1/04

We enjoyed the Marriott Renaissance Aruba (I believe this used to be the Sonesta resort based on descriptions) for 5 nights/6 days. Topless sunbathing abounded on the private island on both the adult and family sides (there is no sign indicating which is which, but the right side is slightly more secluded and had most of the topless sunbathers so I call that the adult side). Women felt free to drop their top sunbathing, swimming, snorkeling, rafting, and walking around topless. Young women, old women, thin & overweight women, and mothers with children. Most were Americans. No staring, no pictures taken; everyone was very accepting and respectful. My wife, who is a bit self-conscious being quite buxom, dropped her top day one and exulted in the freedom never using it again.

--Brian, Charlotte, North Carolina

2/03

A group of 6 of us from work recently enjoyed a trip to the Sonesta resort on Aruba. We didn't start out looking for a topless experience, which none of us had ever had, but I came across this website and started talking to the other girls about it. It sounded like something we'd all like to try. Reactions ranged from "I'm going for it!" to "I have NO idea how I'll get up the nerve, but if I come home without trying it, I'll probably regret missing the chance."

When we got down there, we found the topfree section of the beach, and settled in. Liz was the most daring, and was ready to take her top off immediately, but the idea got pretty much of a chilly reception at that point from the others. She suggested that we all just do it together, all at once, but that idea didn't go anyplace. Obviously, most of us needed a bit more time to get acclimated to the idea. Liz went ahead, and when I noticed that the earth didn't stop turning, I reached back to unhook my top, which in my nervousness seemed to take forever, and followed her example. Having the fresh air and warm sun all over my chest made a bigger difference that I would have guessed. This felt nice! The only reaction seem to be a few pleasant smiles that seemed to say, "We could have told you." We encouraged the other, but everyone had to go at her own pace. Most laid down on their fronts, and just unhooked their tops. One took off her bikini top, but sat in a beach chair with a magazine mostly covering her from view. There were quite a few other topfree women around, and the men paid little attention. It probably took a couple of hours, but eventually we were all topfree and enjoying it. Most of us even took a topless dip in the ocean. In the following days, things got easier, and some never even bothered to bring a top to the beach, just a sarong or cover-up.

When we got home, I discussed posting a note here about our experiences, and asked them what advice they might like to give. This lead to an interesting discussion about how to make the "first time" easier. It turned out that unhooking that darned top seemed to be the point of no return that was the biggest hang-up. This lead to two suggested approaches. The first is for those who are sure that they want to and definitely will go topfree. For those people, the suggestion is to not even wear a bikini top-just use a cover-up or tee shirt. Removing either of those at the beach is an action most of us are already comfortable with, and they felt that doing that, even with nothing underneath, was somehow easier. After that first day, this was an approach favored by half of us. The second idea is for those who aren't as sure. For them, the suggestion is to get away from the top as soon as possible in the easiest way. As soon as you get to the beach, just lie down on your front, and remove your top and stow it away so you won't be tempted to put it right back on. This way, you're not "exposed" but you no longer have to deal with the issue of removing your top. From that point on, you have a great deal of control. You can prop up, turn to either side (depending on who might be around), or roll over as you get more comfortable. Several in our group did it this way, and said it they really liked this approach since they felt like they could take it in stages, never doing anything they weren't ready for or comfortable with. We all hope this helps other women have as enjoyable a topfree experience as we did.

--Paula, Dallas, Texas

8/00

Not too long after an earlier trip to Cancun, we spent a week in Aruba at the Sonesta. We went to Palm Beach one day and I never felt good about going topless. The same for Baby Beach--too much like an American beach during the tourist season (this was in July). The best topless beach we found belonged to our hotel. The Sonesta's private island was divided into two zones--topless and not--the family groups tended to use the beach right where you get off the boat. Those wanting to go topless went the next beach area to the right which was screened from the other by lots of plants and a big breakwater. The division into zones wasn't official that I could tell. The guests just did things that way. Half to two-thirds of us in the "no kids" area went without our tops and I loved the sensation and walked around and had my picture taken with a flamingo that hangs around the island's beach areas. Some of the women covered up when going into the water; many did not. A few of the younger women, possibly cabin crews from the international flights were more willing to leave off their tops the entire time. One girl of about 18 or 19 was topless with her mother and walked to the refeshment stand in the other area without covering or causing a panic. I think we can very easily learn to go topless; after the first shy moments it becomes perfectly normal for men and women to mix socially without any embarrassment of any sort. Many of the women wore thong bottoms much skimpier than they would at home.

-- Carol, Seminole, Oklahoma