What's the weather like at Vera Playa?
It's our first time on a naturist holiday - what should we know?
How do I know when I am in a naturist zone?
Do you need an INF card to stay at Vera Playa?
If the area is open, don't you get voyeurs etc?
Is there public transport?
I know I drive on the right in Spain, but what else is different?
Is there a set arrival and departure day if I rent at 'Rainbow's End'?
What else is in the area?

 

What's the weather like at Vera Playa?

Vera Playa has a lovely climate - the winters are the warmest in Europe and the summers are hot, yet we enjoy sea breezes, and the sun shines over 300 days a year on average - and can be more. We are on the edge of the nearest thing to a desert that mainland Europe can claim, so other than some sea humidity, the dry and temperate atmosphere is superb for those who suffer from arthritis and asthma.
You can check out the local weather at two other internet sites, the BBC site at Garrucha is generally pretty accurate (http://news.bbc.co.uk/weather/forecast/2301). That's about 5km away from Vera Playa. There is another site which gives you weather for Almeria, about 90km away, so it's less accurate (http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/o8487.html)

It's our first time on a naturist holiday - what should we know?

There are very few rules as such - but you are required to be naked while in the pools complex; otherwise, it is clothing optional. If you are cold - dress up! If you are warm, strip down! It is perfectly legal and acceptable to walk around the naturist zone nude, but the usual etiquette is to always have a towel or sarong / pareo to sit on while at a beach bar or on a friends furniture, and some people prefer to wrap themselves in these while walking around the complex or on the pavements, but it is personal preference. The whole point is that you feel comfortable and at ease in your own skin. Most naturists will be dressed by the relative cool of the evening, although you get some determined and hardy folks who are naked in seeming defiance of temperature or season - again, it is what you make of it. Once you see people walking around, sitting having a drink and sunning themselves you realise it is the most natural thing in the world... Respect your fellow naturist, look them in the eyes when talking to them, and allow them and yourself your personal space. For women and men, worried about their own body's apparent imperfections or shortcomings, or possible reactions...naturism is not about perfection - just imagine the queue at your supermarket at home, all suddenly standing naked, and there is your average cross-section of nudists - so although there may be an attractive body in your queue, it is unlikely to excite beyond social acceptance. To paraphrase someone wise in the ways of humans, a little bit of covering is a lot more sensual than all on display! Don't worry, enjoy your holiday! This is a site that talksa fair bit of sense about naturism, http://nudehiker.wordpress.com/2004/11/18/205-reasons-to-become-a-nudist-naturist

How do I know when I am in a naturist zone?

In the summer, theres usually lots of other naked people walking about, but the naturist zone is not cordoned off, and other than one sign on Calle Ciudad de Castellon, leading directly to the main parking area for beach access, not even signed. the naturist zone is cheek to cheek with 'textile' residential areas, some of which were originally designated 'naturist' complexes but then were sold to non-naturists. You won't be arrested, in Spain one has the right to be naked in any public place - so sunbathing or swimming naked on any beach is within the law, nor should you be harangued if you inadvertently stray, so don't worry. As a very general rule of thumb, on the beach, Vera Playa Club Hotel is the northern limit of the zone, and a couple of kilometres down, beyond the aqua park, is the southern beach limit, but these are guides only, and it is not illegal to be naked on the beach in any case. Regarding the streets and pavements, hotel street with its bars is not naturist; pavements on the side of Torremar Natura and Bahia de Vera from their adjoining access gates and down to the beach along the wall of Vera Natura are naturist, but the other side of the road, Mirador de Vera and Playa de Barias, is not (! I didn't say it made sense!) In between these two lines, and up to the paved line between VeraMar 6 and Torremar Natura, Bahia de Vera and La Menara, it is all naturist. The bars Mayo 2004 and AtodaVela and beyond are not naturist, but the chiringuitos (beach bars) in the naturist zone and the Pasa Doble bar in Natsun are naturist. As a rule of thumb, carry your 'cover up' and follow the majority.

Do you need an INF card to stay at Vera Playa?

No, this is an open area with some 10 naturist residential areas - no card is required.

If the area is open, don't you get voyeurs etc?

The urbanizaciones are fenced off, mainly to prevent all and sundry using their pools and gardens, and the policia local (blue and white cars) and guardia civil (green and white cars) do maintain a low profile patrol in the naturist zone and beach and indeed, all the locality. While there have been some rare occasions when police assistance has been sought to oust unwanted individuals, this has been a remarkable exception and in no way a common or regular occurence. There is no more, indeed probably much less, inappropriate behaviour on the naturist beach than any other beach. It is a family friendly holiday and residential area, and generally quiet and peacable.

Is there public transport?

The Vera Playa naturist zone now benefits from an almost hourly No. 2 bus service to either Vera town or Garrucha and Mojacar Playa. Buses pick up and set down by the Consum supermarket roundabout and also at the roundabout (which used to have the 'bums' FKK advert on it) which leads down to the naturist zone (where there is another bus stop) and the sea or off to Pueblo Salinas and Vera. The bus fare is 1€ to either Vera or Garrucha. The local bus company is Baraza, and timetables and stops can be viewed on their website - www.autocaresbaraza.com.

I know I drive on the right in Spain, but what else is different?

If you've rented a car, these things should be provided, but if you're driving down, it is a legal requirement in France and Spain to carry two red triangles. You also need a reflective jacket for each person who may be in the car and need to get out in case of a breakdown or accident. You must have a first aid kit and and a set of spare light bulbs. You must come to a full and complete stop at a stop sign even if the road is obviously clear or face a hefty on-the-spot fine. In a designated road works area on a motorway, or before entering a tunnel, you must turn on dipped head lights. You need current tax, a valid insurance document (green card) and a log book "Certificat de Immatriculation" and proof of payment of your insurance. You cannot use any form of headset or bluetooth device attached to your ear from your mobile phone only a full "hands free" not attached to your person. More detailed information can be found at http://madrid.angloinfo.com/countries/spain/driving.asp.

Is there a set arrival and departure day if I rent at 'Rainbow's End'?

There is no set day, nor indeed time for arrivals and departures. We are as flexible as possible to accomodate you, and your holiday period is first of all dependent on your choice, and then of the availability of the apartment. Likewise, although most people arrive mid-afternoon and depart midday, depending on the previous and next tenants and the cleaning schedule, we may be able to better arrange times to suit you and ourselves.

What else is in the area?

Our other page on local attractions and tourist information lists some activities and places to visit, and we list some more at the bottom of this page. You could also visit http://www.viva-almeria.com for more information, or http://www.mojacaronline.com. There are also newspapers and magazines who put their content online, such as http://levantelifestyle.com, http://www.euroweeklynews.com, http://talitiser.com and http://www.thepost.viva-almeria.com.

If you have a question that isn't answered here, please email us, and we'll try to help.