 |
Vera Playa Club Hotel
Vera, Spain |
Vera Play
Club Hotel is Spain’s only all inclusive,
clothing optional
property |
 |
 |
| |
Vera Playa Club Hotel, opened in 1989 with 281 rooms, is
Spain’s only all inclusive, clothing optional property. Located on the
 Med in
southern Spain in the Costa Almeria region, Vera Playa offers a variety of
accommodations from standard rooms to suites and even a Presidential suite with
private pool, living room and patio…a perfect place for a party. The
resort welcomes everyone from singles, couples and families but the resort
restricts the child count to a small minority. The hotel is predominantly
adults only with children more prevalent July and August. During our visit, we
saw only two kids who were surprisingly well-behaved.
Guests are
international with the majority hailing from Europe, the UK, North America and
elsewhere. Most hotel personnel are multi-lingual and English is widely spoken
by the service staff at the hotel as well as in tourism centers, shopping
malls, bars, bistros and restaurants nearby.
Although it’s not
the same quality level, other than Hidden Beach Resort, this is the cleanest
hotel we’ve seen in years…  spotless
throughout. Vera Playa is one of the biggest “bangs for the bucks”
we’ve seen anywhere for an all inclusive property providing a better value
in our opinion compared to all inclusive resorts in Mexico or Caribbean.
The hotel operates from late April to mid October annually. While
it’s not a five star property, Vera Playa’s operating formula has
been successful since 1989.
Bottom line: For a change of pace,
consider a visit to Spain and Vera Playa coupled with an add-on 3 or 4 night
visit to Barcelona or Madrid, both about an hour’s flight time to
Vera.
|
 |
| |
 Located in Vera on the southern coast of Spain in the Costa
del Sol region, the hotel is less than an hour east of Almeria, the closest and
most convenient airport with frequent air connections to/from Madrid,
Barcelona, Seville, Palma Mallorca. As a reference, Gibraltar is about 4 hours
drive due west of Almeria. We used an airport transfer service to reach the
hotel although a rental car is an obvious option if you enjoy driving. The
highways are well marked and in excellent condition. Since the region is
dominated by tourism and agriculture, there are no large cities to get lost
in….It’s easy to get around.
The easiest transit by air is
simply to fly to Madrid and change planes for Almeria. The flights are
typically within the same terminal in the Madrid airport so transit is
typically fast and hassle free. Trains also serve the area but require a longer
journey.
From Almeria, you can rent a car, hire a taxi or arrange for a
pre-reserved transfer by private car.
|
 |
| |
With 281 rooms, Vera Playa offers standard rooms,
conventional suites, suites with a family layout, suites with plunge pools and
even a Presidential suite with private pool, living room and patio. Other than
Hidden Beach Resort, this is the cleanest hotel we’ve seen in
years….spotless throughout.
 Spain’s
hotel classification system rates the property as four star due to its full
service offerings including numerous room choices for any budget, dining
options, bar service, bars, pool (outside and enclosed) & nude beach, night
club, lounge and guest services. In our opinion, the property reminds one of a
Breezes resort in Jamaica so it's not the Ritz. Service personnel are
multi-lingual and you will see a client mix of Europeans, Brits and folks from
North and South America plus world wide locations.
A nice touch: In the
lobby area, WiFi is available. Internet and PC computers are adjacent to the
lobby for a fee. A small clothing shop in in the lobby and a large shopping
center is nearby.
Electricity is 220 so bring an adapter/converter
with you.
Adult daytime activities include: Table tennis, fitness
classes, boules, darts, archery, volleyball, water polo. In addition, other
activities include miniature golf, shuffle board and chess. Tennis and cycling
are also available free of charge.
 Nudity is
permitted from 8 AM to 8 PM daily throughout the grounds, rooms, swimming pool,
beach, hot tub and reception area. Clothing is required from 8 PM onward plus
the dining room requires clothes for all meals. And, long pants for gents are
required for the evening meal. Otherwise, typical beach wear and cover ups are
required for all meals inside including breakfast and lunch. Outside and around
the pool patio, nudity is fine.
The huge freshwater pool, palm tree
terrace with sundeck and umbrella are the focus during the day, enhanced by a
private sun deck and nude beach.
The nude beach is composed of light
gray sand and small, smooth pebbles but mostly sand. An enclosed heated pool is
on site as well as an a la carte restaurant for high season use facing the
beach. The beach is designated for nude use for approximately one mile. Beach
sun lounges are available for a fee.
The hotel also includes a beauty
salon with limited services, a souvenir shop, launderette with ironing
equipment.
Weekly the hotel nearby, the Zimball Playa holds a naturist
spa session available to guests from Vera Playa.
|
 |
| |
 Meals in
the air conditioned main restaurant are buffet style but the entres of your
choice are available at the grill and includes fish, meats, chicken, pork and
other specialties of the day. This is a nice touch that provides you with some
options besides the traditional buffet line. Included are hot and cold dishes,
local specialties, salads, veggies as well as meats and kababs, chops and
steaks. Mornings, omelets and crepes can be ordered and evenings, you can ask
the chef to prepare your entre cooked to order for fish, meats, chicken or pork
in most popular dining styles. You may choose to dine in doors or outside on
the patio. Smoking inside is not permitted. Long pants for gents are required
for the evening meal
During high season, a separate dining concession serves as the Beach Club
outside with a more expanded ala carte menu for Mediterranean cuisine including
fish and paella. A nice touch, Spanish-style: Tapas of the day are served 11
AM-2 PM.
The Caribe Bar offers drinks at its poolside patio terrace
and the Al Andalus pub is also on site.
Although the buffet cuisine is
not spectacular, you won’t go hungry. Local pubs, bistros, clubs and
restaurants are nearby if you want to get off the resort to experience some
variety.
|
 |
| |
All inclusive rates range from about about Euros 80 to
Euros 150/person/night depending upon your selection of accommodations. This is
only an average and room tariffs will vary seasonally and are also affected by
the exchange rate. Room rates are the best value we've seen in an all inclusive
property compared to other comparables in the Caribbean or Mexico. The resort
doesn't skimp on the bar drinks but premium labels carry a small surcharge.
 Room
rates are lowest in the shoulder seasons of April to May 30 and then September
to closing in mid October. Rates are highest during the summer months including
July and August when most of Europe seems to be on holiday.
Room
inventory include: 161 hotel rooms, 3 Playa suites and the Presidential suite.
The 84 studios and 32 apartments are available. All have either a patio or
terrace (ground floor) with pool view or ocean view. Each room is equipped with
air conditioning, ceiling fan, minibar(fee), chest and dresser, direct dial
telephone, safe (fee), and Satellite TV. Laundry service is available for a
fee. Bathrooms contain a circular tub, shower, hairdryer,
 sink
and toilette. Beach towels are included. An optional tea/coffee maker can be
added for a fee. Bedding is either two single beds or a single double bed.
The 3 Playa Suites each share a private plunge pool with large double
bed with the bath overlooking the swimming pool or ocean. The suites also have
a desk, tea/coffee maker, minimbar (fee) plus coffee table with chairs plus
bath robes, hair dryer and ironing board are included.
The
Presidential Suite has a private plunge pool and terrace with table chairs and
chaise lounges. A king size bed is in the master bedroom with mirrored ceiling
and a double sink in the bath with round bath tub/shower. The suite includes a
FAX, Desk, tea/coffee maker, coffee table & chairs, satellite TV &
video recorder, a central living room, dining room, fridge with soft drinks and
beer plus a walk in closet.
Studios can sleep 2 to 3 people. and one
bedroom apartments can sleep 2 to 4 people.
Ages
You will see ages
here from kids to seniors. Most are between 30s-60s during high season. To
avoid kids, consider visiting May or early June or September to first of
October.
|
 |
| |
You will see ages here from kids to seniors. Most are
between 30s-60s during high season. To avoid kids, consider visiting May or
early June or September to first of October.
|
 |
| |
Clothing is required from 8 PM onward plus the dining room
requires clothes. Long pants for gents are required for the evening meal.
Otherwise, typical beach wear and cover ups are required for all meals inside
including breakfast and lunch. Outside and around the pool patio, nudity is
fine.
 The
resort is pretty mild although during high season, diversions are offered on
site by a small entertainment staff and in the evenings around 9-9:30 PM, a
floor show, music or skits are performed on stage outside on the veranda and
patio area. The patio is also used for flamenco performances, open air disco,
games and cabaret. Contests and guest games are popular during high season.
During high season, the resort opens its night club/disco for both registered
guests as well as outside visitors. For that reason, clothing is required in
the common ares, reception, bars and club.
For diversions off site,
guests can walk to local clubs, pubs, bistros and two "adults only" clubs
immediately outside the entrance to the hotel. About 10-11 PM each evening, you
will see many guests dressed up strolling off site to sample the "local color"
offered by the local establishments nearby. There seems to be a club or pub
nearby for each country: English, German, French, etc.
 Bottom
Line:
Although Vera Playa, is nude during the day, the hotel bar and its
night club are open to the public after 8 PM and require clothing basically
dusk to dawn. Light entertainment is provided by a small but active staff that
keeps the crowd involved….they’re not pushy but fun. Outside the
hotel grounds are numerous bars, bistros, shops and interestingly, two adult
clubs nearby. A large shopping center nearby offers all the conveniences of
home.
Tips:
1) Exchange your currency for Euros before you arrive.
Most all the Vera tourism areas, bars, restaurants and shops accept only Euros.
Charge cards are readily accepted most places. Make sure you contact your
charge card company before you depart your home country to alert them you will
be traveling internationally and my have charges appear from Spain and
elsewhere.
2) If you plan to rent a car, consider getting an
International Driver's Permit in your home country before you arrive in Spain.
3) If you fly, the closest airport is in Almeria but Alacante is also
available, about 2 hours away.
4) If you have time, consider adding on
a 3 night visit to Barcelona or Madrid. Castaways' parent company, American
Express Fox Travel, can help you arrange your add on visits, excursions, car
rental, airfare, transfers and tours.
|
 |
| |
The regional area around Vera is a vacation mecca with
numerous condominiums located along the coast, two of them adjacent to Vera
Playa for nudists: Vera Natura and Natura Sun.
Sight seeing and
diversions off site include golf, tennis, shopping, bar hopping and dining,
water parks, ATV and horse riding and more.
Near the resort in Vera
town, visit the open air market weekly on Saturdays. Nearby Garrucha, the
little fishing village offers sights with street and fish markets. Mojacar,
first settled some 5,000 years ago, is a picturesque town, complete with pretty
white houses with beautiful flowers overlooking the Mediterranean nearby.
Grenada is perhaps the closest large city within driving distance of Vera
featuring the Alhambara Palace, the cathedral and former residence of emirs who
ruled Spain 600 years ago.
|
 |
| |
|
 |
The resort is the best value we've seen for an all
inclusive property.
|
| |
|
|
|
 |
Kids may be present during months when they're out of
school. |
| |
|
|
|
|
Certain snacks at the bar inside are not included in
the all inclusive package which can be slightly confusing until you figure out
the system. |
| |
|
|
|
|
For any of the all inclusive items such as meals and
bar drinks, all you have to do is present your key card for your room to the
waiter or bar tender who enters your card to authorize service. You don't have
to wear a wrist or ankle bracelet. |
| |
|
|
|
|
Although the beach can be used nude, you won't see
many partaking of the Mediterranean because it's usually cold compared to the
Caribbean and Mexico. The large pool outside and heated pool inside provide the
best alternative to beaching it. If you use the beach, enjoy the sun on one of
the chaise lounges with umbrella or shade available for a fee. |
| |
|
|
|
 |
| |
The hotel in open only certain months of the year for the
season stretching from mid April to mid October.
|
 |
| |
Wish the resort were adults only all the time.
|
 |
| |
Click on the Photo Album button to view personal photos of
Vera Play Club Hotel. Most were taken by us, but we could use some by folks
just like you. You can contribute to this section - all you have to do is go to
our Contribute Trip Report /
Photographs page.
|
|
| |
We need trip reports from from folks who have recently
visited Vera Play Club Hotel. You can contribute to this section - All you have
to do is go to our Contribute Trip
Report / Photographs page.
|
| |
|
|
