7/02

Just returned from a great sunny week in Barbados - the only problem has been caused by the IMPOSSIBILITY to sunbathe topless. Although I had talked to the policewomen that controlled St. James beach from 10 am till 4 pm and she had agreed that I could sunbathe topless while lying on my lounge chair, the hotel (Treasure Beach) assistant manager threatened me MANY TIMES stating I was spoiling her hotel reputation and that she would rather lose a client than spoiling the hotel image. As a matter of fact, there were many other girls sunbathing topless on their lounge chairs at a short distance from our hotel. When I talked to my tour operator correspondent in Barbados, she was ASTONISHED to hear this as in most of the beaches the police and hotels allow topless sunbathing on the lounges. Therefore I was obliged to go and look for secluded (FANTASTIC) beaches located on the ocean side (Foul Bay and Bottom Bay, for instance) where I could freely sunbathe topless; then we rented a small hobie cat daily for 2/3 hours and while on the sea you can sunbathe as you like. Anyway, Barbados is so wonderful that I would be ready to go back again and bear driving to secluded beaches or renting a catamaran every day...to enjoy this fabulous island. For sure I wouldn't go back to Treasure Beach Hotel where the assistant manager has been so rude. A pity, as the hotel was fantastic (rooms / service / food!). If you wanna go and have fewer problems, I suggest you to stay on the south coast where they are more tolerant.

(p.s.: I have been in Malaysia, Egypt, Maldives etc..... - all Islamic countries - and NEVER faced any troubles in sunbathing topfree....obviously you need to be discreet and wear something when you walk around or go to swim....BUT DON'T DO IT IN BARBADOS!).

--Louise, Italy