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| SPOTLIGHT | Tropical
beaches and jungle, Wildlife, natural heritage and sun-kissed
islands. |
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The naked body confounds and amazes most of us. Seen as a source of visual evil by puritans, the human form has inspired artists, writers, and ne'er-do-wells everywhere. Europeans are less likely than Americans to view the human body as evil--at least if the ire of the Super Bowl halftime viewers close to a phone line is any indication.
You'll see nudity at most any beach along the Mediterranean--or at least toplessness.
Topless beaches are good for the travel industry's bottom line. But they do more than boost sales of Coppertone. They attract tourists to some of the world's most beautiful beaches. For that, hotel operators are paying attention--and not for the reason you think.
In Europe and Australia, for example, topless beaches have long been the norm. But in the U.S.--and for U.S.-run hospitality companies--acceptance has been slower. In most parts of the U.S., going topless is not only frowned upon, it's against the law. But in the industry's corporate suites, at least, that attitude is mellowing. | |
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Beaches |  |
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 St. Tropez, France |
St. Tropez remains the mecca for the rich and extraordinary of the Mediterranean. You'll be blown away by the glimmering yachts and the babes therein who spend fortunes (rarely their own) to look the way they do. Like much of Europe, some beaches in St-Tropez have a carefree clothing-optional attitude, but be warned: There's no necessary correlation between nudism and beautiful people.
What not to miss: Plage de Tahiti is a secluded beach notorious for its pleasure-seeking. If you must see hot naked babes, this is where to go. |
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| Santa Maria,
Itlay |
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Forty miles outside of Florence, Forte dei Marmi is a prime resort on the Italian Riviera. A favorite among the wealthy Tuscans who own pine-screened villas here, as well as of visiting Europeans and Americans, Forte dei Marmi is famous for its weekly market, where shoppers can score fabulously discounted designer shoes, beachwear, crockery and almost anything else you can think of. For the most part, the sandy beaches are meticulously combed and clean, and it's not unusual for one family to reserve a block of tents and beach chairs for the entire summer. Santa Maria beach has some of the best people-watching |
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| Paradise Beach - Mykonos Greece |
Mykonos is the most popular island destination in Greece. In the summer it's crowded and a bit expensive. You reach it by plane or ferry from Athens (Pireaus).
Paradise Beach can be reached from Mykonos town by bus, taxi, water taxi, or rented car or moto. Buses run every half hour until 4:30 in the morning, water taxis every hour.
All ages...teen to 70." This isn't your star gazing, relaxing bit of sandy shore, especially after 4pm when the beer and music turn Paradise Beach into the ultimate party beach. There are two bars at the beach, the Sunrise Bar and the Tropicana.Once a month in the summer they hold a full moon party at Paradise beach, so check your moon calendar if you like to party. |
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| Illetes, Spain | |
Formentera, a tiny Balearic island just below Ibiza, shares the temperate climate and sensuous beaches of its neighbors Ibiza, Menorca and Mallorca. But it's smaller and best navigated by bicycle, which works to deter hordes of summertime party-goers and render the beaches safe for families and intimate groups of friends. That's not to say that they are staid, however: Illetes, a stretch of white sand and green water, is home to water sports like sailing and rafting and provides more than enough inspiration for even the most intrepid topless tanner. Formentera is accessible by boat, and we recommend a day trip from Ibiza, where there are more and better places to stay. |
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| La Voile Rouge
St. Tropez,France | |
Technically speaking, St. Tropez is a little port town on the French Riviera. But it rose to international prominence in the 1950s with the arrival of artists and writers, including Pablo Picasso and Jacques Prevért, who were drawn to the laid-back charm and seductive weather of St. Tropez in the summer. When Brigitte Bardot arrived in the '60s, St. Tropez's reputation was secured as the place to sunbathe, swim, mingle and while away the summer. La Voile Rouge is one of St. Tropez's hottest spots during the summer season. Located eight or ten minutes away by bicycle is Villa Marie, with acres of private grounds and a pool. |
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| Nikki Beach
St. Tropez, France | |
Along with La Voile Rouge, Nikki Beach is one of St. Tropez's most stylish and outrageous beaches. The sand is as packed with body guards as it is with tan bodies, and music blasts from nearby cafés, where prices are geared toward the rich, the famous and their hangers-on. Hotel Les Palmiers is a relatively cheap option for accommodation. Located in Place des Lices and hidden in a grove of orange trees and palms |
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| Paradise Beach
Mykonos,Greece | |
Paradise Beach in Mykonos is the place to be at the height of the summer in Greece, but don't bother if all-night beach parties aren't your thing. The beach's many bars and tavernas keep everyone occupied by night, when dance parties take over the beach, and sunrise just means it's time to pick a spot for your towel for the next day. By day, water sports and sun tanning are activities of choice. |
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