With the world’s monetary system going haywire and the future uncertain, many of us will be scrutinizing our personal finances like never before, and it’s inevitable that sooner or later the cost of annual family vacations will come under reluctant scrutiny.

Now, you don’t have to be a financial whiz to figure out that vacationing at or closer to home instead of embarking on an adventure far away will save you wads of money that you could use for other purposes.

But surely your own doorstep is too familiar to provide the variety, stimulation and new experiences that many of us seek in a vacation.

Well maybe. Unless, that is, you try naturism.

I’m not kidding. Think about it.

Naturism (also called nudism) is a leisure and lifestyle activity that is experiencing explosive growth around the world, so much so that naturist holidays, or holidays with a naturist element, are now featured in the brochures of some of the the largest vacation companies. Its popularity can be attributed to the growing awareness of its unique properties, which include…

• Nudism is good for health. Its unique anti-stress qualities are well established, and there is some evidence that the absence of clothing and connection to the earth and the elements may protect against some types of cancer and other “diseases of civilization.”
• Nudism is respectful of the environment. You don’t need as many clothes on a nude vacation, and taking just one suitcase under 44 pounds (20 kilos) frees up 22 fewer pounds of aviation fuel, saving 68.2 pounds of CO2 emissions. In a car, reducing the weight of your cargo to a single suitcase will increase your fuel consumption by almost 1%. And that without starting to take into account the cost of manufacturing and washing etc…
• Nudism offers a wide variety of vacation opportunities. The growing popularity of nudism has attracted millions of dollars of investment capital, and the opportunities for nudist relaxation and recreation are growing exponentially.
• Nudism is fun.

And last but not least, and the point I want to emphasize:

• Nudism is refreshingly different than anything you have done before

But you don’t have to go on a nude vacation with a glossy brochure to enjoy the difference a nude getaway offers. While it’s so nice to practice your naturism among the fabulous beaches, luxurious resorts, and cruise ships that naturism has become associated with, you can enjoy the same benefits much closer to home.

A brief Internet search will reveal a network of thousands of nudist sites, centers and resorts around the world, some large, some small, some offering every amenity, some more basic. In addition, there are hundreds of nude guesthouses, nude B&Bs, and nude hotels, and, of course, a host of free nude beaches and similar recreational areas, both official and unofficial. Any of these will give you a taste of the nude lifestyle, and you can even concoct a designer nude break by mixing and matching them! The important point is that almost anywhere in the world you live, certainly in the “westernized” world, some of these nudist amenities will be close to you, which means that you can enjoy a nudist break without traveling too far from home. .

In other words, naturism offers you a completely different experience, right at your doorstep! Which is just what we were looking for!

So, remembering that we want a vacation that gets past the credit crunch and still provides plenty of relaxation and a chance to “do something different,” let’s see what we come up with.

• Staying closer to home will save you a significant amount of money, which you may need later.
• Staying closer to home is environmentally friendly. You’ll save on fuel and other travel costs and therefore reduce your carbon footprint. (Naturism is also environmentally friendly. See above)
• Being closer to home is much less stressful. No problems with airports/customs/exchange rates/languages/unknown territories. (Naturism is also good for your health. See above.)
• Staying closer to home helps your own local economy.
• There will be plenty of opportunities to try a naturist getaway in your own local area.
• Nudism is a refreshing change from anything you’ve done before.

So I think the case is proven. In these tough times, you can save money and help save the earth by staying local and taking a nude vacation.

It will give you the experience of a lifetime and a chance to have a laugh at the credit crunch.

But be careful.

Once you’ve discovered the freedom and joy of a nude vacation, you may never want to try another type again!