Nudists in Germany are getting pretty pumped about the hiking trail that will be officially designated as a clothing optional trail come next May. Heinz Ludwig, a campsite owner has pushed the trail forward, overcoming adverse reactions to hikers in the buff by pointing out the potential tourism boom that naked hikers could bring to the area.

“I think it’s a great way to promote tourism here,” Ludwig told Reuters on Tuesday after Bild newspaper published a picture of two women wearing nothing but rucksacks on the trail. “There’s already been a lot of interest in it.” The 11-mile trail runs from the village of Dankerode to the Wippertal dam. Enthusiastic nudists have been tracking the progress of the trail online, and several hikers took to the unfinished trail last May to give it a naked stamp of approval. Perhaps the best parts of the whole trail are the warning signs posted along the way. One reads: “If you don’t want to see people with nothing on then you should refrain from moving on!” Newbie naked hiker beware, co-ed naked hiking is not sexual, or at least that’s what the chatrooms say.

Author: Liz Egger

It’s that time of year when my loved one and myself set aside an evening to open a bottle of wine and discuss one of the most significant events in the Egger family calendar, to whit, the Great Annual Holiday.

As always, the first decision we have to make is whether we choose nude or not. As confirmed nudists, we naturally favour a naturist vacation, or at least a vacation during which we can get naked for part of the time. However it’s not an automatic choice and this year there is a particularly tempting selection of textile holidays on offer. There’s a Mediterranean cruise that looks appealing, and the Rocky Mountain Rail Adventure takes my eye. Maybe we should support one of the Indian Ocean countries devastated by the Boxing Day Tsunami, or stay at home and redecorate (ugh!) However, we’ll probably choose nude, and here’s six reasons why:

1: Getting naked, even for a short time, can help save your life!

I’m not being overly dramatic here. It really seems that divesting yourself of tight, restrictive clothing that impedes the natural flow of blood and lymphatic fluid may be a real life-saver.

According to researchers, wearing a bra can cause all manner of unpleasantness, including soreness and even breast cancer. The (admittedly preliminary) research suggests that ladies who wear bras for more than twelve hours each day except for bed, are 21 times more likely to get breast cancer than those who wear bras less than twelve hours per day. And listen to this; those who wear bras even in bed are125 times more likely to get breast cancer than those who don’t wear bras at all! In cultures where ladies don’t wear bras, the incidence of breast cancer is about the same as it is for men – virtually zero!

And it’s not only the ladies who are at risk. The same research suggests that testicular cancer in men may be caused by tight briefs.

So, divesting yourself of bra and briefs, even for the short period of your vacation, could keep you much healthier.

2: Less clothes = less luggage = less hassle

Have you ever noticed how when you’re packing for a holiday you can never seem to have enough clothes? And how you’ll then spend the equivalent of the cost of the vacation on essential garments brought especially for the holiday? Yet, during your stay you find you’ve ended up with twice the clothes you need? It’s spooky isn’t it? Don’t ask me why it works that way – probably some unexplained Law of Nature – but it happens EVERY TIME.

Except on a nudist holiday.

It’s as if nudist holidays turn natural laws on their head. The scramble to cover every eventuality clothes-wise is replaced by a disdain for apparel bordering on the obsessive. My normal textile two page-packing list is reduced to just four lines, viz:

Suitable clothing for travelling

Sufficient smart slinky dresses for evening wear

Shorts/skirt/tee-shirt for any non-nudist (referred to in nude-speak as “textile”) excursions

and, ummm… well that’s about it really

The immediate effect of this textile trimming is that my luggage, which is normally equal in volume to a medium-sized car, consists of just one small suitcase. (OK, two, if you count the other one which contains life-saving items such as hairdryer, make-up, skin creams, lipsticks, jewellery etc – gosh, a girl has to look her best, even in the buff hasn’t she?) Not only does this make for easier carrying and a swifter get-away from the luggage carousel, it also saves on tips. The largesse I would otherwise have to distribute just to transport my baggage train to the hotel would feed a family of five for a month. A spin off from this is that less clothing also means less packing and unpacking, leaving more time for drinking wine and dozing by the pool, which is the whole idea of a holiday in the first place.

Well it’s mine, anyway

3: Skin doesn’t stain

Our skin is wonderful. Not only is it the largest organ of our body, but it always fits perfectly (OK. Sometimes some of us may have a just a little more than is necessary, but you know what I mean.)

Happily, it’s also easier to keep clean than fabric. My husband has a particular fondness for crépes – you know, those pancake things with fillings you can buy from roadside kiosks around the Med? He’d eat ‘em all day if I let him. Unfortunately he also has a tendency to lose the syrup filling down his front, which has led to more ruined shirts than would fill a steamer trunk.

A nudist holiday neatly sidesteps this problem. Whilst maple syrup may not be particularly easy to remove from a naked chest – especially a hirsute male one – it ‘s a whole lot easier than washing it out of a silk or cotton shirt. Nor does it leave a stain, except for a livid red mark across the torso after the treacle has been scrubbed from the chest hair, but that’s the price men pay for being so clumsy. (In the interests of equality, I have to concede that this is not just a male quirk. After a bottle or two I have been known to distribute red wine down my bosom with something approaching gay abandon, rendering any affected clothing null and void in the process. However I insist that this is not clumsiness on my part, but merely the result of my being tired and emotional. So there.)

4: It makes more sense to be naked on a beach than to wear a bathing costume.

Let’s face it. A bathing costume serves no useful purpose. It doesn’t keep us dry, or warm, and doesn’t even help us to swim: studies by the West German Olympic swim team showed that swimsuits actually hamper a swimmer. They’re not even healthy. Ticks and sea lice that bite or sting and which find nowhere to hide on a nude body are easily trapped in a bathing suit.

So why do we wear ‘em

To preserve one’s modesty? Hardly. These days mens’ costumes are brief enough but ladies bathers are positively miniscule, containing less fabric than a small handkerchief. Bikini tops afford less coverage than two postage stamps on a string, and in any case are rarely worn on European beaches. Bikini bottoms just cover the genitals but often leave the bottom exposed.

Which also means they don’t protect you from the sun’s harmful UV rays.

Yet according to a survey carried out by the Ladies’ Home Journal Americans spend $900,000,000 each year on bathing costumes, although eighty-five percent of all swimsuits purchased never touch the water.

Doesn’t make a lot of sense does it?

5: Nudist resorts are nice places with nice people

Every nudist knows that genuine nudists are very nice people. What makes nudist especially nice remains a mystery. Perhaps nudism attracts the pleasantest individuals in the first place, or maybe the practice of nudism somehow improves people. Who knows? And really, who cares? Let’s just enjoy the situation. You can leave an unlocked car at a nudist resort and nothing will be taken. Nudist resorts and beaches tend to be orderly, well behaved places. Even at a nudist holiday city such as Cap d’Agde, containing some 40000 people at the height of the season, there is none of the threatening atmosphere, violence and general loutishness that disfigures other holiday hot-spots. Any sort of crime is almost non-existent, and most large complexes, even Cap d’Agde, need no more than minimal security.

You don’t get that at Benidorm or Palm Springs!

6: Nudist entrepreneurs need our support.

Despite estimates that the world nude travel business is worth some four hundred million USD annually and growing fast, the nudist holiday industry is still a fragile plant that needs encouragement and support. The fine nudist resorts that cater to the nudist holidaymaker today are a far cry from the primitive camps that were available in the not too distant past, and by attracting the new generation of vacationers who demand a certain standard of comfort, are in a large part responsible for the growth of the nude leisure industry. However, quality costs money, and these resorts are businesses, not charities. Unless we continue to support them they’ll close, and we’ll return to the old clapped out, run down, make-do-and-mend compounds of yesteryear. As the old saying goes, you have to use ‘em or lose ‘em

So, it looks as if we’ll choose nude again this year. All we have to do is to decide where. Wait a minute. I’ve just had a wonderful idea. Perhaps we can support the Tsunami appeal and please ourselves at the same time by going nude in Thailand. That’s it! Brilliant. Now then, where are those brochures…?

About the Author:
Liz Egger is a writer and a nudist who has spent twenty years of her life trying to persuade the rest of the world that nudism is an effective, wholesome and natural antidote to the pressures of modern living. Her book, “The Complete Guide to Nudism & Naturism” (ISBN 9780956231307) is now in its second edition and is a must-have for everyone tempted by ( or just intrigued by) the nudist way of life. It tells you everything you want to know about nudism, but didn’t know who to ask!
She has also helped set up Real Nudist Friends, (http://www.realnudistfriends.com), a popular online nudist meeting and community site.
Her website is at http://www.lizegger.com

Nude dining takes place under the auspice of Ordover’s monthly meals, where, according to the article, around 50 diners – whose motto is “no hot soup” – show up at specific ‘venues’ including the Mercantile Grill on Pearl Street and Pete’s Downtown in Brooklyn.

Non-sexual nudity in public dining and entertainment places is booming. According to the July 21, 2008 article titled, Clothing Optional Restaurants, Yoga Studios Where? NYC, “nude dining and yoga exercise are becoming the new rage within the clothing optional community.”

There are plenty of photos of nude diners at that site. Also see the New York Post article of July 21, 2008 titled, The Naked City, by Adam Nichols. Not only are there nude city restaurants, nude eateries inside yoga clubs, but there’s also a “midtown stand-up comedy joint,” according to the NY Post article titled, “The Naked City.”

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When one dreams of a Caribbean vacation, sunbathing, water sports, and spending lazy afternoons on a hammock under the trees is what springs to mind. But a hurricane can down the shutters even on those simple pleasures, let alone popular activities like snorkeling and SCUBA diving.

So what is the strategy to plan a vacation in the Caribbean during hurricane season? 

• Hurricanes in the Caribbean are more common in the months of August, September and October, though the official season is from June to November. Scheduling a holiday early in the season (June or July) or at the end of the season in November considerably reduces the risk of running into a hurricane while you are there.
   
• Choosing a Caribbean destination like Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Trinidad, Tobago or Barbados is wiser, since these islands are rarely hit by hurricanes.
   
• Check for information on the start of the rainy season in your destination choice – Curacao’s rainy season starts in October, whereas Aruba and Turks and Caicos islands get very little rainfall while in St. Lucia, the rainy season coincides with the hurricane season.
   
• National Weather Service website’s hurricane awareness link gives extended weather forecasts, hurricane warnings or travel advisories,
   
• Book a stay in resorts that offer a hurricane guarantee i.e. allow rescheduling with no additional charge in case the local weather bureau predicts a hurricane during the days booked. It goes without saying that travelers should take the effort to read the fine print to see what the guarantee offers and what is not covered.
   
• Taking travel insurance at the time of travel reservations is a good idea. Rescheduling or claiming refunds would be hassle-free, especially when airports are closed down and flights get cancelled because of a hurricane. 

Remember, Mother Nature is unpredictable and a hurricane can change course and hit a vacation destination. To be prepared for such an eventuality,

• Check if your vaccinations are up-to-date and carry a first aid kit and a few days reserve of essential medication
• When a hurricane alert is given, contact the local embassy on the island and alert them to your presence.
• Check with the hotel reception for hurricane safety procedures and follow their advice – understand that the locals have the experience to deal with the situation.
• Keep a copy of your travel documents handy for urgent evacuation.

In honor of the recent Nude Recreation Week, TripAdvisor is bringing opportunities to go “au naturel” out into the light, from a massive skinny-dip to relaxing sans suit on sunny shores. TripAdvisor®, the world’s most popular and largest travel community, today announced the top 5 naked events and top 5 nude beaches according to TripAdvisor editors and travelers.

Top 5 Naked Events:
As these five events prove, nudity is truly a way to express oneself.

Biking in the Buff: World Naked Bike Ride – Worldwide, June and July
Each year since 2004, bike riders have joined to celebrate cycling and protest a culture where cars are king. This year, in 20 countries around the world, participants advocated freedom from oil…and fabric. Nude cyclists bared their bods to stand (or rather sit) for what they believe in, with messages painted on their backs, fronts, and rears. If you plan to participate next year, one TripAdvisor traveler advises, “Remember the sunscreen…those saddles will be hot, hot, hot, so cover them up before alighting, people!”

Daring Dip: AANR World Record Skinny Dip – Across North America, July 2009
Put more than 12,000 people shoulder deep in pools across North America without a stitch of clothing in sight, and what do you get? The “largest number of people skinny dipping at once,” now a category in the Guinness Book of World Records thanks to the American Association for Nude Recreation. All participants were required to don their full birthday suits (no cheating), and word has it they plan to strip down again next year in hopes of beating the heat and their own record.

Maslin Madness: Nude Beach Olympics – Maslin Beach, Australia, January
Happily, these Olympics don’t include a nude luge (ouch), as they take place on Australia’s sunny Maslin Beach, where the games are a celebration of Maslin’s status as first official nude beach in the country. Among the games is the three-legged race (pun intended), in which participants tie their feet together.

Barely Bulls: Running of the Nudes – Pamplona, Spain, July
This nude crew means business. PETA’s “Running of the Nudes” protests the cruelty of bullfighting…but is also just what it sounds like: participants have chosen to show a little skin in hopes that one day Pamplona’s bulls won’t have to, donning plastic bull horns, red scarves, and little else, and running the half-mile Pamplona course. One TripAdvisor traveler admits, “I was shocked but entertained because everything was jiggling around and flopping around, if you know what I mean.”

Share Some Skin: Burning Man – Black Rock Desert, Nevada, August – September
The annual Burning Man project is a self-proclaimed haven of self-expression, creativity and community, and what better way to express oneself than to undress oneself? Drawing 50,000 people to the Black Rock Desert in 2008, huge works of art are generated at the event, namely the “Man,” which is burned on the final night as part of the process of restoring the area to its natural state, with no trace of the revelers. Participants often take advantage of the free-spirited attitude by getting nude, whether it be by the light of the fire…or the many moons.

Top 5 Nude Beaches:
The recession has been hard on everyone – no money for a snazzy swimsuit? No problem. No clothing is required at these sizzling spots, where anyone and everyone can be freed of the fetters of garb.

Worth the Haul: Haulover Beach Park – Miami Beach, Florida
With more than one million visitors each year, Haulover Beach Park is renowned for a busy, family-friendly atmosphere with the option to experience a laid-back naturist environment, not to mention the short walk to the steamy South Beach nightlife (for which clothing is required, albeit not much of it). One TripAdvisor traveler said, “It was a great and exhilarating experience.”

Natural Niche: Wreck Beach – Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
A breathtaking cliff view stretches above the five miles of sand that await those who journey to Canada’s first and largest clothing-optional beach, where nudity is the norm. While naturists will clearly enjoy Wreck, so will naturalists, who can glimpse herons, eagles and other wildlife. One TripAdvisor traveler said, “Wreck Beach is a magical place where I can strip off my layers of clothes and judgments, troubles and insecurities, and become one with the earth.”

Paradise Found: Paradise Beach – Mykonos, Greece
TripAdvisor travelers rave that this beach certainly lives up to its name, and for a (prelapsarian) party atmosphere it doesn’t get much better. Here, amazing scenery and an inviting beach form the backdrop for an ongoing celebration that’s made even better by the option to forego tan lines. One TripAdvisor traveler raved about “swimming in the blue waters and lying on the white sand in a place where humans celebrate the good parts of life…Mykonos is positive energy at its best…just paradise.”

Oriental Undress: Orient Beach – St. Maarten, Caribbean
A tropical beach with the soft sand and the inviting waves beachgoers crave, Orient Beach gives travelers the opportunity to feel the sand between their toes, and possibly other places, too. Coral reefs keep the water calm, and also make for unbelievable snorkeling. Just watch out for the sea urchins. According to one TripAdvisor traveler, “Orient Beach was one of the most beautiful beaches I’ve ever visited. A ’sun worshipers’ paradise.”

Bronze Beauties: Black’s Beach – San Diego, California
The cliffs surrounding Black’s Beach make it a stunning place to visit for the view alone. But as a place to escape inhibition, Black’s has a history of sunbathers who let it all hang out. Surfers also enjoy the beach, where they can ride the sometimes-dangerous waves (only for the brave), and can even do so sans attire (only for the very brave). One TripAdvisor traveler said, “This is simply a stunning beach…all of us found Black’s Beach to be a very comfortable place to shed our clothes and inhibitions.”

“Travelers looking to really make a statement have got some great choices in these naked events,” said Michele Perry, vice president of communications for TripAdvisor. “And for those looking to let it all hang out or express their inner selves, these top beaches are just the thing.”

A bipartisan group of U.S. senators introduced a bill on Tuesday to allow U.S. citizens to travel freely to Cuba and predicted Congress would approve it as a step toward ending the five-decade-old U.S. embargo.

“I think there’s sufficient votes in both the House (of Representatives) and the Senate to finally get it passed,” Democratic Senator Byron Dorgan said at a news conference.

Dorgan, whose home state of North Dakota could benefit from increased agricultural sales to Cuba, introduced the bill along with fellow Democratic Senator Christopher Dodd and Republican Senators Richard Lugar and Mike Enzi. Seventeen other senators also are sponsoring the measure. A companion bill introduced in the House earlier this year has 121 co-sponsors.

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March was a busy month for the Jamaican Tourist Board as it hosted two major events for its travel agent and tour operator partners.

On March 18, local travel agents gathered at the Romford Greyhound Stadium where the Jamaica Tourist Board hosted a Jamaica Day, inviting travel agents to place their bets and enjoy a night of fun whilst getting into the true spirit of Jamaica, sampling delicious Jamaican snacks and dancing to live music from a steel band.

Romford Stadium was a fitting venue for this networking event since Jamaican dog sledder, Marshall Newton, recently become the first ever contestant from Jamaica to participate and complete the thousand-mile Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Championship. This 1000 mile International Dog Sled Race is considered to be the most difficult dog sled race in the world because of the harsh conditions, difficult trail, and limited support allowed to mushers.

Newton became a true ambassador for Jamaica when his positive attitude and sledding skills were recognised by the race judges when he was presented with the ‘Challenge of the North’ Award at the finishing banquet in Fairbanks, Alaska.

Immediately after a successful ITB, the Jamaica Tourist Board attended UNITE Caribbean on March 16th at the Mermaid Conference Centre in London, where the JTB team met up with tour operators and travel agent partners to update them on all the latest exciting developments on the island. This was followed by a Jamaica party at Cos bar providing the ideal opportunity to download on the week’s activities.

A dream that started in 2004 has become a reality with the launch of Great Beach Vacations.  Managed by Leslie Block, Great Beach Vacations is dedicated to world class luxury beachside resorts.

A TOURIST who refused to take his clothes off at a swinger sex party has been blamed for “a mini-riot” at a north Queensland nudist colony.

Police were called amid threats of violence and lewd behaviour and ordered the Brisbane man and his wife from the adults-only “anything goes” sex party.

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Bring back the nudity, bring back the fun.

So says San Francisco Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, who is calling on Bay to Breakers organizers to ease up on new rules banning party floats and the Full Monty from the annual race.

“There is no reason to go this far,” said Mirkarimi, whose supervisorial district is invaded every May by the 65,000 or so runners on their way from the Embarcadero to Ocean Beach. “Nudity and floats are part of the spirit of the race.”

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