Nudist Resorts vs Clothing Optional Resorts

We have owned The Terra Cotta Inn for 16 years. One of the things that people are confused about is the difference between nudist and clothing optional resorts. And rightly so.

We have had guests who have stayed at so called "nudist resorts" tell us they were shocked by how many residents stay dressed at the nudist resorts and then they are equally shocked by our resort. We advertise Terra Cotta Inn as clothing optional, yet all guests go nude.

I try to tell people EVERY nudist and clothing optional resort in the US is unique. Ask questions before booking. For instance if you want to be nude all the time and the other guests also be nude, we are the nude resort in Palm Springs that you will want to stay at.

The reason I bring this up is someone wrote on a nudist forum:

"Does anyone know of a resort that is either family or adult oriented that is NOT clothing optional? I am looking for one that is nude only. I have read at different times about resorts in the US that are nude only, so I am sure they exist. When I read it again, I will make a note of it so I can inform the group.
I have been a place that was CO, and it was more like NO. Weather was not a factor when I went. For "newbies", I can understand going to a CO resort so they can get used to the nudity and decide for themselves what they want to do.
For us "seasoned" nudists, we are going to be nude anyway, so why even bother with a CO place?"

Obviously here is another person who doesn't realize that clothing optional places can have more people nude than nudist places, or not, it depends on the resort. It is my experience if a nudist place has full time residents or condos, lots more people will be dressed. Resorts like ours where people take vacations and don't have residents, EVERYONE goes nude as that is what they want to do on vacation. They don't want to be dressed.

So ALWAYS ask questions of resorts before booking so that you will know the type of place you are booking. An easy question to ask is if the owners work nude, (Mary Clare and I work nude). If the owners are nude, you know the guests will be too. If the owners stay dressed a lot, you know the guests will too as guests always follow the tone set by the owners.

Now is the perfect time for a fun, romantic, sunny, unique vacation experience. One that you will want to repeat over and over.

Never been to a clothing optional resort before? No problem. We are the most mainstream nudist resort in the US and are perfect for couples trying topless or nude sunbathing for the first time!

Last November, MSNBC picked us as the Best value nude sunbathing resort in the western US.

And in December, 2010 Palm Springs Life Magazine picked us as the BEST small resort in the whole Palm Springs area in their Best of the Best issue. It's pretty cool that a nudist resort is considered the best place to stay in town. We were picked not because we're exclusive and snobby, (we let other places win those categories). We were picked because we are so friendly and because the guests have such a good time here.

Give us a call at 800-786-6938 to make reservations or for information. We answer the phones from 8am-10pm PST.

Visit our site at http://sunnyfun.com

Visit our Facebook resort page at http://bit.ly/TerraCottaInnFBPage

Make this the year to finally say good bye to your funny tan lines forever.

Hope to see you soon in sunny Palm Springs!

Not all nudist resorts are just weekend getaways

We had a couple come by for a tour today. They are in town through Sunday and had already booked at our resort on Thurs, Fri, and Sat. I asked them where they were staying and they are at a big hotel in Palm Desert, a town about 20 miles away.

I said "well you can see we are over half full today, why didn't you book here especially since we have our summertime special of stay 1 night, the 2nd is half priced."

I was told they stayed at another place midweek in Palm Springs a couple of years ago, were the only ones there, and had a boring time so they assumed all nudist resorts in Palm Springs were empty midweek and only booked us for the weekend.

Then I saw this post on a nudist forum:


" _______ Resort all to ourselves...what a strange feeling!
2 days ago

Wow...what a strange experience! We usually come to __________ for the weekend, but with our trip to Mexico, and much desired time with our lovely granddaughter this past weekend, we didn`t leave for ______ until she went home, then arrived here ... on Sunday evening a couple of hours before dark. Not a soul in sight after we spoke with _____, the owners. From 6 to about 10, it was just us enjoying the solitude, the pool, the hot tub...

This morning, saw no one at all until about 10 when a guy drove out from town to spend the day at the pool, and the resort`s handyman.

Now, it`s 5:30 in the afternoon on Monday, and again my sweet wife and I have the resort to ourselves. I have enough steak for 8 or so, ...looks like leftovers tomorrow!

It`s been a lot of fun, but really strange."

I have always said all nudist resorts have a responsibility to other resorts in the way they treat guests especially first timers because if a first timer has a bad time at our resort, odds are they will never try ANY place again.

And for instance as in the above 2 examples, if you go to a nude place and no one is around from Sunday until Friday, you assume ALL nudist reaorts are like that which isn't true.

For instance, we are the ONLY nudist resort that is popular 7 days a week in Palm Springs. We are NOT just a weekend getaway. If you are here midweek, you will meet lots of really nice people and we can even sell out midweek. On our site at the bottom of our home page, we print our upcoming availability. We are the only nudist resort that does so in Palm Springs.

When we first opened 14 years ago, we told potential guests on the phone that when they booked that maybe only 2 or 3 couples would be here, but that all other nudist resorts were slow midweek too. We lost business short term that way as not all nudist resorts would admit that they were only weekend getaways.

However, long term, guests love our frankness and honesty. We now have the reputation that if you want a fun nudist vacation in Palm Springs and you are social and love talking with other nudists, we are the place to go to 7 days a week not just weekends. Of course if someone calls and wants a place all to themselves, we always recommend the other nudist resorts here in town.

Now if you want a great clothes free vacation, give us a call at 800-786-6938.

Just yesterday, the big news site in Australia, news.au.com picked us as one of the 10 best nudist resorts in the world.

Visit our site at http://sunnyfun.com

We hope to meet you in sunny Palm Springs!