Choosing a resort where a guy can let it all hang out seems like a straight-forward decision. Is the place clothing-optional?
But nudity is not as simple as it seems. Do you want to be naked purely to feel at home in your own body or as a way to connect with others? Do you want the experience to be as luxurious as possible or just easy-going fun?
Let’s look at seven very different resorts for gay and bi men to get a sense of what sort of clothing-optional experiences are available around the world.
A chic home base for Euro adventures
Côte d’Azur, France
Set in a Mediterranean landscape of rivers, olive groves and woods—about a 15-minute drive from the beach and less than an hour from Nice—La Connexion Provençale Gay Boutique Resort is both a retreat and a jumping-off point for an infinite number of activities. Owners Ömer and Mark also run GaySail, which offers gay sailing cruises (some of them nude) all around the world. With a capacity of 26 guests in six apartments and studios, guests can stick close to home and enjoy the sun and landscape on their own or with other guests—or head out to see all that the Côte d’Azur has to offer.
Jump into the middle of something sexy
Key West, Florida
Perhaps the most famous (or infamous, if you prefer) LGBTQ2S+ resort in the United States, the Island House is known for its diverse, uninhibited and judgment-free clientele as much as for its amenities. This might be the closest thing to a gay cruise on dry land—their happy hour offers four free drinks to get things loosened up. Despite the saucy reputation, the resort does welcome women and trans guests, though in detached units that do not provide access to the clothing-optional compound. Guests may not see much of Key West while they’re here because there’s so much socializing to do.
The bigger the better
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
With 63 rooms, The Worthington is perhaps the largest clothing-optional gay resort in the U.S. That means not only more men to fraternize with, but more amenities. Each of the three hotels in the complex—the Alcazar Resort, Villa Venice Resort and Worthington Guest House—has its own clothing-optional pool; Villa Venice and Worthington each have a hot tub. Guests can choose a regular spot to sun themselves or flit around to see who’s where. Unlike at a full-service resort, guests will need to leave the property for most meals, so the location in Wilton Manors, home to many restaurants and bars, is especially convenient. And it’s only a 12-minute walk to super gay Sebastian Street Beach.
Yes, please, to drop-ins
Palm Springs, California
One of Palm Springs’ many long-running gay-oriented resorts, All Worlds is best known for two things: its mazes and the popularity of its non-guest access passes. These passes blur the line between All Worlds being an accommodation and something more like a men’s club—there might be more than 100 guys on the property at any given time. All that people-management can make things a little complex. Day passes, valid from 10am to 5pm, provide access to the entire property except the indoor maze, while night passes, valid from 6pm to 2am, provide access to both the indoor and the outdoor maze. Oh, and you can stay here.
Room to wander and ponder
Ko Samui, Thailand
Bangkok’s Babylon, one of the world’s best gay saunas/resorts, closed in 2022 after the property was sold to a developer. Such a loss. Although Thailand is the most gay-friendly country in Asia, and one of the most welcoming in the world to gay tourists, it was fantastic to have an all-male oasis to disappear into. But fear not. Head to this beautiful island for Alpha Gay Resort’s all-male environment. The beautiful natural location is a startling contrast to sweaty Bangkok. With 24 bungalows and rooms on 6,400 square metres of verdant land, there’s no worry about feeling claustrophobic. Guests can stroll and stretch as they wish. And for those ready to get rowdy, there’s the famous monthly Full Moon parties on nearby Ko Pha-ngan.
Get all eco friendly
Golden Bay, South Island, New Zealand
While the advertising for some gay-oriented resorts makes them sound like they’re nothing more than bathhouses where the rooms have ensuite washrooms, there are options that are more community-oriented and closer to nature. New Zealand’s Autumn Farm offers private rooms, dorm beds and camping spots for “queer-friendly folk, naturists and pansexuals.” Facilities are communal, with composting toilets, solar water heating, waste recycling and an inclusive social atmosphere. There are options for day visitors and long-term stays. On-property events include Naked Summer Camp in late December, Naked Week in late January and the World Naked Bike Ride Golden Bay in March.
Au naturel and eating al fresco
Umbria, Italy
Naked fellow guests? Check. Infinity pool? Check. Beautiful landscape? Check. But what gives this property an edge is, true to Italian stereotypes, the food. Bellaugello’s kitchen serves meals made with ingredients from the property’s own organic garden. We’re talking wild asparagus or freshly dug summer truffles grown on a 400-year-old farm. The gay fantasy here is less about the mixing, mingling and cruising, more about naked showers and other sophisticated sensual pleasures. Sociable types might get bored, but if lounging on a daybed with a novel while drinking a robust Sangiovese sounds appealing, this may be the right choice.
