Nude Nautical Getaways not far from Paradise

I would love to go on a nude cruise, but the cost and time required have stopped me thus far. That’s why I was so excited to discover that you can take a nautical nude getaway right here in Florida for a fraction of the cost, and you may not even have to miss a day of work!

Titz Ahoy! is a nudist charter service run by Master Captain Dale Hayberg. Trips are generally weekend houseboat trips that serve up to four couples per boat. Dale runs weekend trips out of Ft. Myers and on the Suwannee River, trips where you can swim with the Manatees in season out of Homosassa, and longer sailboat trips to the Bahamas. He is also willing to accommodate other boating and charter requests. Weekend trips generally run $350 per couple for two nights and three days, and the price includes food, as well as fuel for the boat.

I recently sailed with Titz Ahoy! out of Ft. Myers. This houseboat trip was one of the most relaxing weekends I’ve spent in a while. Cruising at about 6 knots out of a small marina, the houseboat is no speedboat, but it is perfect for the harbor and islands around Sanibel Island and Captiva. The houseboat draws very little water and can anchor almost anywhere, which is important when you are looking to go nude in your anchorage!

You are by no means trapped on a 50 foot boat with three other couples for the entire weekend. Dale also offers side trips to nearby beaches (clothing required), snorkeling where available, and jet skiing as part of the package. Seashelling at Sanibel was part of my weekend trip, as well as learning to jet ski. Watching a spectacular Gulf sunset and eating a delicious dinner prepared by fellow guests was a wonderful way to wind down after a hard week of work. Although Dale and his wife Peggy do much of the work, everyone shares with running the boat, including cooking and cleaning, helping out with docking and anchoring, and making sure the jet skis don’t get away as they’re towed behind. You won’t become a captain by the end of the weekend, but you will learn a lot about boating from Master Captain Dale.

Ft. Myers is an easy trip that I made on a single tank of gas, there and back. If you are staying in the Pasco nudist resort area for a couple of weeks or a couple of months, or especially if you live here and want to shake things up a bit with some friends, this is the weekend trip for you. The schedule is fairly flexible, with the boat leaving the dock on Friday whenever everyone has arrived. I would gladly leave my cares, and my clothes, behind to sail with Titz Ahoy! again, anytime. Titz Ahoy! is planning to set sail again from Ft. Myers in the fall, but is open to group (four or more couples) charters anytime, just give Dale a call.

Master Captain Dale Hayberg can be contacted at 813 323-0520.

A great alternative to Hedo or Desire

In the world of travel in the buff, certain resorts come immediately to mind when thinking of nudist-friendly tropical vacations. The Hedonism II and III resorts in Jamaica (at opposite ends of the island, and opposite ends of the luxury spectrum as well) and Desire, just south of Cancun, are probably the best known resorts. However, they’re not right for everyone.

I’ve been asked if there are any resorts where you can go nude but never have to see anyone “in flagrante delicto.” The Hedo resorts and Desire are obviously popular (Hedo II has a 90% repeat guest rate, for example), it's just that there are some nudists out there who want the "au naturel" vacation experience without the "naughtiness" of Hedo or even Desire.

I recently found two resorts in Jamaica that fit the bill for a luxury nude (or mostly nude) vacation. Both Grand Lido resorts, part of the same SuperClubs chain that owns the Hedo resorts, have extensive “au naturel” beach areas and facilities. I would heartily recommend either one of them to the casual or reluctant nudist, or to the naturist/nudist that wants to avoid any element of sexuality within their own resort.

Grand Lido Negril is literally across the street from Hedo II. The atmosphere of the two resorts could not be more different. Grand Lido caters to an upscale crowd, newlyweds, and many European vacationers who want an au naturel experience as part of their vacation. Grand Lido Negril is a five-star, AAA four-diamond resort with a “nude” and a “prude” side. The prude side has the better beach, but the nude side is quite comfortable and provides lots of facilities for the nudist vacationer. With two buildings of rooms that face the nude beach, you can book a ground-floor room that will allow you to walk out of your room and into the pool, Jacuzzi or beach area in the buff. The nude beach is totally separate from the rest of the resort, so there are no gawkers casually strolling by to take a look. There are signs clearly marking the nude area (which strangely enough can be seen from one of the wedding gazebos on the property!). The resort is adults-only, so if you are uncomfortable with being nude around minors, no worries here.

The “prude” facilities at Grand Lido Negril are extensive. Five restaurants, all water sports, 24-hour room service, and a stocked mini-bar are all part of the “super-inclusive” plan. The plan, of course, includes all meals, but also includes premium liquors at all the bars, including the bar at the nude pool area. Reservations are required in the French, continental cuisine, Japanese and Italian restaurants, but you can eat at any of them as many times as you wish on your vacation.

Grand Lido Braco is another resort with excellent au naturel facilities. Located off of the new “super highway” about an hour from the Montego Bay Airport, this resort is designed to look like a 19th Century Jamaican village, and has a very homey, yet luxurious, feel to it. Like its sister in Negril, it is a five-star, AAA four-diamond resort. The nude side of this resort is even more extensive than at Grand Lido Negril. With a large pool, swim-up bar, snack bar area, Jacuzzi and, of course, an extensive beach, you may feel you never need to visit the rest of the resort. However, you would be missing out on fine dining, water sports and the other “super inclusive” amenities as described for Negril. Grand Lido Braco also boasts a 9-hole golf course (clothing NOT optional) and access to the Runaway Bay 18-hole course. There is no charge for greens fees, but caddies are required. Did I mention that there are two tennis courts in the nude area where you can play in the buff (tennis shoes required though!)?

Fall travel rates for these resorts (for stays before December 15th, 2008) are more reasonable than one might expect. Braco’s base rate is $189 per person per night, and Negril’s rate is $204 per person per night. SuperClubs is also running a “Fab5 for Fall” promotion offering various upgrades, including a single supplement, room upgrade and spa treatments, each for only $5. If you’re looking for a Caribbean vacation, honeymoon, reunion or even wedding (where you could invite both nudist and non-nudist friends and family at the same time!), these are certainly two excellent resorts to consider.

* For more information about the resorts, contact Michelle at Escape to the Sun Travel at 813 435-6898. The author is not affiliated with the SuperClubs Resorts. The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author. Prices quoted are subject to change or cancellation with notice.

Always bring your beach shoes

Just a quicky here...

Always bring your beach shoes if you're going on a vacation that involves the ocean (or a lake...). Don't believe the brochures that tell you that a resort or area has "miles of white, sandy beaches." Nasty things (seaweed, rocks, coral or worse) can lurk under or on top of that lovely white sand. Sometimes you can see the stuff, but if there's any surf, you can't. Lightweight, inexpensive beach/sand shoes are a must at the beach. You can walk over and on all that icky stuff and enjoy the water. They may make it hard to swim (and of course, you'll wear flippers if you snorkel), but if you're like me and you usually only float a bit or walk in the water, they will vastly improve your experience of the beach, anywhere!

My new Blog

Hi all! This is my new blog -- all about travel, in (or out of) the buff. As an avid traveler (a travel "buff" as it were), I thought I'd share my experiences and thots with a wider audience. I've learned a lot about traveling over the last 20 years or so. People are always asking my advice about when to buy a cruise, when to cruise, where to go for certain types of vacations, and so on. So, not only did I start my own travel business as a home-based travel agent (plug here for Escape to the Sun... 1-866-845-7545 or email me!!), but I thought I'd dispense free advice.

Disclaimer - all of the information provided in this blog is based on my own personal experience, research, and discussions with professionals. It may not work for you. In other words, take my advice, but don't blame me (please!) if things don't work out as they planned on your next vacation. I just want to be helpful and honest. Your experience may be different from mine. We can respect our differences and even discuss them here if you wish. Also - I don't work for any one cruise line, resort chain or airline. I freely sell any and all travel, and will offer my honest opinion, when asked (and often when I am not!).

Thanks for listening... read on (or up!).