Essential Adults-Only Resorts

By Lena Katz

Afternoon poolside naps. Au naturel sunbathing. Romantic evenings. Quiet mornings. (Actually, make that quiet everything.) For singles or childless couples, there are countless reasons to choose an adults-only getaway. And more and more resorts are beginning to bill themselves this way.

Usually it's a way for places to guarantee that their guests will get as much R&R (that's romance and relaxation) as they want, without the distractions or noise that kids automatically bring to the table. Some resorts, like the lovely, serene Ceiba del Mar on the Riviera Maya, Mexico don't even advertise it. However, it's company policy at Ceiba not to allow children at its resort. And once you've been to the property and seen the quiet grounds, the slumberous poolside and pristine beach, you'll immediately see why kids wouldn't be happy here -- and why lovey-dovey twosomes will feel as though the place were made for them.

Other resorts brand themselves as couples-only resorts from the outset, and don't even leave any room for doubt about what kind of experience their guests might have. Couples Resort was the first company to try this approach back in 1978. There are now four Couples Resorts in Jamaica, and plenty of copycats in the Caribbean and Mexico.

Couples' primary goal is "to create emotional connections" -- in fact, it's on their mission statement. This makes it a great choice for dating twosomes who are looking to strengthen the bond. "We offer a laidback, romantic environment to renew love and meet new friends with the same mentality," says Randy Russell, the Chief Romance Officer at Couples. Russell actually came up with his own title years ago as a way to reinforce the Couples philosophy even at the corporate level. And the philosophy is a winner, as a glance at the Couples message boards proves. Russell estimates that the boards get a thousand posts a day.

"It's all about getting involved in people's lives and making things special for them," he says. Russell himself has helped plan countless surprise getaways, including more than a few marriage proposals.

Many all-ages resorts have begun to offer grown-up getaway packages to meet consumer demand. A lot of these properties are very high-end and don't get a lot of kids anyway, which makes it easy for them to switch into adults-only mode on special occasions. Cambridge Beaches on the western peninsula of Bermuda is one such place. With five private beaches, a private marina, a European-style spa and Atlantic-facing plunge pool suites (the only ones on Bermuda), this luxury resort encourages an adults-only atmosphere, though it doesn't exclude families.

To celebrate the opening of its new tiered infinity pool, Cambridge Beaches put together a Pool & Play package with all kinds of grown-up activities including an outdoor couples' massage and a candlelight bath with a private butler. This place is always coming up with fun stuff for twosomes: On Valentine's Day, it offered an Intro to Tantra package.

A few resorts are bringing sexy back, millennium-style. Desire in Mexico is one such place -- it seductively hints at hi-jinks in the hot tub and naughty adult adventures in the clubs at night. Though the scene in the lobby and on the public beach is sedate, it switches to bare-naked and frisky by the pool. The scene isn't Girls Gone Wild, though -- when last we looked, the average age at Desire appeared to be 40-something.

As for the most notorious name in the "adult fun" (yes, this is a euphemism for "swinger") sector...well, Hedonism is still going strong in Jamaica. This SuperClubs mini-chain made a name for itself back in the '80s, and its own particular brand of decadence (toga parties, male stripper competitions, singles mixers, Tantra packages) continues to be a hit. Hedonism is an all-inclusive property, but offers different levels of decadence according to what package you pick.

One concept that intrigues people as much as it confuses them is the nudist getaway. Nudism may seem racy just because we're culturally attuned to equate nudism with sex but, in fact, it's actually a lifestyle choice. Do not make the mistake of thinking all nudist clubs are for swingers. As a quick glance at the American Association of Nude Recreation site will show you (see www.aanr.com), that's far from the case. Many are for families.

That said, some of the AANR clubs have begun to cater more to singles.

"A lot of the clubs are having singles weekends now. They'll promote it and have up to 100 people," says Carolyn Hawkins of the AANR. She explains that event attendees are usually pre-screened and a lot of the clubs take steps to ensure an even male-female ratio. This is a huge bonus for women who enjoy the nudist lifestyle (or just want to try it), but hate the male "gawkers" that typically spoil the nude beach experience.

Nude cruises have turned out to be a very popular concept among singles, according to Hawkins. Cruises draw upward of 1,500 people and tend to be adults-only. Though couples account for about 60 percent of the attendees, there are still plenty of singles -- mostly in the 45-65 age range. There are also lots of planned activities and mixers just for singles.

"One of my best friends met someone on a singles cruise about five years ago, ended up getting married two years later, and went back on the cruise as their honeymoon," says Hawkins.

And what's the appeal of bare-naked dating, as you and a zillion other people would like to know?

"You strip away the clothing and the façade, and you get to know that person for who they really are," says Hawkins, a lifestyle nudist. She adds that the experience tends to be "very stress-free.

"It's usually the man who wants to go the first time, and the woman who wants to come back."