To not want to be naked in sauna

[lollypoppy123]

I’m going to a fancy hotel in Germany with an amazing spa but I’ve just found out the spa is textile free which means no clothes whatsoever allowed. I’m really uncomfortable with this as I’ve had a mastectomy and my reconstruction is pretty ugly. Even without that, I’d feel weird being naked with strangers.

fair enough
but presumably you would like to be convinced

So you don’t use the sauna?

Fair enough. In those circumstances, I’d not feel comfortable either.

Do they have single sex sessions or an option to book it solely for personal use?

YANBU but I don't think there's anything you can do about it. It's common in Germany they are much less prudish about bodies there. I remember being horrified aged 13 staying with an exchange family and we went into the changing room of a spa and everyone stripped off.

I would just skip the sauna TBH.

Yeah, if I wouldn’t be allowed to have a towel wrapped around me, then I wouldn’t take part.

Double check the rules of the particular sauna, but it's perfectly normal to be naked in German saunas. You'll stand out more wearing clothes. If you don't like the idea of being naked then maybe pass on the sauna.

EDIT - I see you have checked the rules, I doubt they'll change them just for you.

Two towels, you sit on one, you wrap the other one around you like you’d do after a shower. Most saunas in Europe at least are like this for higiene reasons.
would this work for you?

Are they?

When in Rome….

german spas have German rules.

Yep just wrap a towel around you - it’s totally understandable that you feel self conscious but really, nobody is looking. Would be a shame for you to miss out as German spas are often amazing

Ah, yes, I guess I was hoping to be convinced it would be okay. It’s not just the sauna. It’s the whole spa that’s naked and it’s a spa hotel so sort of the point!

The spa is textile free, it’ll be the pool, steam room, sauna etc

op I’m sorry you didn’t have any idea that this is how German Spas work

do you have other activities lined up? I can understand your discomfort

Oops, is there an option to change the booking to somewhere else?
I'm not sure I would have booked a German spa holiday, knowing what I do about the general feelings toward nakedness in Deutschland.

This would be perfect. May not work in infinity pool and hot tubs but something for the sauna / steam hopefully

Is the spa FKK or just textilfrei? Usually you're only naked in the sauna or pool. You walk around etc with a towel or bath robe.

Are you going with a group or a partner?

Could you go and try it when it's really quiet? I used to go to gym with communal changing, hated it at first but then it became quite liberating. In our society the only bodies we see naked are perfect, so it's good to see we aren't all bronzed goddesses.

Towels are textiles so presumably not allowed.

OP, I understand how it must feel and your reticence, but everyone in there will have various things going on with their bodies and no one is in it to be aesthetically pleasing to each other. If you can try it, you might soon feel like any worries were unfounded and feel better for it. I’m not being pollyannish, just that seeing people in that state can take away all the bs that we’re fed about physical perfection and reset us to what we’re all like beneath. Hope you have a lovely time either way.

Textilfrei - what’s the difference?

I ended up at a campsite that I wanted to book into - ling drive etc

when I checked in I was told before paying, it’s nudist- my thoughts..
no one knows me
ill not see these people ever again
i I don’t need to look and who cares if they do

i stayed 3 nights, it was hot and I left without any laundry 😉😂

it’s a bit odd but everyone is in the same boat

Yes, I'd double check that. Robes or towels are often fine en route to wherever you're going, unless it's a FKK (Freikörperkultur, essentially like naturism) site.

Can you choose a different hotel where you aren’t paying for facilities you won’t use? Or did you not book a rate with cancellation?

I think most German spas are like this…

Towels are allowed, in fact compulsary! You don't sit with your bare bottom on the wood.