Our first experience at Vera Playa Club Hotel
We stayed here ourselves during our trip to Vera Playa, on the Costa de Almería, and experienced the hotel properly: our room and balcony, the huge outdoor pool surrounded by palm trees, the indoor heated pool, Jacuzzi, hotel grounds and, of course, the famous naturist beach immediately outside.
What surprised us most was how quickly everything began to feel completely normal.
Before staying in a naturist hotel, it is easy to imagine that being naked will dominate the entire experience. In reality, after a short time you stop thinking about it. You’re just on holiday.
In this Vera Playa Club Hotel review, we’ll show you what we actually experienced, explain the naturist rules and tell you what first-time visitors should know before booking.
Quick Facts – Vera Playa Club Hotel
- Location: Vera Playa, Almería, Spain
- Hotel type: Naturist beachfront resort
- Category: 4-star
- Beach: Direct access to Vera Playa’s naturist beach
- Outdoor pool: Yes
- Heated indoor pool: Yes
- Jacuzzi / hot tubs: Yes
- Restaurant: Buffet with live cooking
- Bar: Caribe Bar
- Gym: Yes
- Naturism: Compulsory in the outdoor and heated pool areas during naturist hours
- Restaurant: Clothing required
- Best for: Naturist couples, experienced naturists and people interested in trying a full naturist holiday
The hotel’s current rules state that naturism is compulsory in the pool and heated-pool areas. In other areas it is generally at the guest’s discretion, while the restaurant is textile. The hotel asks guests not to use smartphones during the 08:00–20:00 naturist hours, mainly to protect everyone’s privacy.
Arriving at Vera Playa Club Hotel
Our first impression was that this felt like a proper Mediterranean resort.
It isn’t a tiny naturist guesthouse or an isolated retreat.
The hotel has a substantial reception and lobby, multiple accommodation areas, landscaped grounds and a large central swimming-pool complex.
Inside, the white architecture, polished floors, balconies and plants create a distinctive Spanish resort atmosphere.
Some parts of the hotel feel more traditional than contemporary, so don’t come expecting the minimalist design of a brand-new boutique hotel.
But design isn’t really the principal reason for choosing Vera Playa Club.
The location and naturist environment are.
Our Room at Vera Playa Club Hotel
Our room gave us a good base for the stay.
The hotel offers several accommodation categories, so your room may differ from ours. Current standard-room information lists air conditioning/heating, television, bathroom and terrace or balcony.
For a naturist holiday, however, the practical experience of the room is slightly different from a normal beach hotel.
You don’t spend half the day changing in and out of swimwear.
You can return from the pool, shower and relax without dealing with wet swimming costumes.
It sounds like a tiny difference, but after a few days it becomes surprisingly convenient.
Our Bathroom
The bathroom was another useful part of the room to photograph because hotel booking photographs often concentrate on bedrooms and pools while showing very little of the bathroom.
Having a private bathroom obviously matters on any holiday, but it is especially convenient when you’re constantly moving between the beach, swimming pools and your room.
The hotel’s room descriptions confirm private bathrooms, with specific bathroom fittings varying by room category.
Our Balcony – One of Our Favourite Parts of the Room
This is one photograph we definitely wanted to include because it shows the hotel as we actually experienced it rather than simply documenting facilities.
Sitting on the balcony overlooking the resort was one of those simple moments that made the stay feel like a proper holiday. 
We liked having our own outdoor space. We could sit outside in the morning, relax after the beach or watch what was happening around the resort.
For us, the balcony added considerably more to the room than another piece of furniture or decorative feature would have done.
It also helps show the scale and atmosphere of Vera Playa Club much better than a standard bedroom photograph.
The Outdoor Pool – The Centre of the Hotel
The outdoor swimming pool is arguably the defining feature of Vera Playa Club Hotel.
It isn’t simply a rectangular hotel pool.
The pool winds through a landscaped area surrounded by mature palm trees, vegetation and sunbathing areas.
There are small islands, curved sections and different areas to explore.
The hotel’s current information describes it as a themed pool with slides and hot tubs.
The palm trees make an enormous difference.
Instead of feeling like a pool surrounded by concrete and rows of loungers, parts of the grounds feel almost tropical.
This is probably the most visually impressive part of the hotel.
Yes – You Are Expected to Be Naked Around the Pool
If this is your first naturist hotel, there is one rule you need to know.
During naturist hours, nudity isn’t optional around the main pool.
It is part of the hotel’s rules.
The hotel’s current regulations state that naturism is compulsory in the pool area and heated pool between 08:00 and 20:00.
That may sound intimidating before your first visit.
In practice, we found that having a clear rule actually removes much of the uncertainty.
Everyone knows what kind of hotel they have booked.
There is no need to wonder whether you are the only person taking your swimsuit off.
How Quickly Does Being Naked Feel Normal?
Surprisingly quickly.
The anticipation is stranger than the reality.
Once you are surrounded by people behaving normally – swimming, reading, sunbathing and talking – you begin doing exactly the same thing.
People come in different ages, shapes and sizes.
Nobody looks like a catalogue model, and nobody needs to.
After a while you stop registering nudity as particularly important.
You start thinking about ordinary holiday questions instead.
Should we go swimming?
Where should we sit?
Do we want lunch?
Shall we go to the beach?
That’s probably the point when you realise you’ve adjusted.
The Pool Area in the Evening
The atmosphere changes as the day progresses. We particularly liked seeing the hotel grounds later in the day when the strong Almería sun became softer.
For us, the palm trees and water made this one of the nicest parts of the hotel.
According to the hotel’s current regulations, after 20:00 the naturist daytime rules change and the hotel becomes clothing-optional.
The Heated Indoor Pool
The hotel also has a heated indoor swimming pool. We didn’t pay much attention to it at first, but it was a useful extra.
It gives you another option when you don’t fancy the outdoor pool or the sea.
It’s especially useful in cooler weather or when you want somewhere quieter and more sheltered.
The listed hours were 10:00–20:00, but it’s worth checking the times during your stay.
The naturist rules also apply around the heated pool during naturist hours.
The Jacuzzi / Hot Tub
Yes, Vera Playa Club has Jacuzzis, and we used them as another place to relax away from the main pool.
The hotel lists the hot tubs as part of the pool area and says they are for guests over 15.
For us, the Jacuzzi added another relaxation option when we didn’t necessarily want to swim.
It suited the hotel well because we spent a lot of our time around the pools and water.
What We Actually Saw Around the Indoor Area
There was one thing we noticed.
We saw a sign mentioning couples, so at first we thought the area might be couples-only.
But what we saw during our stay was a little different.
We saw several men using the area on their own.
So we can’t say that single male guests aren’t allowed in.
The sign gave us one impression, but we also saw men using the area on their own.
If this matters to you, ask reception about the current rule.
Hotel Grounds and Palm Trees
We really liked how green the pool area felt.
The palm trees make the pool area feel greener and more relaxed.
It gives the hotel a bit more character too.
There are newer and more modern hotels in Spain.
What made this place different for us was having a large naturist pool, palm-filled grounds and the beach right outside.
Driving in Spain
Having a rental car gave us the freedom to reach Vera Playa and explore more of the Almería coast at our own pace. We have put together a separate guide based on our own experience of renting cars in Spain.
➜ READ NEXT: OUR SPAIN CAR RENTAL GUIDE
Direct Access to Vera Playa Naturist Beach
For us, the location was one of the hotel’s biggest advantages.
You’re right beside one of Spain’s best-known naturist beaches.
There is no need to drive to the beach each morning.
No searching for parking.
No carrying everything for kilometres.
It’s very easy to move between the hotel and the beach.
For us, that made the holiday much more relaxed.
Instead of deciding, “Today is a beach day,” you can spend an hour at the beach, return to the hotel, use the pool, have lunch and go back to the sea later.
We wrote a separate guide to the beach with our experience, facilities, etiquette and tips for first-time visitors.
➜ READ NEXT: VERA PLAYA NATURIST BEACH GUIDE
Eating at Vera Playa Club Hotel
The hotel has a buffet restaurant, including some live cooking.
The buffet includes a mix of meat, fish, pasta, vegetables and eggs, with some food cooked in front of you.
There is one simple rule to remember here:
The restaurant is textile.
In other words, you need to put clothes on before eating there.
For us, that rule was simple enough.
You can spend the day nude around the pools, return to your room, shower and dress before dinner.
Caribe Bar and Other Facilities
The hotel also has the Caribe Bar, serving drinks and snacks.
The Caribe Bar serves drinks and snacks during the day and into the evening, although opening times can change.
There is one other rule worth knowing: when sitting nude on shared seating in the Caribe Bar, lobby or common terraces, guests must use a towel.
There is also a gym and a choice of sports activities.
Travel Insurance
We always feel more relaxed when we travel knowing that our health and our trip are covered if something unexpected happens. It gives us one less thing to worry about and lets us simply enjoy the journey. If you would like the same peace of mind on your travels, you can read about the cover we use in our ➜ READ NEXT: OUR TRAVEL INSURANCE REVIEW.
Photography and Phones – This Is Important
Be careful when taking photos at Vera Playa Club.
Privacy is taken seriously here.
The hotel does not allow you to photograph or film other guests without permission. It also restricts phone and similar device use during the 08:00–20:00 naturist period.
We understood why the rule was there.
People choose this hotel because they want a place where nudity is treated as normal.
They shouldn’t have to worry about ending up in somebody else’s photos or videos.
Our approach was simple: never photograph other guests without permission.
Is Vera Playa Club Good for First-Time Naturists?
We think it can be.
We found a proper naturist hotel easier than we expected.
Why?
Because the rules are clear.
Around the pools, the rules are clear and everyone knows what is expected.
So there is no awkward guessing about whether to keep your swimsuit on.
The first few minutes can feel a little strange.
After that, it soon starts to feel normal.
Who Would We Recommend Vera Playa Club Hotel To?
We think it suits couples who want to try naturism, people who already enjoy naturist beaches, or anyone who mainly wants a relaxed pool-and-beach holiday.
It probably isn’t for you if you’re uncomfortable being nude around other people or if you really want a conventional hotel.
Vera Playa Club is a proper naturist hotel.
That is what this hotel is really about.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Genuine naturist resort
- Direct access to Vera Playa Naturist Beach
- Large and unusual outdoor swimming pool
- Beautiful palm-filled grounds
- Heated indoor pool
- Jacuzzi / hot tubs
- Private balconies or terraces depending on room category
- Buffet restaurant with live cooking
- Caribe Bar
- Clear naturist rules
- Excellent for a pool-and-beach holiday
- Particularly interesting for couples and first-time naturists
Cons
- Compulsory nudity in the pool areas won’t suit everyone
- Some parts of the hotel feel more traditional than modern
- You need to understand the hotel’s different clothing rules
- Strict photography rules require extra care with phones and cameras
- If your main objective is exploring Almería every day, you may not use enough of the resort facilities to justify choosing a specialist naturist hotel
Would We Stay at Vera Playa Club Again?
Yes. We would come back for the naturist experience that makes this hotel different.
If we only needed a base for exploring Almería, we would have plenty of other choices.
But for another naturist holiday with pools, a Jacuzzi and the beach right outside, we would happily consider staying here again.
For us, the best part wasn’t one particular facility.
It was the relaxed feeling of the whole place.
You wake up beside the Mediterranean.
You walk down to a palm-filled pool without thinking about swimwear.
You can move between the pool and naturist beach.
And quite quickly, something that felt unusual at first started to feel normal.
FAQ – Vera Playa Club Hotel
Is Vera Playa Club Hotel really naturist?
Yes. It is a naturist hotel, and nudity is required around the pools during the designated naturist hours.
Do you have to be naked everywhere?
No. The rules vary by area. Naturism is compulsory in designated pool areas, optional in various other parts of the hotel, and clothing is compulsory in the restaurant.
Does Vera Playa Club have a heated indoor pool?
Yes. There is a heated swimming pool.
Does Vera Playa Club Hotel have a Jacuzzi?
Yes. There are hot tubs/Jacuzzis, and the hotel says they are for guests over 15.
Is the indoor area couples-only?
We saw signage referring to couples during our stay, but we also personally saw several men using the area alone. Because of that, we would not describe it as strictly couples-only without confirmation from the hotel. Ask reception about the current rule if this matters to you.
Do you have to wear clothes in the restaurant?
Yes. The restaurant is a textile area and clothing is required.
Is the hotel directly beside the naturist beach?
Yes. The beach is right beside the hotel, which was one of the biggest advantages for us.
Is Vera Playa Club suitable for first-time naturists?
We think so, provided you genuinely want to try naturism. We found the clear rules helpful because you always know what is expected.
Can I take photographs around the hotel?
Be careful with your camera or phone. Don’t photograph or film other guests without their permission, and follow the hotel’s extra privacy rules during naturist hours.
Would We Come Back?
For us, the reason to choose Vera Playa Club is simple: you come here for the naturist experience, not just for a room beside the beach.
We liked the big outdoor pool and palm-filled gardens, and the indoor pool and Jacuzzi gave us more places to relax.
We liked having our own balcony, and with Vera Playa Naturist Beach right outside it was very easy to move between the hotel and the sea.
But what stayed with us most wasn’t the pool, Jacuzzi or beach.
It was how quickly the whole naturist experience started to feel normal.
Before we arrived, being naked around a hotel pool sounded like a big deal.
After a while, it wasn’t.
You’re swimming. You’re relaxing. You’re sitting on your balcony. You’re deciding where to eat.
You’re simply on holiday.
For us, that’s what made Vera Playa Club work so well.
