Sober travel is becoming the latest growing trend.
With more and more people trying to put their health first, alcohol-free travel is the solution for many who either want a break from drinking or are trying to recover from an addiction.
Between April 2021 and March 2022, 289,215 people were in contact with drug and alcohol treatment services so you are not alone. [1]
While you might associate travel experience with bars, nightlife and drinking, recently there has been a continued interest in switching the booze for yoga retreats and alternative activities that focus on mental health and wellbeing.
From choosing your travel destination to finding a sober buddy or looking at alternative travel companies, there are many ways to make your alcohol-free trip an easy and truly memorable experience.
In the travel industry, sober tourism is a growing trend that caters to sober travellers who want to have fun travelling the world without using drugs or drinking alcohol.
If you are just recovering from addiction, you might hesitate to go on holiday or travel in case you are tempted by alcohol or drugs and relapse. However, sober tourism allows those in recovery to reward themselves for their continued sobriety and explore and travel the world in an alternative safer way.
Sober vacations generally involves avoiding activities and destinations that are associated with drinking alcohol or drug use. Instead, you can take part in more meaningful adventures with like-minded people from around the world.
It does mean, though, that you need to be extra mindful of what your addiction triggers are, as well as know your relapse prevention strategies and who you can seek support from while you’re away.
There are many benefits to a sober trip, including staying healthy and hydrated, avoiding hangovers and reducing any health problems that harmful substances may cause.
Below are some other reasons to get involved in sober travel.
Drinking and taking drugs is heavily associated with chaos and anxiety. It is known to cause long-term health conditions such as anxiety and depression. [2]
In the short-term alcohol also causes your anxiety levels to spike, especially if you accidentally oversleep for your early morning flight.
Instead, you can just enjoy yourself and focus on your daytime activities.
With good quality sleep and a stable mood, you’ll feel like packing everything into your day. This means you’ll have plenty of time to visit all the best sights without having to rush around.
You might also be able to have more freedom to choose to visit the tourist hotspots during the off-peak times, generally saving you time and money.
If you heavily drink or have a substance abuse problem, travel could be consumed by having many glasses of wine or trying to find a particular drug.
Without these thoughts, you are free to try new experiences. This could be anything from meeting new travel companions, going to events in cities, visiting an art gallery or art exhibit to many other alcohol-free activities.
Travelling without alcohol or drugs has its many benefits, but it won’t always be easy to undertake. Below are six ways you can commit to alcohol-free travel.
Having support while abroad is particularly important, especially if you are at the beginning of your sober journey. If you already have a sober friend or family member, then you should invite them to come travelling with you.
You could also find sober friends online before you choose to go on your sober vacation. There are a number of different travel groups online and sober group trips, including some that cater purely to anyone who doesn’t drink.
Remember that even while you’re away, you still have the support of loved ones or groups at home as long as you are somewhere that has data or access to wifi. You can regularly call your family or even get them to check in with you daily.
Most importantly, if you are attending Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meetings, you can still join these remotely. [3] [4]
The lifestyle of sober living is not unusual for a large percentage of the world. Due to religion, culture or custom, drinking alcohol is either illegal, frowned upon or almost completely impossible in multiple countries.
You’ll find that the locals of popular Middle Eastern countries, such as Egypt and Morocco, do not tend to drink alcohol due to them being Muslim. Instead, be tempted by trying alternative drinks that are popular in that particular country.
Examples of alternative non-alcoholic drinks and the origin country are:
Maybe one of the best perks of booze-free travel is the ability to feel fresh in the morning. Getting up early means you can beat the tourist crowds and make the most out of your day.
Waking up hangover-free allows you to discover the best views at sunrise, beat the morning coffee queues and generally feel more awake.
Instead of going to places where it’s known for its drinking culture or booze-laden travel scenarios like Ibiza, Las Vegas or Amsterdam, why not travel to a national park or rainforest?
You could do a meditation retreat in Costa Rica or hike around Machu Picchu.
Being outdoors and trying an adrenaline-filled activity like snorkelling, hiking or stand-up paddleboarding is great for the sober soul and will help to naturally raise dopamine levels.
While you are bound to meet many more like-minded travellers, it is almost guaranteed that you will meet others who do not understand your situation.
It’s important to remember that this is completely normal with sober travel. Instead of being frustrated by those who don’t understand, focus on those who do.
Try not to let it feel personal, everyone is from different walks of life and you are bound to not have mutual understanding with everyone you meet.
With sober travel, if you are in an environment where there is alcohol, it’s important to learn what you feel comfortable to say when asked why you’re not drinking.
If you’re not comfortable saying you’re an alcoholic then there are a number of reasons you can give to explain why you’re not drinking. This can include saying that you’re on medication or that you have to drive.
While it’s fine to just say no, sometimes it’s better to give some type of reason as well.
It can also be a good idea to have your own method of transportation so that you feel more comfortable leaving at any time.
Ahead of staying in a hotel or Airbnb, you can ring ahead to ask them to remove any alcohol from the fridge or room.
For any further advice and support with your sober journey, contact Rehab 4 Addiction on 0800 140 4690 today.
Our team are here to help 24/7.
[2] https://web.archive.org/web/20240229160851/https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/alcohol-use.htm
[3] https://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/
Boris is our editor-in-chief at Rehab 4 Addiction. Boris is an addiction expert with more than 20 years in the field. His expertise covers a broad of topics relating to addiction, rehab and recovery. Boris is an addiction therapist and assists in the alcohol detox and rehab process. Boris has been featured on a variety of websites, including the BBC, Verywell Mind and Healthline. You can connect with Boris online at LinkedIn or X.com.
