We arrived at Caliente on Monday 4/8 and stayed for a week. We stayed in a condo and except for a trip to the grocery store on the first day we did not leave the property once. Fortunately, we had almost perfect weather and there was only one day that there was rain and cooler weather. We had not been to Caliente for 2 ½ years and frankly I had some concerns about what we would find. But I am happy to report all was fine.
Overall, Monday – Wednesday are very quiet. Activity picks up on Thursday and is in full swing on the weekends.
Food:
We ate outdoors at the Sports Bar on Monday and Tuesday nights. This is the only meal choice Sunday – Tuesday. It is just bar food but it was fine and it was very pleasant to sit outside.. On Wednesday the Café Ole restaurant is open. It is Prime Ribs night but we and one other couple were the only customers. It was a good meal with excellent service but the emptiness is uninviting for me. On Thursday it was more crowded and it was full on Friday and Saturday. The food is good and there is good wine choices also. The staff is very friendly and helpful. On Sunday we shared leftovers and stayed in for dinner. We just had coffee and something small in the condo in the morning so I can’t comment on breakfast which they do serve every day. We shared a sandwich at the pool at lunchtime. This was always plenty for us and it is a good lunch menu.
Condo:
The condo was well equipped and nicely furnished. It was very comfortable. Not all the condos have wifi and this one didn’t. I brought my laptop to the sports bar outdoor tables overlooking the pool in the morning to check the Internet. If this is something important to you, when you book you should specify a condo with wifi – I now know that they know that at reservations.
Pools area:
In the early part of the week there is a small crowd and no objectionable behavior. However – if you are a traditional nudist you may have trouble adjusting to that Caliente is now clothing optional and a 10-15% people will be wearing bathing suits. There was an occasional person in the pool with bathing suit bottoms – men and women. That’s right – men too. In fact in the early part of the week there were more men with thongs than women. Someone told me that on the previous weekend there was a vendor selling “[censored] enhancing” thongs so maybe that’s why. They looked ridiculous.
Beginning on Friday there is a crowd and on the weekend there is some questionable activity amongst a group that hangs out at the large pool. It didn’t cross the line into being completely unacceptable but it certainly would not classify as a family atmosphere. Then I was talking to a friend who is an older and very attractive woman. We weren’t with our husbands. A man – fully dressed – shorts, golf shirt, socks and shoes approached us and asked her if he could put suntan lotion all over her. Another man a seat further away heard this and asked “Does that line really work for you?” He responded “No and I’ve tried it four times today.” We clearly told him to leave us alone and he moved on. I should have reported him and I’m sorry I didn’t.
The large pool was not heated. I did swim in it a few times but it was really cold. If you don’t like the activity around the large pool you can go sit by one of the other four pools and it is fine. Since the volleyball pools were not being used for volleyball, they had a more traditional nudist atmosphere and I swam there on Sunday.
Entertainment:
On Monday and Tuesday there is a crowd at the Sports bar. There is a pool contest on Monday and trivia on Tuesday. Six night a week there are half price drinks 4-7 PM. By Thursday night more people arrive and there is more nightlife. Happy Hour extends with half price drinks 4 – 11 PM and ladies drink free from 8 – 10 PM. There is a DJ and pole dancing lessons and participation in the nightclub. We don’t do the nightclub.
On Friday there is a Manger’s reception with snacks and a piano player at 5 PM and DJ in the nightclub. On Saturday, in addition to the DJ in the nightclub there is a piano player in the main lobby piano bar. This is a favorite for us – to sit at the Piano Bar, have a drink and dance. It was a small crowd at the piano bar area but the nightclub looked pretty busy. Women tend to dress up - skimpy and sexy and sometimes very unusual on Friday and Saturday. Seeing and being seen is definitely part of the fun.
On Sunday there was the annual Antique Car Show in the parking lot. It is a big show and fun to walk through. This is outside the main recreation area and generally a dressed event.
Other
We haven’t heard from Richard on this board in a long time. He was at Caliente on Saturday night with a large group of friends and at the pool on Sunday. He stays at Paradise Lakes but visits Caliente.
Caliente has cut back on some services clearly to cut expenses and I understand this. It is a huge plant to maintain and I’d rather they take the steps they have taken than raise prices.
Overall
We met a number of couples who like us were there on vacation and not local members. We had a lot of chatter about the atmosphere but the bottom line was we all planned to return and overall enjoyed our visit. If you are looking for an upscale nudist resort within the United States it is worth considering. It has a mixed age group which is nice. We like being able to stay on the resort property and have dining and entertainment options. Overall I prefer Desert Sun but my husband prefers Caliente. Don’t let the atmosphere keep you away. Make sure you know the activities/themes planned during your visit. Most frequently – unless there is some planned event - You can easily avoid being in an uncomfortable environment.
