This is the inaugural issue of a monthly travel column I have been asked to write for Kasidie. Over the coming months, I will take a look at various resorts and travel related issues from the point of view of the Lifestyle and Au Naturel communities.

Sometimes I will look at a particular resort and other times a specific issue but, regardless of the topic, I will explore it from that unique perspective of those of us in the Kasidie community. I will endeavor to make the observations and information poignant, informative, funny and hopefully a little bit sexy to capture the true flavor of the community and experience.

Quick background, my wife Lori & I own and operate Shoes Only Travel. As a niche market agency we only provide Lifestyle and Au Naturel Travel. This brings us in contact with a variety of people from all over the world and from all walks of life, all with one common desire, the enjoyment of Lifestyle & Au Naturel travel.

I thought that a good place to start would be with the most common question we get “Which is the best resort”? The answer to this age old question is……drum roll please……..”There is no correct answer”, at least not the same answer for everyone.

As different and diverse as people’s hopes expectations and desires are, so are their likes and dislikes. To make things even more complicated the same resort can have a totally different personality and vibe on different weeks depending on who is there.

Finally, from pretty much everyone’s perspective, while they might have a favorite resort, there are always things they like at one over another.  So someone may say they like resort A the best, but they really like the beach at resort B or the food at resort C or the party atmosphere at resort D and so on.

For Lori and I we certainly have certain resorts or adventures that we prefer over another but, depending what we are seeking on the specific trip we may prefer a different resort than our favorite because of the specific experience or crowd we are seeking on that trip. Basically, what I would say is if, for example, you have been to Hedo II 5 times maybe you should give Hedo III or Desire a try and Visa Versa you might surprise yourself!

It’s funny, whether from the US, Canada or Europe the questions, concerns and sense of excitement are relatively uniform from the “Virgin Traveler”. It usually revolves around a combination of excitement and fear of the unknown. For these travelers a common question and it is usually spurred by the mystic of Hedo (The granddaddy of this resort category) revolves around visions of Sodom and Gomorra J

What I like to say is, and this applies to most of our resorts is “Everything you have heard is true and everything you have heard is false”. This is because on any given week pretty much any experience from mild to wild is available to you. Although I would say that most newbie’s are somewhat surprised that it does not resemble stories of Caligula.

I touched on the most common questions we hear when speaking with our Virgin Adventurers - here is the most frequent comment we get upon their return; “This was the best vacation of our lives and we only want to travel to Lifestyle or Au Naturel resorts in the future, oh, BTW, we were looking at the calendar for next year and are these dates available?”

Jonathan Baltuch, along with his wife and best friend Lori are the owners of ShoesOnlyTravel.com. He can be reached there or through their profile here at Kasadie “ShoesOnlyTravel”.

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Being nude can have so many positive results, but multiple sclerosis is not typically one of the benefits that immediately comes to mind. However, thanks to the generous spirit of the San Francisco Clown Conservatory class of 2008 and their Naked Clown Calendar for 2009, MS will be added to that list.

The 16-month calendar aims to help those affected with multiple sclerosis by raising $1 million, most of which will go towards research and advocacy for multiple sclerosis through the Judy Finelli Fund. The primary goal of the calendar sales is to raise money for these services, however the conservatory is also accepting applications for those affected with MS to accomplish any dream they have, be it performing in a circus, Wall Street, or anything in between on a scholarship funded by the calendar sales. Each month of 2009, a winner will be chosen for this recognition of their dreams.

The Conservatory became interested in multiple sclerosis when Judy Finelli, the co-founder of the San Fransisco School for Circus Arts became affected with the disease in 1989. Judy was an amazing juggler and saw in circus performances the artistry that has become the standard for modern-day circuses such as Cirque du Soleil instead of the “three ring spectacles” they had been in the past. Sadly Judy quickly lost her abilities to the illness to the point of quadriplegia in 2004.

“The Judy Finelli Fund, created in honor of Judy’s life of performing and teaching, supports research and advocacy for cures and treatment of MS. It promotes artistic expression through circus arts training and enables those affected by MS to pursue their passions.”

The students decided to put together the calendar after discussing the physical conditioning required for the work they were doing. While most people see clowning around as fun and games, the high levels of performance expected of the students had been like a daily workout routine. Deciding that they were probably in the best shape of their lives, the discussion evolved into the planning stages for the calendar. It’s truly a funny way to raise money for such a great cause.

Photos were taken around San Francisco in secret and by a student photographer. The students appear in makeup, but nothing else, with humor added by covering “sensitive areas” with common clown props like scarves and cream pies. Despite seeming like an adults only issue, many of the students were so impressed with the final result that they decided to send it to grandparents and even young nieces and nephews.

We at Shoes Only Travel were happy to see that the Conservatory students chose to pair with Greener Printer who use recycled paper and soy-based inks. They are certified carbon-free which we, of course, appreciate in our efforts with Carbon Fund. The calendar is a great way to inject some humor while planning dates for you nude expedition with Shoes Only Travel! Be sure to order yours on their website.

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!

Vacation is the perfect time to let all your worries go and focus on spending some alone time with your sweetie.  With Shoes Only taking care of getting you to and from your resort or cruise, you can concentrate on how you’ll spend the days.  Clothing optional means you can leave a lot of room in your suitcase but it doesn’t have to mean forgetting everything.  Plan ahead and fill your bags with tools to turn up the passion in your relationship while experiencing a day made for two.

Before you buy anything, ask around about your destination.  Resorts have amazing services designed to melt tension and send the every day away.  Hedonism III features extra large bathtubs, perfect for a morning bubble bath.  Every morning at Hidden Beach Resort starts with a romantic walk- it’s right there on the schedule!  Desire Resorts offer the Sensual Desire Massage; 80 minutes of couples massage.  Ask about a private dining room for two- your own.  Room service can set up a lovely, candlelit meal while you and your sweetie splash the afternoon away.

While things like rose petals and karma sutra seem cliché, they’re a great way to indicate that this is time for two.  Silk rose petals will not take up much room in your suitcase.  Scent them with any number of aphrodisiacs and spread them on the bed before dinner or a late-night trip to the bar. The warm tropical air will help release the stimulating oils, filling the room with smells that are a sure turn-on.  Hidden Beach Resort can give you some how-to with their erotic massage, positions of the kamasutra, and erotic body art activities.

For the most romantic way to express your love, recite new or renew time-honored vows at Grand Lido Braco and Hedonism with their complimentary wedding services.  The exchange can take place in many of their lush settings and include a minister, witnesses, (if you don’t bring your own or meet them along the way) bouquet and boutonniere, champagne and a wedding cake.  It doesn’t get more romantic than that. 

Romance doesn’t have to be packed into one day.  Start the week off with dating activities- dinner with flowers and champagne, propose mid-week, and end the week with your declaration of eternal love. 

Adult travel affords an opportunity to reconnect to the most important person in your life while unplugging from the rest of the world.  Shoes Only Travel has selectively chosen which resorts and cruises to represent for their activities and amenities.  Rely on their experience to ensure a memorable vacation.  Get creative with the possibilities.  Be prepared.  Schedule your time so you can have a day for two already planned, reservations and preparations already taken care of.  When all the particulars are taken care of, you can focus on the two of you.

Things to know before you go

South Beach.  Mexico, Jamaica, European beaches. They’ve always held interest to you.  Something about being that exposed in nature, every inch of your body caressed only by the sun holds appeal for you.  Clearly you’ve done your homework, learned that Shoes Only Travel offers great clothing optional travel excursions and found yourself here.  The first thing to do (after reading this blog!) is to find your travel personality in the travel personality profile. 

Before you know it, you’ll have your travel dates planned and be ready for the adventure of a lifetime.  And as you plan, it’ll hit you, you don’t know what to take, what to do, what to expect!  Don’t worry.  Keep reading and we’ll help you with the basics of Shoes Only Travel because even though the name implies grabbing a pair of flip flops and your passport, clothing optional travel does not always mean everything goes; here’s what you should know before you go.

The heat of the Caribbean starts with the sun. You’ll want to protect yourself with a good sunscreen (SPF 70 works great for those special areas), sunglasses, and maybe a sunhat.  The sand can be hot too so good shoes are a sure bet.  Swimwear can be mild to wild and no one knows who you are so take this opportunity to show off your efforts in the gym with a suit you wouldn’t dream of wearing to the neighborhood pool- if you want to take anything at all!

If you’re a slave to your workout routine, you’ll be glad to know that most resorts and cruises offer fitness centers, but of course you’ll want to bring workout gear for lifting and sweating.

Hedonism, Desire, and other resorts and cruises have theme nights to help turn up the fun factor.  If you want to join in, you don’t want to be without a costume!  Check the resort page on the Shoes Only Travel site to find out what theme nights will take place during your stay and raid your costume chest for pirate costumes, disco wear, and the like.  If you’re ready to let go of your inhibitions, costumes for nights like “All That Glitters” can be contained in a small package of rhinestones to be creatively placed. 

Surrounded by sun, sand, and festivities, it will be tempting to load up on pictures, but remember to be sensitive to fellow vacationers.  The CPA and his wife in the next room who you’ve been drinking buddies with since check in may not want pictures of the Mrs. taking a body shot in your online gallery.  However, they may not mind getting a copy of that shot , so experienced travelers recommend taking personal calling cards with your name and email address to hand out to new friends.

It is better to be over packed than under prepared but overall, don’t forget that this is a vacation.  Take what you need and trust that the rest will take care of itself.