Perhaps closeted celebs are reading the Shoes Only blogs and caught the last post about fidelity and true happiness.  Today in two not-so-surprising twist, Clay Aiken and Lindsay Lohan have finally admitted their attraction to members of the same sex.

Aiken came clean to People magazine in a not-so-hard-to-see decree. “’It was the first decision I made as a father,’ Aiken, 29, tells the upcoming issue of People, on newsstands Friday. ‘I cannot raise a child to lie or to hide things. I wasn’t raised that way, and I’m not going to raise a child to do that.’”  Bravo Clay!  However, it’s not like Aiken did not set off our gaydar in his early days of American Idol.  The only thing that made this outing notorious was the length of time spent skirting the issue.

Lohan, on the other hand, has been dating her partner, 31 year-old DJ Samantha Ronson “for a very long time” to the tongue wagging of paparazzi and reporters. Lohan finally went public to a radio talk show host yesterday confirming the long time speculation after numerous public displays of affection including a kiss in Cannes aboard the yacht of P Diddy, Shawn Combs.

Hurrah for both of them. Perhaps it will encourage other closeted music makers and Hollywood starlets to embrace their true sexual identity.  And maybe we’ll see Lindsay and Samantha on the next Shoes Only Travel cruise where like all trips male/female couples and single woman or female couples are always welcome!  Why should Diddy be the only one having fun in the sun with the new couples?

This time you’ve really nailed your vacation plans.  Shoes Only found you the perfect au naturel resort  in the sun, you’ve made friends, enjoyed fun activities, drank maybe more than your share, eaten countless delicious meals, and stayed in a room that was always clean and had everything you asked for almost before you asked. 

Now the trip has come to a sad end and you’re getting ready to say goodbye.  On most Shoes Only trips, one thing you won’t need to bother looking for is a tip envelope.  And no, don’t take your own either- tipping is not allowed.  Whew!  Glad we got that off our to-do list.  (Yes, you may now re-visit the gift shop for a last minute souvenir.)

Despite the popularity of tipping in the States, tipping is not customary in other parts of the world.  The no tipping policy will help to prevent  embarrassment at the end of your stay regardless what your tipping traditions are.

Besides not having to worry about incurring the extra costs, no tipping resorts ensure that each of their guests receives top notch service regardless of who they are and how much they tip.  Top shelf alcohol is served, fine food, and prompt room service is yours without anything else being asked of you.

With that said, while tipping is not expected, past guests have said that tipping especially helpful staff has been appreciated.  A past guest says “All-inclusive is supposed to include tipping. However, we’d read that tips were very appreciated, as opposed to Sandals, where they were turned down flat. We tipped maybe $25-30 the four days we were there (total). We gave our maid a buck each morning, tipped the bartenders if we stayed at a bar for while and tipped at the nice restaurants. We didn’t really notice it improving service or anything and never felt like we were required to tip (and didn’t see it done that often). I would say you’d be fine either way–tipping or not. However, you will notice these people work VERY hard (we would see the same lady behind a hot stove at breakfast, lunch and dinner), so it’s nice to give them a few bucks if you want to.”  So feel free to give that bartender who knew your love of Long Island Iced Teas and started making you a double every time you walked or swam up to his bar a buck or two as a thank you.  If anything, put it on the staff to refuse the gratuity.  Also, bear in mind that porters and drivers at the airport as well as salon and spa services at the resort are considered outside services and want to tip according to custom.

Also, the no tipping policy is not always in place. This mostly speaks to Shoes Only’s on-shore vacations. High seas adventures tend to follow traditional cruise tipping trends of $2.50-$3 per day for your room steward and also to the maitre d’.  Half that amount can be given to the bus boy and any other staff who’s services you’ve found helpful. 

The best bet is to ask Shoes Only what the tipping policy is on your vacation while you’re in the planning stages. Not only will this save you from potential embarrassment, but it will also help you to budget accordingly and have the most memorable stay imaginable without worrying about how you’re going to reflect the service level of the staff who take care of you.  As the Super Clubs FAQ states, “Your courtesy, respect and a sincere ‘thank you’ are all we ask.”

Getting started in “the lifestyle” has fascinated you for awhile now.  You’ve decided to book a trip to an adult playground but are unsure of which one and how to behave there.  C’mon, Shoes Only Travel does more than get you to your destination, they are there to help you make the best choice for you.

 To get started, take the Traveler Personality Profile to find out which is the right destination for you.  Hedonism may sound like fun, but maybe a bit more than you’re ready for.  Let Shoes Only help you plan a vacation for you that is a better fit.  You can always go back for more- it is, after all, a lifestyle, not a vacation style!

Once you have your itinerary booked, you can start looking up information about what to expect on your trip.  In on-line resort forums, the best, most informational posts are from experienced vacationers; ones who have been to the resorts multiple times and probably make an annual visit.  They know the staff by nickname, they have their room all picked out, and they can tell you how wild and crazy things can get.  It sounds like fun for them, intimidating for you.  This is your first time.  Not to worry.  Everyone has a first time.  All the regulars remember their first time and are happy to welcome you into the family.  Running naked to the beach after dropping your toothbrush off in your room might be too fast for you.  Read up and find out the best spots to people watch.  Plan a day to warm up to the whole scene, and be ready to throw all expectations out the window too!

But still, you don’t want to go in totally clueless.  Continue reading.  A great first step regardless of where you’ll start your swinging experience is to learn swinger etiquette.  There is no better way to stand out like a sore thumb than to not know how to handle yourself.  Remember things like the importance of talking to people regardless of how nervous you are.  A drink may help ease the tension. Dress sexy.  It will help boost your confidence as well as get you noticed.  Above all else communicate with your partner.  You are always in control and always have the right to say no.  Browsing might be the easiest first step you can take before jumping in head first.

Beyond the internet, there are some helpful books to consider.  One that gets high reviews is Swinging for Beginners: an introduction to the lifestyle.  It helps open up communication between you and your partner about conversations you might not know enough to have, offers tips, and tells real world stories from people who started right where you are. 

Regardless of how you learn about the lifestyle, remember to keep an open mind.  The best way to let yourself go regardless of where you go is to go with the flow.  You might find yourself in a situation you never dreamed possible that will blow your mind and have you panting for more.  All the studying in the world is useless unless you get yourself out there and experience it for yourself!

If you suddenly find a large group of friends from New York on your au naturel trip, you might want to ask what got them interested in the lifestyle.  The New York Post did this great write up on the nude lifestyle taking over dining, yoga, and even comedy clubs. 

We’re sure it’s a great starting point for the lifestyle but once the temperatures get colder in the Big Appel, chances are these new devotees will be looking for someplace to shed again.  Shoes Only has some great ideas!  The September newsletter has a great cruise to  the Caribbean at a great savings.  If you’re not signed up, be sure to follow this link to get in on the action!

Down dog au naturel- sounds freeing!

Since my first book was published in 2005, I’ve been contacted by many of my readers wanting me to recommend my favourite swinging or naturist clubs. I can only tell you what I know from experience, be that good or bad.  I’ve had friends on the scene that have had a great time at a place I haven’t liked and equally I’ve had a ball at venues that other folks really didn’t think were all that wonderful.  Like everything else in life, I think you have to take out of each experience what you can.  There’s no point in going with a huge set of expectations because you’re just bound to be disappointed.  My best holidays have always been ones where I was just looking for sea and a bit of sun and sand and found a great sexy vibe too.

What’s important to remember is that naturism does not necessarily mean swinging and swinging clubs usually have nothing to do with getting naked.  Pure naturism, such as exists in France and Germany -and not so much in the UK - is about the freedom to wander around naked.  It’s about being able to do everyday activities such as cycling, shopping, and eating out au naturel.  French naturists often travel as families, staying in caravan parks and, as you can imagine, mum and dad don’t really want little Johnny and Jane to be watching a couple copping off on the beach.  This is especially true during the high season of July and August when most of the Continent goes on holiday and the naturist resorts are full of families. Equally hardened swingers don’t want to be surrounded by screaming infants either. Swinging, after all, is only about sex.

Over the next few months I’ll be sharing my adventures with you.  Please feel free to leave any comments for me on this blog and I will try and answer your questions as best I can.

We are asked quite often “so what made you decide to open “Shoes Only Travel?”. Like most things in life we came to it almost accidentally.  From a personal perspective, we are world travelers having been to dozens of countries and have enjoyed both textile as well as “Au Naturel” travel for years.

In addition to being well traveled we are what you might call extremely observant and demanding. While we like 5-star travel it is not necessary and we often travel in all categories. What we do demand and look for are experiences where the vacation exceeds our expectations.

Professionally, we have owned a “Brand Identity” consulting firm for over 7 years (having spent over 25 in the industry), providing strategic development and implementation programs for large corporations and governments across the US. In developing Brand Blueprints for our clients we are usually involved in all of the background research, planning and execution to make sure that we understand the customers’ needs and provide our clients the tools to exceed their customers’ expectations. That takes us back to our previously described travel experiences and observations……sort of an occupational hazard.

We spent a year doing some research for a client that involved the Clothing Optional and Lifestyle travel markets. What came out of that research was a deep understanding of the market and, more importantly, what the Lifestyle and Clothing Optional traveler was seeking. Marrying that research with our own personal knowledge led to Shoes Only Travel.

So what makes us different?

We, like other agencies, will of course book travelers to the most popular resorts such as Desire, Hedo and a few others, either individually or in groups. This is a major portion of the market for a good reason. These resorts do a great job and provide the Lifestyle and Clothing Optional traveler the experience they are looking for.

Let me give you an inside tip… the price you will pay from any travel provider is basically the same (it is also the exact price you will pay if you book directly with the resort). The resorts pay a commission out of their end so you, as the traveler, see the same price either way.

So what it comes down to is service and understanding. Understanding the resort as well as the traveler’s wants and needs. Shoes Only Travel has intimate knowledge of all the resorts we represent. We have been to each of them, know the management and understand the experience. We utilize a “Traveler Personality Profile” on our site to develop a clearer understanding of you and your desires so that we can match you to appropriate resorts, which will exceed your expectations. Even if you have been to Hedo II, say 10 times, if you have not been to Desire or Hidden Beach or Grand Lido it is hard to make a judgment about them.

Also, how wonderful is it to have a truly carefree trip? Knowing your transport to and from the airport has been arranged and confirmed for you the day of travel. Even your stay at the resort is personally confirmed the day or two prior to your arrival to make sure they are ready for you and all is good- even arranging an early check in and preferred room location when possible so you will not have to wait for a room and will get a super, rather than random location at the resort.

I recently saw a post for a group trip where the major benefit being highlighted was that they send you a goody bag with 3-4 lbs of stuff (junk).  We choose a little different direction.  Rather than spending money on a bag of things you don’t need and will likely throw away (like, the last thing I need is another bag of stuff) Shoes Only Travel has partnered with CarbonFund.org for our company and all of our travelers to have a green vacation.

This means that when you travel with Shoes Only Travel you will do so knowing your vacation has a Zero Carbon foot print. Shoes Only Travel is paying a fee to  CarbonFund.org for every vacation it books to offset your impact from:

·         Your round trip car ride from your house to the airport

·         Your round trip flight for 2 from your home airport to your destination 

·         Your entire stay at the resort

Finally, you can vacation without clothes and a clear conscience!

Group trips are another area. We take great pains in developing interesting groups often including some entertainment or services not normally found at the resort for our group. We also have at least one host couple and/or staff to accompany the group to act as a liaison onsite with the resort as well as arrange some private parties for our group. It is all designed to make it a special experience for you.

Finally, we saw a need in the market for some more unique and unusual offerings. Again, while the traditional resorts are wonderful, many of us are also seeking new and unusual experiences. So at Shoes Only Travel we are constantly on the lookout for these opportunities. One such unique opportunity is our January 2010 charter of the Windstar’s Windsurf ship out of Barbados. This luxurious, intimate ship (156 cabins) is a total takeover which means this is a 100% Clothing Optional Lifestyle Cruise with unique parties, entertainment and excursions.

So welcome to our family and we look forward to being your Clothing Optional and Lifestyle friend in the travel business for years to come.

Shoes Only Travel & the Carbon Fund have teamed up to bring you the first “Clothing Optional” Carbon Neutral vacation program. When you travel with Shoes Only Travel your entire vacation has been offset.

• The round trip car ride for two from your home to the airport
• Your round trip flight for two from your home airport to the resort
• Your entire stay at the resort

Now you can be totally carefree without clothes and without guilt knowing you are doing your part to preserve our planet.