Topless sunbathing...

[flfungal]

I go to Hedo, and I've been to Firefly and Le Mirage on the cliffs. You can be totally nude at all of those places (I haven't read this whole thread). I haven't stayed at the Le Mirage since they put in thier infinity pool, but would love to sometime!!!

But other than that, when I'm in mainstream Negril, I do have respect for the locals and keep my bathing suit on unless I'm in a private area somewhere with no observers...

Hey, I have a tan thru suit anyway!!! LOL

I would be comfortable with it, but most, if not all, of them would not, including most other tourists. I wouldn't want to draw that kind of attention to myself....

By the way, there are still nudist beaches in the US; one of them is Haulover Beach south of Fort Lauderdale!!!

[BCBud]

Hey, I have a tan thru suit anyway!!! LOL

Have been looking for a tan thru bathing suit for several years (had one many years ago which I loved). Can you share brand name or name of store you found it at??

Btw - Vancouver has a rather famous nude beach out by the University of BC called "Wreck Beach". I always think of the Negril Beach when I have gone there - vendors (many of them nude or semi nude) sell goodies on the beach (cold drinks including beer, sodas, water etc., food, and even herb. Beach has been in existance for over 25 years and there are a lot of both young and old families that go every weekend. There is always a drumming session every afternoon starting about 3:30 or so. The local police walk thru a couple times a day, but someone always sounds a trumpet to warn people to hide their beer and anything else that thee police might be interested in. The only problem (and probably a good thing) is that there are about 300 steps down to the beach from the main road, and the return trip back up can be strenuous. Now if we could only get some of that hot weather that the mid US and the rest of Canada has had, I would head for the beach!

[flfungal]

Check out this site: http://www.lifestylesdirect.com

There are a few sites out there, just google for tan through swimsuits! They are GREAT!

It sounds like a great place where you go!!! I have to visit Canada sometime....

[Biggs of the week]

You go Yvonne! Sunbathing topless is fine!Walking around I guess is not OK for the prudes.Well its your vacation spend it like you wish.I spent more time on a nude beach in Negril this year then I did 7 mile.It was relaxing and not a show very private.I wish I would have had a teacher like Yvonne in school.She is one fine looking lady & classy!

[Debrahmw]

Ever since I have been going to beach destinations, and there have been message boards, there are discussions with this question. Generally speaking, the answers, both the straight ones and the flippant ones are the same also. To me, part of the interesting thing about being on foreign soil is that I am learning from and picking up the cues from the people who live there. Otherwise, I would stay here!

I would never presume to go to a foreign country and plan on going topless. That is something I would decide do to based on the lay of the land once I get there. Not only is every country different (although I must say that I do see alot of commonality in regards to nudity), every destination is different and every section of the beach is different. Follow common sense with common manners. If you don't want to risk being ogled, whistled at, harassed or gotten into trouble - don't walk around nude or topless where others are not doing the same thing. I love being topless, I even love skinny dipping but, no way, am I walking around in front of strangers, in a foreign country. How can we presume that something that is not acceptable in most parts of N.A., would be acceptable in another country. (If you notice some of the comments above, you can see why it is not actually a good idea even here!) I understand how someone from a European country might be confused and think it is approrpriate, when it might not be. But come on now folks -- if you live in North American how common is toplessness where you and your kids hang out? Sure there are pockets or private places that you can get away with it, but it is not common on public beaches, is it??

That is why it is best to check it out once you get there. I don't think that throwing in a bathing suit top along with the bottom is going to put your luggage overweight.

Personally speaking, I find tan lines very sexy! So what is the commonality that I have seen after 30 years of travel 1) tourists are the ones topless unless you are in Europe 2) locals don't complain if people are discrete and 3) there are always creeps around who will pay far too much attention to your nudity - even if you are being discrete. In our North American minds, nudity still equals sex. It also seems like some people having a difficult time accepting that a woman might enjoy having her top off for comfort...not for display! So until we accept that we are all nude under our clothing...toplessness and nudity are still topics for discussion. Sorry this was long, I just got on a rant!!

[MissBlue]

first -- nobody is "presuming" -- Negril has long been known as a location where topless sunbathing is permitted, and used to be quite common. This has only changed more recently over the past 10-15 years, as it has become more and more popular with Americans; but since it used to be a lot more European visitors, toplessness was seen as normal and acceptable on the beach.

second -- one cannot use the customs and habits of their home location as a barometer of what is acceptable in other countries; North American customs are very different from how things are done in the Caribbean, so this question: "if you live in North American how common is toplessness where you and your kids hang out?" - isn't really relevant. .... And since Negril, in particular, has been known as a place where topless sunbathing (not "topless walking around") was relatively commonplace, there's nothing odd or inappropriate about asking about, or being, topless when laying out on the beach.

[Debrahmw]

Somehow you must have mis-read me because in no way was I saying it wasn't inappropriate to ask about or to be topless when laying out on a beach!

I think it is a great idea to ask - that helps you prepare. I was just stating that, no matter what, it is always good to plan on getting your cues once you get there. I am not a prude and have been in various states of undress for quite a looooong time -- I did live through the 60s! Your first paragraph shows that things do change and shift so that is why it is valid to see how it feels when you get there. My answer (probably not correctly put) was not directed at the poster...they were asking a fair and valid question. I was just remarking that it is a common concern people have and that, in my mind, it is not best to presume you understand the situation until you get there. I apologize if my tone seemed hectoring or lecturing, it was meant to be ironic.

[jon c.]

if you live in North American how common is toplessness where you and your kids hang out?

It's actually pretty common on Miami/Ft. Lauderdale beaches.

[tfw73]

if you live in North American how common is toplessness where you and your kids hang out?

It's actually pretty common on Miami/Ft. Lauderdale beaches.

But where else? Because of all the US beaches I've been too, with the exception of Miami Beach, I haven't seen any topless people.

[Marko]

back in the 80's I would be walking down Negril Beach and come across totally nude tourist all the time........
topless was a given and most ladies lounged topless.......not as much these days.....

and it wasn't that uncommon..........especially if you were down in Bloody Bay........
actually if you weren't totally nude in Bloody Bay back then.........
everyone would have thought there was sumthin wrong with you........lol

and at HedoII in '84 there were a lot more people on the nude side versus the prude side.........guess it was the thing to do back then in Negril......you never heard mi complain that reach.......lol

oh da memories..........

Cool Runnings, Marko