Glossary · 24 terms · checked October 2026
The words that decide the booking
Resort pages lean on a handful of terms that sound alike and mean very different things. Here is what each one tells you, and what it leaves out.
Written by the Hotel Terracotta editorial desk · Edited by John Dason · Organization details checked against AANR, TNSF and INF-FNI, October 29, 2026 · How we work
Quick answer
Four terms to get right first
Naturist means nonsexual social nudity. Clothing-optional only describes what you may wear, not who is there or what goes on. Topless-optional stops short of full nudity. A lifestyle resort is for swingers, whatever its clothing policy. Mix these up and you can book the wrong trip entirely.
Where the words come from
Philosophy and organizations
Naturism
The International Naturist Federation’s 1974 definition calls naturism “a way of life in harmony with nature characterised by the practice of communal nudity,” tied to respect for oneself, others and the environment. In practice it means social nudity that is explicitly nonsexual.
Where you’ll see it: Glen Eden Sun Club, which states it is not a lifestyle club.
Nudism
In the United States, nudist and naturist are mostly used interchangeably. Some people use naturist for the broader philosophy and nudist for the recreation itself. Neither word implies anything sexual.
Where you’ll see it: “Nudist resort” and “naturist resort” on a booking site describe the same kind of place.
AANR
The American Association for Nude Recreation, based in Kissimmee, Florida, traces its roots to 1931. It promotes what it calls wholesome nude family recreation, and its principles reject sexual exploitation. AANR describes member clubs as chartered; some clubs describe the same relationship as affiliation or accreditation.
Where you’ll see it: Glen Eden describes itself as AANR-accredited.
The Naturist Society Foundation (TNSF)
A charity based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, best known for its work on access to clothing-optional beaches. Its stated mission is to promote body acceptance through clothing-optional recreation, education and outreach.
Where you’ll see it: Useful when you are looking for public beaches and hot springs rather than resorts.
Landed club and travel club
A landed club owns or leases its own grounds, with pools, cabins or RV sites. A travel club has no property and organizes members’ visits to resorts, beaches and events instead.
Where you’ll see it: Glen Eden is a landed club on 154 acres. A travel club can be a gentler first step for people who would rather go with a group.
Textile
Naturist shorthand for clothed people and ordinary places, as in a textile beach or textile hotel. It is descriptive, not an insult.
Where you’ll see it: Mostly in naturist writing and forums. You rarely need it to book, but it helps when reading reviews.
What you can and can’t wear
Clothing policies
Clothing-optional
You may be nude or dressed in the areas where the policy applies. The term says nothing about who is admitted or about the atmosphere, which is why a family nudist club, a gay men’s resort and a swingers’ resort can all use it.
Where you’ll see it: The rules comparison shows how differently 16 Palm Springs-area resorts apply it.
Swimsuit-optional
Usually narrower than clothing-optional. Nudity is allowed at the pool or spa, and ordinary dress is expected elsewhere.
Where you’ll see it: Santiago, Descanso and Twin Palms use this wording for their pools and spas.
Nudity required
Some places require nudity in certain areas, most often pools and hot tubs. Where that applies, a swimsuit is not an option, which matters for first-timers who want to ease in.
Where you’ll see it: Glen Eden (pools and hot tubs) and Sea Mountain Inn (pool and whirlpools).
Topless-optional
Women may go topless in designated areas; full nudity is not part of the policy. Resorts that use it are often marketed alongside clothing-optional ones, which causes confusion.
Where you’ll see it: Temptation Cancun is topless-optional. Compare it with the couples-only Desire resorts on Desire vs Temptation.
Cover-up
A robe, sarong or wrap worn in areas where nudity is not allowed, such as dining rooms or lobbies.
Where you’ll see it: Hotel O2 allows nudity outdoors but asks for cover-ups indoors. Pack one even where the whole property is clothing-optional.
Audience terms
Who gets in
Adults-only
No children. The minimum age is usually 18 or 21, and the two are not interchangeable: several Palm Springs resorts admit guests at 18, others only at 21.
Where you’ll see it: See the age column in the rules comparison.
Couples-only
Admission requires a couple, so solo travelers are turned away. Read how the resort defines a couple before booking.
Where you’ll see it: The Desire resorts in Mexico are couples-only; see Desire Riviera Maya.
Gay men’s resort
A resort that admits men, and in practice markets to gay and bisexual men. Some describe themselves as men-only; others welcome a broader LGBTQ+ guest list on one page while marketing to men on another.
Where you’ll see it: Desert Paradise is an example: its FAQ welcomes LGBTQIA guests while its home page speaks to gay men. The gay resorts guide covers Palm Springs.
Lifestyle resort
A resort for swingers and couples interested in open relationships, where sexual activity between consenting guests may be allowed in designated spaces. It is a different product from naturism, even when nudity rules look similar.
Where you’ll see it: Exotic Dreams and Sea Mountain Inn are lifestyle resorts. Mi Kasa states it is not.
Sponsor
At some lifestyle resorts, single men are admitted only when a couple or member vouches for them, often on busy nights.
Where you’ll see it: At Exotic Dreams, single men need a sponsor Friday through Sunday.
Before you pay
Access and money
Day pass and night pass
Paid access to the pool and grounds for non-guests, usually for a set number of hours. Night passes cover evening events. Many quieter resorts sell neither.
Where you’ll see it: Prices and hours are on the day-pass guide.
Daily fee and resort fee
A mandatory charge on top of the room rate. Some cover real extras such as meals and bikes; others are a plain surcharge. Either way, add it before comparing prices.
Where you’ll see it: Santiago, Descanso and Twin Palms charge $24 a day, including breakfast and lunch; Desert Paradise adds $18.
Membership
A fee to join the club or resort, charged per person and separate from the room. Some lifestyle venues require it before they will admit you.
Where you’ll see it: Sea Mountain Inn requires a $20 membership per person.
Background check
Some nudist clubs screen first-time visitors, typically with a booked tour and a paid check, before letting them in.
Where you’ll see it: Glen Eden charges $20 for the check on a first visit.
Photo ID and wristbands
Most adult resorts check government-issued photo ID at arrival. Some issue wristbands so staff can tell registered guests from visitors.
Where you’ll see it: CCBC requires a physical government-issued ID, does not accept digital ID, and gives room guests wristbands.
The unwritten rules, written down
Conduct
Towel rule
Sit on your own towel on shared furniture. You will find this rule at almost every naturist and clothing-optional venue.
Where you’ll see it: The first-timer guide covers this and the other common rules.
Photography
Cameras and phones are restricted at nearly every clothing-optional resort, and photographing other guests without permission can get you removed.
Where you’ll see it: Expect stricter rules than at a normal hotel pool, including at day-pass venues.
Public sexual activity
Prohibited at naturist clubs and in the common areas of most resorts. Lifestyle resorts allow it in designated spaces, and some gay men’s resorts have playrooms set apart from the pool; both say so on their sites. If a resort does not mention it, assume it is not allowed.
Where you’ll see it: Mi Kasa prohibits public sexual activity and Glen Eden removes visitors for it. CCBC lists playrooms.
Resort examples come from our profiles, each checked between October 4 and 29, 2026. Policies change; the profile pages link to the resorts’ own rules.