Dropping your briefs along with your bags upon arrival at a gay clothing-optional resort is a wonderful feeling. ‘Liberating’ is the word most often used!

There are a plethora of these little gay oases around the world where you can strut your stuff, unfettered by fabric, among like-minded men. From the intimate to the luxurious, here’s a guide to our top seven gay clothing-optional resorts, where you are free to be as bare as you dare.

Island House – Key West

Key West is a gaytopia all in itself – a perfect little Caribbean paradise built on the motto of ‘one human family.’ And there are definitely more than a few gay relatives in the Key West family! So, it should come as no surprise that Key West has some of the best gay clothing-optional resorts in the world.

Island House Key West is award-winning and one of the first gay guesthouses in the world, having groundbreakingly opened all the way back in 1976. Since then, it has been refurbished and modernized by local gay legend Jon Allen, into a gaytopia within a gaytopia.

Inside the resort – besides many naked male guests – you’ll find a gym with a sauna, multiple Jacuzzis, a sundeck, and a large pool with a poolside cafe/bar staffed by smoking hot bartenders. The rooms have large comfy beds, queer art decorating the walls, mood lighting settings on the mirrors, ceiling fans, light-up headboards, and snazzy shade-control blinds.

Known for its laid-back vibe and open-arms – and open-everything-else, for that matter – approach to hospitality, this resort has become a staple in the gay community and hosts events throughout the year attended by guests and locals alike. In truth, there always seems to be something happening at Island House.

Casa Cupula – Puerto Vallarta

Puerto Vallarta is where the gays go to play. The Mexican city has solidified its reputation as a favored gaycation spot not just for the States, but for the whole world.

Casa Cupula is one of the best gay clothing-optional resorts in town to use as a basecamp, right in the center of the action. The resort offers the perfect blend of luxury and no-holds-barred fun. Its location couldn’t be more ideal—perched on the hills to take advantage of breathtaking views of both the Pacific Ocean and tropical forest, while conveniently being just a short walk from Playa de Los Muertos Beach, Vallarta’s gay beach.

It’s not the cheapest option in the world, but it boasts two swimming pools (one clothing-optional), a sizable hot tub, a spa, a gym, and an on-site restaurant serving both Mexican-style dishes and American cuisine on a terrace designed to capitalize on the view. Each guest room and suite at Casa Cupula has a unique interior design and original artwork, ranging from lavish to only slightly less lavish! With its eclectic décor and festive spirit, it’s also a place where you can party your pants off—literally—and its parties are legendary.

Coqui del Mar – Puerto Rico

Let’s be real, few travelers go to gay clothing-optional resorts with the sole intention of working on their tan lines: most also go to make connections with their fellow guests.

Coqui del Mar in Puerto Rico is as much about nurturing a sense of community, inclusion and all-round fun as a place to stay. The welcoming, community-based atmosphere of Coqui del Mar simply can’t be matched anywhere else in the Caribbean, or even the rest of the world. Whether you come alone, with your partner or a big group of friends, it’s easy to meet and socialize with other guests while hanging out at the pool, sipping drinks in the jacuzzi or attending their cheeky clothing-optional Saturday barbecues.

You are free to wander the entirety of the ground floor – which of course include a pool and Jacuzzi – without clothes alongside the other hotties that tend to frequent it. The beach is literally in front of the door and it's an easy walk to the other gay-friendly beaches and the gays bars of the San Juan gay scene.

Coqui del Mar offers different room types to suit all budgets – from large apartments with full kitchens to shared, hostel-style rooms for solo travelers on a budget. In Coqui del Mar Guest House, clothing may be optional, but fun is mandatory because the nurtured social atmosphere makes sure you’ll make friends and even “friends” on your visit.

InnDulge – Palm Springs

Palm Springs is where the celebrities and closeted gay actors of old used to retreat when they needed a bit of TLC. InnDulge – see what they did there – epitomizes that chilled Palm Springs’ energy and is – as they put it – ‘an oasis in the desert’. The resort staff are beyond friendly and the guests so laid back that they are, in fact, horizontal.

As its facilities are open 24/7, you’re free to be naked and relax around their heated/chilled (depending on the season) saltwater pool or slip into the resort’s 12-man jacuzzi – yes, that’s a lot of men – at your leisure. And at the weekends, things perk up a notch for those infamous Palm Springs pool parties you’ve no doubt heard about.

The rooms have a cozy homely feel to them and are affordable on most budgets, at least by Palm Springs’ standards. For all these reasons, InnDulge is not only one of the most popular gay clothing-optional resorts in Palm Springs, but one of the top-rated in all of California

The Grand Resort – Fort Lauderdale

The resort’s name tells you exactly what to expect: unadulterated, naked grandeur! Fort Lauderdale is as gay as it gets, boasting the largest number of gay resorts next to Palm Springs, but The Grand Resort has size and experience on its side—a winning combo in life—as the biggest and longest-running gay resort in South Florida. The Grand Resort is for those who want to be pampered and luxuriate in their more natural state. The towels are plush, the men are as sophisticated as they are naked, and the amenities are award-winning.

The resort is actually made up of four interconnected properties: The Worthington, The Grand Resort, Alcazar, and Villa Venice—joined via beautiful garden walkways. The property features four swimming pools, three hot tubs, multiple sun decks, and a full-service day spa. There are a whopping 96 guest rooms, suites, and penthouses to choose from, all as luxurious as you would expect. It’s only a short walk to Sebastian Beach, and the thriving gay scene on Wilton Drive is a mere 15-minute drive away!

Villa 3 Caparica – Lisbon

Portugal is not typically known as a hot spot for gay clothing-optional resorts, but Lisbon has a glorious little secret in Villa 3 Caparica. Located just across the river from Lisbon, this intimate resort has the feel of a European villa, where you can laze around the pool basking both in the Portuguese sunshine and in the company of some of Europe’s finest-looking men. Despite its small size, Villa 3 Caparica has all the amenities one could need, including a magnificent swimming pool, Jacuzzi, steam room, dry sauna, and even private cabins—should you fancy some time with new friends. The LED mood lighting certainly lends itself to a romantic encounter or two. The rooms are simplistic yet comfortable, and the hosts are incredibly welcoming, going out of their way to make the place feel like a home away from home.

During high season, they host themed nights and weekly parties that are popular with both guests and locals alike. And, like most resorts, the gay beach is just a short car or taxi ride away.

Club Torso – Maspalomas

Nudity and Maspalomas go hand in hand—or hand anywhere, for that matter. The Gran Canaria resort town is most (in)famous for its parties, cruisy sand dunes, and gay nudist beach.

Club Torso follows suit and doesn’t pretend to be anything it isn’t—it is indeed full of toned torsos basking in the Spanish sun. There’s the usual large pool and Jacuzzi, but also a bar and bistro that keeps the cocktails flowing. It has areas to unwind in, like a tropical garden primed and pruned to perfection, and—if you’re the type who doesn’t like to beat around the proverbial bush—downstairs in the basement, you’ll find a large play area. Room options include cute bungalows that add to the holiday resort experience—be sure to get to know your neighbors!

Another non-resort option for the budding nudist visiting Maspalomas is Everything to Sea’s Naked Canary Island Villa —ideal for those who want to go all-in for a week of self-indulgence. Inside, naked men go about their business against the backdrop of a mansion that looks like you’ve been transported back to the sexy 1970s, with just a touch of Spanish flair. Below the mansion, they even have a “disco dungeon,” which is exactly what it sounds like.

General Advice – How to Not be Rude, When You’re In the Nude

Gay clothing-optional resorts appeal to a wide spectrum of people. What tends to unite them, however, is that they’re all seeking the freedom to express themselves while undressing themselves. As such, there aren’t many “rules” to staying at a clothing-optional resort, besides the obvious: be respectful to others.

First and foremost, nudity isn’t inherently sexual. Although many people do go to gay clothing-optional resorts with the intention of hooking up, it is by no means the only reason. Some go to relax, some go to make friends, and some simply want to dip their toes into the waters of nudism. In other words, don’t make assumptions—just because someone is in the buff doesn’t mean they’re “free game.”

When and if you strip off at all is entirely up to you. It’s “clothing-optional,” not “nudism mandatory,” so at a clothing-optional resort, you're free to choose whether to wear clothes or not. Most guests alternate between dressing and undressing based on their comfort levels and the activity they’re engaging in. Also, be sure to know which parts of the resort are actually clothing-optional. Some places limit nudity to the pool or sundeck, so it’s a good idea to bring along a casual outfit or two for dining areas—which may or may not be clothing-optional.

Most gay clothing-optional resorts offer a range of activities similar to those at traditional gay resorts—if any gay resort can be called “traditional.” Taking part in everything from naked barbecues to pool parties to naked Twister is a great way to break the ice, make friends, and form connections. How intimate those connections get is entirely up to your naked selves!