What it was like to stay at the Nude Hotel in Mexico MAY 1, 201712:09AM 'This was intense, even for my liberal self' NEWS.com.au Zipolite is a small, little-known town on the Pacific coast of Mexico. It not only boasts being the only legal nude beach in Mexico, but is often likened to ...

'This was intense, even for my liberal self' NEWS.com.au Zipolite is a small, little-known town on the Pacific coast of Mexico. It not only boasts being the only legal nude beach in Mexico, but is often likened to ...

What it was like to stay at the Nude

Hotel in Mexico

MAY 1, 201712:09AM

Danielle Ditziannews.com.au

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“IT’S just like National Geographic!” said the 20-something-year-old Swedish girl to my left. We sat there in awe on the balcony of Nude Hotel, all casually naked, yet surprised at what we were seeing.

Where on earth were we?!

Zipolite is a small, little-known town on the Pacific coast of Mexico. It not only boasts being the only legal nude beach in Mexico, but is often likened to a town stuck in the 1960s. With the entire beach being clothing optional, it is unlike anywhere else I have ever had the pleasure of visiting.

Still, seeing live porn was far more than I had witnessed in a town that usually only had people wandering casually around naked along the beach. This was an intense moment, even for my liberal self.

Danielle Ditzian letting it all hang out on Zipolite, the only legal nude beach in Mexico. Photo: Danielle DitzianSource:Supplied

Earlier that day I had been swimming naked when I’d met James, a nudist in his 50s who was staying at Nude Hotel. While the whole beach at Zipolite is clothing optional, most hotels require clothing — unless of course you’re staying at Nude Hotel, where pretty much anything goes.

James and I hit it off right away, so he invited me and my friend to hang out with them and a Swedish couple in their mid-twenties for their last evening in their beautiful room overlooking the ocean at Nude.

We excitedly accepted, having no idea what was in store for us that night.

And so we went silent, and I wondered how comfortable the others were. I’m by no means a prude, but these people were having sex right there in front of us all. The quiet that overcame the group was mildly unsettling, though I tried to tell myself that this was something completely natural, albeit not an everyday sight.

Enjoying a skinny dip at The Nude Hotel. Photo: Danielle DitzianSource:Supplied

The evening continued casually, as the couple finished and we continued to drink the night away sitting completely naked in a circle on the beautiful balcony.

While Nude Hotel can be quite pricey, they allow you to use their pool and facilities as long as you buy a drink or a meal — delicious and reasonably priced to be able to hang out in such a unique place.

I returned several days later to find a man taking luxurious photos of his wife on one of the beautiful beds overlooking the ocean. As if it was nothing, he held his camera and showed excitement — to put it lightly — at taking these photos. Yet there was no embarrassment or shame; no one cared that he was excited, as this was a place where everyone was free to be exactly who they wanted to be without judgment.

Danielle said it was ‘intense’, even for her ‘liberal self’. Photo: Danielle DitzianSource:Supplied

One of the most unique things about Zipolite is that it isn’t a purely nude beach, but instead clothing optional. This allows each person to act in a way that is most comfortable to them. A miracle occurs daily in Zipolite, as people from all walks of life and age ranges connect on a real and deep level — a level rarely found in real life, and that must be cherished and appreciated when it happens to be found.

While Nude itself is a bit pricey for my fellow Millennials to stay in, many hang out there to enjoy swimming naked in the pool, or chilling sipping a piña colada topless.

The beach is completely unique to other nude beaches. Many have assumed when I’ve mentioned Zipolite — my favourite place on planet earth — that it would be solely a bunch of old people wandering around naked.

Clothing is optional at The Nude Hotel. Photo: Danielle DitzianSource:Supplied

This could not be further from the truth. People of all ages roam free, letting it all out or staying clothed, yet accepting each other no matter what.

In recent years, more and more young people have been visiting Zipolite. People who I at first assume would never let it all hang out quickly drop their pants and hop in the water, as if it was nothing. It shouldn’t be anything strange, as it is only the human body. Still, this is a foreign concept to most.

I revisited Nude Hotel on several occasions, each time having a different experience. One day there was a nude wedding, the subsequent day filling the pool with children laughing and playing, all completely clothed.

The Nude Hotel welcomes people of all ages. Photo: Danielle DitzianSource:Supplied

“This,” I thought, “is not the day to go for a naked swim in the pool.”

Although odd to see so many children in Nude Hotel, it was glorious; it showed a versatility in the place, and I saw no one naked that particular day, as if everyone showed a courtesy, knowing that it might not be terribly appropriate to strip down in front of the children.

You don’t have to stay at The Nude Hotel to enjoy a cocktail by the pool in the nude. Photo: Danielle DitzianSource:Supplied

Thus ended another trip to Zipolite, the most liberal place I have been in my four years of gallivanting through the world. Sometimes I would be completely clothed, while others I’d sunbathe and swim with nothing but a necklace on. And this is the beauty of both Zipolite and Nude Hotel; everyone feels comfortable in their own skin, and knows their own beauty.

In a place where everyone is accepted, it is only natural to finally accept yourself for exactly who you are.

Danielle said the experience left her feeling more comfortable in her own skin. Photo: Danielle DitzianSource:Supplied

Danielle is a self-described “crazy nomad” who’s been on the road for more than four years straight, finding new homes as she hitchhikes along. She once hitched 6000 kilometres in six days. You can check out her blog (where she delights in oversharing) at Like Riding a Bicycle, or follow her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

The Zipolite Series - Part 1: Mexico City, accidentally YouTube This is the first video of a six-part series of my trip to Zipolite, Oaxaca, Mexico. Hope you enjoy! ---- Follow me on social media at: FACEBOOK: ... Google Plus Facebook Twitter Flag as irrelevant

The Zipolite Series - Part 1: Mexico City, accidentally YouTube This is the first video of a six-part series of my trip to Zipolite, Oaxaca, Mexico. Hope you enjoy! ---- Follow me on social media at: FACEBOOK: ... Flag as irrelevant

The Zipolite Series - Part 1: Mexico City, accidentally

 

TravelDaks

On Mexico's southern Pacific coast, Zipolite retains its friendly, unique vibe Make Me Feed A 45-minute drive from the Huatulco airport, Zipolite is nude-, gay-, pot-and even dog-friendly. It also features a sweet beach, amazing seafood and ...

On Mexico's southern Pacific coast, Zipolite retains its friendly, unique vibe Make Me Feed A 45-minute drive from the Huatulco airport, Zipolite is nude-, gay-, pot-and even dog-friendly. It also features a sweet beach, amazing seafood and ...

On Mexico’s southern Pacific coast, Zipolite retains its friendly, unique vibe

TOM GIES, POSTMEDIA NEWS  04.28.2017

It was the classic Zipolite moment: while sitting in the town’s best beach restaurant, I listen to the crashing waves, gaze at the yoga enthusiasts in the shade to the right while body surfers frolic ahead and board surfers catch curls further out to the left. Two women stroll by hand in hand; the smell of pot wafts in the air.

A waiter with a full tray of drinks ventures onto the hot sand toward a table of naked patrons. Suddenly, he trips on a feral dog, his tray totters, and we hold our collective breaths. But he regains his balance, turns to the dog and mutters — an apology.

This is friendly Zipolite, on Mexico’s southern Pacific coast, about a 45-minute drive from the Huatulco airport. It’s nude-, gay-, pot-and even dog-friendly. It also features a sweet beach, amazing seafood, gorgeous but dangerous waves, yoga, cheap beer and a range of eclectic accommodation in the $20 to $100 range.

It’s evening when we check into the tree house-styled Hotel Noga — one of the few in town with air conditioning — and quickly realize our good fortune. We can hear the pounding surf and a two-minute walk from our rooms puts us on the west end of the beach. We’re not disappointed as we join dozens of other travellers and locals enjoying a moonlight walk. The beach is lined with open-air palapa restaurants, booze cans and hotel/hostels. A few concrete structures stand out like sore thumbs.

After a 45-minute walk from one end of the beach to the other, we head to the short main street, where an eclectic scene features open air cafes, artisan tables and roving musicians, local and expat. The ambience is a mix of middle-class hipster Mexican, greying Woodstock and dreadlocked Rasta.

The next day we fall into the rhythm of early-morning and sunset walks, with body surfing, hammock hanging, yoga and restaurant-exploring filling the hours. We do a day trip to Puerto Escondido, an hour’s drive away, and visit the campground where the three of us stayed during a 1975 road trip to Guatemala. Amazingly, we chat with a camper who was also there in 1975, although we didn’t know him then.

Another day, we do a four-hour boat trip where we view turtles. There are no ATV tours, snorkelling, ziplines or mescal factories in Zipolite, although they can be found in Huatulco.

We soon discover favourite restaurants. Cafe Orale serves up wonderful breakfasts: huevos rancheros, fresh fruit and yogurt, strong coffee and fresh squeezed juices. Many seafood lunches are taken on the beach at El Almequista, where we witnessed the classic Zipolite moment. Fresh fruit liquados are available everywhere.

For dinner, off-the-beach La Providencia, close to Noga, is simply exquisite. The menu featuring goat cheese phyllo, tomato blue cheese soup, shrimp empanadas and more, would not be out of place at chi-chi Vancouver restaurants, with one difference: entrees such as seared tamarind tuna cost a mere $12. Try as I could, there was no resisting the fresh mango mousse.

Another favourite is the beachfront Posada Mexico. This lively joint features a pizza oven, seafood pasta and live entertainment, including dancing to live reggae and salsa, drag shows and portraiture events (yes, nude portraiture). Patrons dance on the sand between the tables and, a few metres away, backpackers whirl in front of crashing waves under the moonlight, enjoying the free music.

Hotel Noga is an absolute pleasure. Proprietors Sandra, who previously worked for human rights groups in Mexico City, and her husband Fero present an environmentally-friendly, small-scale operation that offers basic comfort to travellers who simply can’t deal with the heat and shared bathrooms common in palapa hotels. Rooms with a/c, Wi-Fi, two beds, hammock and bathroom are about $80.

I also spend a few nights at the palapa-style Lo Cosmico. A large, funky open-air room with three beds, two hammocks and shared bathroom costs about $40 for two. The beds have mosquito nets, but they aren’t needed in early February.

Warning: Noga’s Sandra warns us on arrival that the waves at Zipolite are very dangerous. If red flags are posted, only shallow wading is OK. When the yellow flags are out, good swimmers should be OK with body surfing and the buddy system. Board surfing the major waves is only recommended for the experienced.

Zipolite is slowly changing.

With the Huatulco airport now offering direct flights from Canada and the U.S. and a new highway under construction to the provincial capital of Oaxaca, increased accessibility is expected to bring more tourists. The funky palapas are slowly being replaced by mainstream construction. There is at least one condo development on the beach.

Still, Zipolite currently has no all-inclusive or chain hotels, no chain restaurants, no glitzy nightclubs, no tour buses. For the near future, Zipolite will likely retain its unique, friendly, laid-back ambience.

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Will We See a Total Ban on Personal Electronics in Airline Cabins? George Hobica

Will We See a Total Ban on Personal Electronics in Airline Cabins?   George Hobica

When the electronics ban was introduced recently for nonstop flights from various Middle Eastern countries to the U.S. and Britain, there was much understandable confusion. Here's what we can expect.

Airline Cabins?

George Hobica 
Founder & Editor-in-Chief

When the electronics ban was introduced recently 

for nonstop flights from various Middle Eastern 

countries to the U.S. and Britain, there was 

much understandable confusion. Why wasn’t 

it a universal ban? Why was it only in one 

direction (inbound to the U.S. and U.K.). Why 

was it only on nonstop flights? Why was it 

applied to some Muslim-majority countries 

and not others? And why was it suddenly 

“safe” for the electronics, with their sometimes 

unstable lithium-ion batteries, to be stowed in 

baggage holds if they were so dangerous in 

the cabin?

Were the U.S. and Britain targeting certain 

religious groups, and certain airlines such as 

Etihad, Emirates, and Qatar, since they were 

the only ones flying nonstop flights from the 

affected countries, much to the delight of Air 

France, Delta, and other airlines that would 

benefit from passengers booking flights from 

the Middle East via Europe or other connections?

That conspiracy theory sounded plausible to some, but it’s nonsense. First, the people who try to keep us safe when we fly would have loved to apply a universal ban, and perhaps they still will, but doing so would have crippled the aviation industry if imposed without warning all at once, so they did the next best thing and applied the ban selectively to the countries where, they believed, terrorists would most likely begin their journeys. Yes, it was a form of profiling, I suppose.

Second, the airlines that might “benefit” from the ban (those without nonstop flights from the affected countries) aren’t especially happy, either. As Alex Cruz, the CEO of British Airways explained to me recently, “we do not want to have 200 laptop and other electronic items in our cargo holds.”  That’s because lithium-ion batteries are notorious for instability. Plus, airlines would have to (and may still have to, one day) hire hundreds of new check-in agents and baggage handlers to process all those bags. The aviation industry was simply not ready for this.  Plus, the airlines will be seeing more claims for lost, damaged, and stolen property (although they notoriously refuse to be liable for “valuables,” which includes electronics).

As to why it’s “safer” for electronics to be stowed rather than carried in the cabin, the theory is that while there might not be enough room to stuff the components of a bomb (power supply, timer, transmitter, explosive material, etc.) into just one piece of equipment, a terrorist could assemble a device from components stuffed into two or more pieces (a camera, a laptop, a portable printer, and a mobile phone) if allowed to carry all those items in the cabin.

It’s probably only a matter of time before a laptop bomb plot is either thwarted at the last minute or it succeeds (it’s already happened, actually, but because it was a Somali airline and the only injury was the terrorist himself, who was sucked out of the plane, which landed safely, few noticed); if it happens again, however, we can expect a full electronics ban to be implemented.

How fliers and airlines will cope is anyone’s guess. At the very least, airlines will have to hire more people to manage checked bags.

Perhaps electronics manufacturers will come up with a substitute for lithium-ion batteries, making it safer to stow them beneath the plane. Perhaps fliers will once again chat with seatmates (I sat next to a NASA astronaut on my last flight and we chatted and it wasn’t a torture) or read an improving book. More likely, Panasonic and other in-flight entertainment manufacturers will build software and keyboards into their systems, so every seat will be a workstation (that is coming, actually). You’ll bring your files and data on a memory stick, plug it into the IFE, and work, or use the plane’s WiFi to work in the cloud (super fast WiFi is coming and will soon be universal; British Airways recently announced that it will soon provide next-gen WiFi on all its planes). Or just write that vitally important memo that just can’t wait on your mobile phone.

But meanwhile, we should all just chill. Stop looking for conspiracy theories when people try to keep us safe. Make sure you buy your flight with a credit card that covers lost or damaged laptops and other electronics (the American Express Platinum Card, for instance).

But most importantly, stop whining because you can’t be “productive” while flying. You need a rest; you deserve a rest, and a long flight is the perfect time to contemplate, recharge, and relax. Sans laptop if it comes to that.