More flyers are ditching the drink than ever, but can holidaying sober actually improve your travels? And if you’ve often equated trips abroad with the chance to kick back with a cocktail – how on earth do you start? We get the inside track and top tips from those who’ve braved travel without the booze

We’ve officially entered the era of the sober curious – an ever-growing movement of people exploring what life could look like alcohol-free. And they have good reason to do so, with those turning away from the booze citing concerns about their dependency on alcohol and wanting to improve their mood, enjoy better sleep, enhance their mental clarity and have a reduced risk of health issues. Not to mention no more hangovers to ruin Sunday mornings…

When it comes to holidays, more and more of the teetotallers out there are saying sober travel has unlocked a whole new level of enrichment. In fact, over the past five years, the sober travel movement has seen significant growth, with the Global Wellness Institute reporting a 25% increase in wellness tourism, which includes alcohol-free and mindful holiday experiences.

This shift towards healthier, more intentional travel choices is reflected in the industry at large, from the launch of the UK’s first alcohol-free travel company, We Love Lucid, to group trip organisers such as Flash Pack and Contiki, who have crafted alcohol-free and sober-curious itineraries around the world. And it doesn’t end there. Nowadays, you can set sail on a cruise with carefully curated non-alcoholic drinks packages and, once you reach your destination, enjoy a perfectly-stirred mocktail at one of the many booze-free bars around the world (we’re looking at you, Club Soda Tasting Room). It’s a trend that’s reshaping the way people connect with destinations, fostering a deeper sense of connection to the places they visit and to themselves.

Here, alcohol-free traveller Laura Bartlett, who recently celebrated two years sober and has visited a new country every month in that time, explains the transformative power of ditching the drink...

When I tell people I’m sober, the first thing they ask is whether I was a big drinker. Truthfully? Alcohol was in my DNA. 

Strangers would tag me in Champagne memes on Instagram as if it was my personal brand. But after 823 days alcohol-free, I can confidently say that ditching the drink has been the best decision of my life.   

Let’s rewind. At my heaviest, I was a Champagne-guzzling woman who couldn’t fathom running anywhere; the only thing I ever ran was a bath. Today? I’ve swapped the bubbles for ginger ale in a wine glass (still classy) and have run my way across the globe. Literally. I’ve done a 12k around Lake Geneva, jogged along Aruba’s pristine beaches, sprinted across the rugged trails of Crete and even ran a half marathon in my hometown of Leeds. None of this would have been possible in my old life because, let’s face it, alcohol often led to late-night takeaways, one too many drunken texts and mornings filled with regret rather than purpose.

Travelling sober has transformed the way I experience the world. I’ve visited more than 40 countries solo and, for the past two sober years, I’ve been abroad every single month. Without hangovers to nurse or blurry nights to forget, I’m immersed in every moment. Whether it’s watching the sunrise over the Hollywood Hills or learning to sail in Barbados, sobriety allows me to embrace the depth of every moment, while soaking up every detail, every flavour and every connection.

Of course, this transformation wasn’t born out of wanderlust alone. It was grief and a wake-up call from my doctor that pushed me to quit. After losing my dad, I spiralled. When medications were suggested, I knew I had to take charge. I realised that no one was coming to save me. I had to save myself. And so began my journey into sobriety, healing and, ultimately, freedom.  

Sobriety didn’t just change my travel habits. It changed my life. My business thrived because I could be fully present. I wasn’t distracted by a fuzzy head or excuses for why I couldn’t show up as my best self. It gave me the clarity to exit my company, buy my dream home mortgage-free and step into a level of freedom I never thought possible. Sobriety doesn’t just add years to your life. It adds life to your years.  

I still do all the things I loved before. I just do them sober. Dancing? Yes. Solo dining in Paris? Absolutely. Hiking mountains in Switzerland? Always. But now, instead of sloshing wine around, I’m sipping my ginger ale and making memories I’ll actually remember.  

Sobriety didn’t just give me clarity. It gave me more confidence. Travelling solo without the crutch of alcohol taught me to truly connect with people, cultures and myself. I’ve found joy in striking up conversations with locals over coffee instead of cocktails, navigating new cities with a clear mind and embracing every adventure with a sense of empowerment.  

So, if you’re considering the sober travel life, here’s my advice – embrace it. The world is too big and beautiful to be experienced through a foggy haze. Trust me, you glow differently when you’re sober. And once you see what you’ve been missing, you’ll wonder why you didn’t start sooner. Sobriety saved me and it might just be the best souvenir I’ve ever picked up.

By Laura Bartlett is a presenter, speaker and entrepreneur. Follow her @laurabartlett0

Four more sober travellers on their favourite destinations to visit
Plus, their top tips for navigating the world alcohol-free

By Maggie Downs, contributor to The New York Times and The LA Times
When in Paris I was newly sober and had worried I might feel sidelined in a culture so deeply entwined with wine. But those fears dissolved when I visited Le Paon Qui Boit, the city’s first alcohol-free wine and liquor shop where, by chance, I arrived during a food pairing event of OSAN botanical beverages from Belgium. Indulging in thoughtfully curated, alcohol-free delights was a revelation – a moment that proved I could embrace every ounce of Parisian magic while staying true to my sobriety. Now I take the energy I once poured into alcohol and use it to fuel my curiosity for local, non-alcoholic beverages instead – such as yerba maté in Argentina, mint tea in Morocco and matcha in Japan.

By Fionn Davenport, travel writer and broadcaster
When I drank, alcohol served as a courage fortifier – a couple of drinks to take the edge off any trepidations I may have had, from travelling alone to having to ask for directions in a language I didn’t understand. Not that I knew that then. On the contrary, I thought of myself as a travelling trailblazer but, more often than not, I blazed a trail to the nearest cantina, and most of the excitement was experienced through a haze. I haven’t had a drink for a long time now, and I’m more courageous than ever. Or, rather, curious. With my sober head, I am available for every kind of experience that comes my way. To meet people, I needed the bulwark of booze. Today, I love travelling alone. And, paradoxically, that makes it a lot easier to meet people.

By Teresa Bergen, author of Sober Travel Handbook
If your past travels usually revolved around wine tasting or drinking by the pool, do a little more planning for your next trip. Having activities to look forward to will minimise feelings of missing out and will fill up your time if you’re used to lots of drinking. Personal quests are fun, whether they involve a hobby or food. I try to kayak or SUP everywhere I go and, if there’s a local vegan ice cream, I always sample it. I’ve visited Doha a couple of times and I love Souq Waqif. This labyrinthine market is alcohol-free, but I can’t think of a livelier place. Hordes of families, tourists and groups of friends shop, wander, eat and people-watch. And since alcohol is rare in Qatar, restaurants serve the most delicious mint lemonade and fruit drinks. 

By Ruby Warrington, author of Sober Curious and Women Without Kids
One of my favourite things about alcohol-free holidays is how well I sleep, which means I come home feeling fully relaxed. It may not always be easy to find great alcohol-free options in restaurants and bars when travelling, but this is a great excuse to check out the local food stores instead. I remember being astounded by the variety of alcohol-free beers in the Eroski supermarket close to my accommodation on my first sober trip to Ibiza.

Introduction by Hannah Hopkins

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This article has been tagged Wellbeing