There is an Internet Cafe situated in the unit area above the Consum Supermarket, printing facilities are available here and delicious coffee. If you are staying at the Hotel Vera Playa Club, there are now some coin-operated internet machines in the reception area. Otherwise. There are also plenty of internet cafes etc in Garrucha and along Mojacar Playa. There is said to be free wifi access in the vicinity of the Hotel Mexico and some people are now using broadband services from the cellular phone companies such as Vodaphone.

Weather, typically, is fine with midday temperatures in low to mid 20's, good for sunbathing. Sea OK for hardy people, outdoor pools may be a bit too cold, urbanizations with covered/heated pools are best. Evenings can be chilly. Be sure to get an apartment with good sun and some heating. Winter is a quiet time - good for exploring locality. And very cheap! There's not a lot open (in terms of shops, bars, restaurants) within the naturist zone in winter - though there's more than there used to be and it would be possible to survive without leaving the naturist zone - but without a lot of choice as to where to shop or eat. But there's plenty of everything just a bit further afield.

The Vera Playa naturist zone is now better served by public transport than was the case. There is now an approximately hourly service to both Vera town and to Garrucha and beyond to Mojacar Playa (service no.2). Buses pick up and set down on the edge of the naturist zone, near to the Consum supermarket and at the recently built roundabout on the main Garrucha-Villaricos road where a new dual carriageway towards Vera is now open. The bus fare is 1€ to either Vera or Garrucha. The timetable (and detail of other local bus services in the area are available on the bus company's website - autocaresbaraza.com.

It used to be the case that without your own car or a rental car you were effectively confined to the naturist zone and immediately surrounding area. Obviously if you do have your own vehicle things are easier and you have more flexibility but you can now get out and about to at least the main local towns by public transport even in winter. In high summer a tourist "motor train" operates in the evenings which you can join and rejoin as you wish - this may be useful for going to Mojacar Playa to sample its bars and restaurants.

If you have no car, the other option for getting around locally, other than on foot, is by taxi. Of course, you do not necessarily have to leave the naturist zone at all and on a short holiday, say one week, in good weather, you probably won't want to. But for longer visits, or in winter, or if you are unlucky enough to have some poor weather (unlikely in summer) you may well want to get out and around a bit - and a car is likely to be well worth its cost.

Thousands of people who own their own properties, which are nearly all in 10 urbanizacions (mutually owned developments with communal facilities such as swimming pools). In addition there is a hotel, bars, cafes etc.

The main one is, of course, the 3 kms of naturist beach. In the main season you can hire sunbeds and umbrellas on the beach and pedalos, sailboats, canoes etc. There is a large 4 star hotel, a camping site (100% naturist these days) and about 10 residential developments or urbanizacions with approaching 2,000 apartments and houses of various sorts and sizes. Each urbanizacion has its own swimming pools. For shopping, there is a mini-market (next to the main entrance of Vera Natura, just opposite La Menara and Bahia de Vera). There are small supermarkets in Hotel Street and the Naturist Camp Site. There are bars/eating places on the beach (2 - one in summer only), near the main entrance of Bahia de Vera and Torrema Natura (2 - open all year) and 5 (none all year, but 2 most of year) in Hotel Street (near the Vera Playa Club Hotel). There is an absolute profusion of supermarkets, shops, bars, cafes, restaurants and clubs in the vicinity (2 - 20 kms away) - more, obviously, in the summer than in the winter.

The Vera Playa naturist zone and beach are officially designated as naturist so no worries there. But as a matter of interest mainly, the present Spanish Constituition gives Spanish citizens the right to be naked in any public place - so sunbathing or swimming naked on any beach is, these days, not illegal (though you might not feel very comfortable doing so!). Things are very different from what they were in the days of General Franco and nowadays Spanish people - of all ages - seem much more relaxed about being naked to sunbathe or swim or play on the beach, though no doubt most would not think of themselves as "naturists".

Vera Playa is open. Some of the urbanizacions (residential developments) are locked behind perimeter fences, but this is to preserve their facilities for use only by their own residents as much as anything. Some people do come into the naturist zone to look - but they are mainly the curious rather than the weird - though there are undoubtedly sometimes some of those. Pretty certainly some of the curious become naturists in the sense that they try out being naked on the beach and in the sea and find out it's good. The local and national police do patrol the naturist zone and beach (as they do everywhere) and there seems to be no greater a problem of undesirables on the naturist beach or, for instance, overtly sexual or other inappropriate or illegal behaviour on the naturist beach than any other beach (in fact quite possibly less). It is not a problem of any significant scale and most unlikely to affect or spoil your day on the beach.

No. Absolutely not, this is a naturist resort not a private club.

No - nudity is permitted, not required. Most naturist urbanizacions require users of their swimming pools to do so naked (i.e. bathing costumes are not allowed), but otherwise many owners and visitors only go naked to sunbathe and to swim in the sea. It's a good place for first time naturists as there's no pressure - but most soon discover how good it is to go naked.

No - everywhere within the zone is naturist - including the streets.

It used to be nothing (salt pans/desert/scrubland). Now it is textile developments. But the status of the beach has been upheld (by the Andalucian Ombudsman) as naturist despite illegal attempts by the local council to sign this southernmost 2 kms as textile. So you can use all 3 kms of the beach as naturist - and many Spanish people do just that, whether they are "naturists" or not. Some of the textile developments have sold themselves partly on the basis that they have the naturist beach for people to use. Of course, many textiles use it as well, but there doesn't seem to be the same exclusivity of either naturists or textiles that seems the case in, say, the UK.

The naturist beach is around 2.5 kms long and the naturist urbanizacions front approx 1 km of beach and extend back about 400 metres.

Vera Playa has a superb climate - the warmest winters in Europe and hot summers which are relieved by sea breezes, and (generally) very settled weather with dawn to dusk sun as normal. The dry atmosphere is excellent for sufferers from arthritis and other complaints which are aggravated by a damp atmosphere.

Almeria, if you have the choice - and more and more flights are going there. It is only 85 kms or 50 mins away. Second choice is probably Murcia (San Javier - on the Mar Menor) which is 185 kms or 2 hrs (or 1 hr 30 mins on the new AP-7 toll motorway, cost = approximately 24€ for return trip) and a very close third is Alicante (210 kms, 2 hrs 20 mins - and lots of flights). Malaga is also a possibility - but a long drive (300 kms, 4 hours) and not all on motorway (which the other airports are - except for the last 15 kms or so). Allegedly, there will be a new Murcia airport in a few years time, which will be much nearer Vera (about 130 kms or 1 hr 20 mins).

No, it is conveniently close to several small towns (Garrucha, Vera, Cuevas de Almanzora) and, now, just part of continuous low-rise beachfront development over 5 kms from Villaricos to Puerto Rey/Garrucha.

Vera Playa is located on the south-east corner of Spain, on the Costa de Almeria, near the Moorish hill-top village of Mojácar.

A 'Textile' a term affectionally given to people who wear costumes on the beach and in areas where there are Naturists.

Marriages or Civil Partnerships where both are Naturists tend to be more stable and loving. Naturism enriches a relationship.

You will benefit from the relaxing environment, away from the problems of daily life. Furthermore, any sporting activity always brings benefits if you do not exceed your limitations.

Not if you don’t tell them. I wonder how many of them are secret Naturists or have been on a nudist beach, you may be surprised.

No, Naturists come from all denominations and cultures. It is entirely up to the individual, although getting ones kit off in a Muslim country could prove problematic.

Genuine naturist photographs can be wonderful souvenirs; but, understandably, people with cameras are the object of suspicion, especially when they have long lenses. Generally speaking the best thing to do with your camera is leave it in your room. If you want to use a camera, be discreet; keep it carefully pointed at yourselves or at the landscape rather than at other people unless you have their consent; above all be careful not to offend, a camera shoved up a place where the sun don’t shine can be a painful experience.

Naturism isn't about sex and public sexual activity would be frowned on in most naturist environments. If the urge takes you, either take a cold shower or head back to the apartment.

Generally, women do the same thing in the naturist world as they do in the clothed world. Many use a tampon. If they prefer, they wear shorts or bikini bottoms. Menstruation is a normal part of being a woman and one which naturists understand.

Most unlikely. Nudity in a naturist environment is not sexually stimulating. Spontaneous reactions can occur, so discretion is the objective, attitudes vary and some people can be offended.

Resorts vary in this respect. Please read the Vera Playa FAQ. If you take too much sun you may want to cover up and ladies sometimes want to wear something on the bottom. For hygiene reasons, all good naturists carry a towel to sit on.

Few people are perfect and anyway this does not matter. You will be accepted as you are, and not for your appearance.

Do carry a towel to sit on when sitting on a public seat for hygiene purposes. If you have a camera, you had better leave it in your room until you know the rules in this respect. A bum bag or 'Man' bag type purse would be handy for carrying money, nothings free unfortunately.

Not at all. Cases of children being upset by the sight of nude people are extremely rare. As people grow up, they are taught by social convention that nudity is wrong or shocking. You are not born with an aversion to human bodies. before the Victorian period society was far more tolerant of the bare body and we seem to be moving steadily back in that direction. There's nothing inherently wrong with nudity.

If you feel cold, you cover up; if it rains, you seek shelter; if the sun burns, you protect yourself. Commonsense is the key.