 2012:

Thanks for commenting, Kingsthorpedavid. After reading your funny comments I do think that you should write a blog, send me a link if you do.

Kingsthorpedavid from Toowoomba Queensland Australia on June 27, 2011:

Some good advice in this well written Blog.

Here in sunny Queensland a BIG hat is essential along with sunblock and sunglasses.

Unfortunately we are in chilly mid-winter Down Under and I am only naked indoors as I am all the time at home. In summer I enjoy Free Hiking in the local Pine Forests along with some friends. Hate lazing around on hot beaches.

Unfortunately Queensland is the only State in Australia without a legal Free Beach, however we do have a Lobby Group called Free Beaches Australia.

I could write a book about unexpected incidents while being Home Alone Nekked! The time my wife turned up unexpectedly with two young grandaughters, the tradesman that my wife had booked without telling me who appeared at the door etc

In summer I enjoy naked Barbequing in the backyard just past the sign that says- "CLOTHING OPTIONAL BEYOND THIS POINT".

Maybe I should write a Blog?

I only began Hubbing two days ago and it is very refreshing after some other sites.

David, Queensland Australia.

Galaxy Harvey (author) from United Kingdom on October 19, 2010:

Thank you, glassvisage. It was quite a funny experience I can tell you! But a good one, you should try it.

glassvisage from Northern California on October 18, 2010:

This was hilarious - "the smile is really a grimace of pain"... Ha! I'd never heard of a naturist holiday, and now I know... maybe one day I'll try it :)

Galaxy Harvey (author) from United Kingdom on March 25, 2010:

Cupid 51 - thank you so much for commenting - my first ever!

I have to admit it was a strange but enjoyable experience.

cupid51 from INDIA on March 25, 2010:

Nice hub with lovely tips! I am afraid I could manage it!