Club Fantastico Naturist Resort

The closer we got, the more excited we became. Would it be the same? Were our memories painting a false picture? All would be revealed soon enough. The new sign at the roundabout pointed our way up the hill to Club Fantastico, where we had spent an all-too-short three days the previous year. Getting out of the car, Chloe and Bella, the house dog, were there to meet us at the gate and we knew we were home. Club Fantastico more than lives up to its name. The rooms and beds are wonderful, the inside common area is nicely decorated and the outdoor lounging area offers all you need for a naked day away from the beach. One of the best things, however, is the outdoor shower. There are two sets of these on either side of the outdoor area and they are a joy to use, with the sugar birds singing and feasting from the sugar bowl close by.

For the home cook, the kitchen is available and will fill all your needs. At one point in its history, the place housed a culinary school and all the kitchen appliances are professional-grade. Thierry is the chef de cuisine and will cook up something at the drop of a hat, asked or unasked. The arrival of new guests is marked by a welcome party with lots of fine French cheeses and pâtés and cooked appetizers that Thierry will produce as a surprise. These evening are so much fun and help to break the ice for new arrivals. On more than one occasion, our dining plans disappeared as we feasted on the charcuterie and drank and chatted with our fellow guests well into the evening.

During the off-season both bed & breakfast and bed-only plans are available. Thierry makes a great breakfast, although we opted for bed-only because a major part of my vacation is visiting the boulangerie for croissants and baguettes each morning and taking the opportunity to practice my French. Orient Bay and all its beach bars are a ten-minute walk down the hill and a longer walk coming back up. If you are driving, it's two minutes away.

What really makes the place so wonderful are, without a doubt, Chloe, Thierry & Bella. Chloe and Thierry will bend over backwards to make sure your stay is as good as it can be. if you have a favourite drink, bottle of wine or brand of beer, just mention it and they will seek it out for you. Need suggestions for places to dine or excursions/trips to take?, they will have the info you need. Want to sit and shoot the breeze?, they will always have time for you -- granted Bella isn't the greatest conversationalist but she really does love to have her back scratched. On the other hand, if you want some quiet time, they are as discreet and unobtrusive as can be. We stayed for 13 nights and could happily have stayed twice as long, if it weren't for that pesky work thing that we have to do. We love it so much that we booked for the following year while we were there and have spent most of the time since just dreaming about our return.