St Barts

[map92]

Are there ANY beaches at St Barts that aren't Topless or Nude?

[sbgoddess]

Unfortunately, (or fortunately, depending on your point of view), not.

 

Saint Barth is part of France and as a result topless swimming and sunbathing is accepted, legal, and widely practiced, everywhere. This means beaches, but also hotel pools.

 

To be clear, it is not mandatory. I usually tell people that it is a bit like wearing a hat. Some do, some don't. Nobody really notices nor pays attention. But yes, you will see bare breasts on every beach and around every pool.

 

Nude is a different story. It is not technically legal, but it is part of the culture and tolerated on three of the beaches: Salines, Gouverneur and Colombier. These happen to be the three nicest beaches on the island. The nude sunbathers usually gather to the far ends of the beaches, away from the entrances.

 

I always tell people not to stress about the toplessness. Another way to think of it is to think of yourself as a muslim woman coming to the US. You grew up wearing a head scarf and you've been told that it is not moral for a woman not to wear one. What do you do if you come to the US. Well, it's your choice, either you do or you don't. Women around you won't, and you'll get used to it very quickly, even though you have never encountered this in your own country. Well it's exactly the same in Saint Barth with bikini tops. You grew up wearing one, and been told that it's not moral not to wear it. In Saint barth, it's your choice. Many women around you won't wear them, and you will get used to it. And just like the men in children in the US are used to women not wearing headscarves, the men and children in Saint Barth are used to women not wearing bikini tops. It does not bother them either. It is just a different dress code, that is all.