One of the challenging parts of writing about sober travel is defining what it is. The simple answer is it means traveling without drinking. When I say this to anyone who works for a restaurant, hotel or destination, they usually say, “Oh, we have wonderful mocktails.” I greatly appreciate that the more delicious alternatives there are, the more people will at least sometimes choose those and nondrinking will become more normalized. But is there something more to sober travel than doing the exact same thing as usual, except replacing regular tequila with zero-proof tequila in your mojito?

Yes, there is more. Just as there is more to life than sitting and drinking in a bar, there is more to travel than drinking a non-alc drink at a resort bar. When we choose not to drink, we are putting ourselves out in the world without a highly popular and relied upon social crutch. As Elizabeth Harryman Lasley – a nondrinker by choice rather than necessity—said, “I want to be my real self all the time –not some phony self created by an artificial substance.”

Sober travel and stepping outside your comfort zone

So how do we go forth unconventionally, without artifice or anesthesia? I was recently inspired by hearing Jeff Jenkins give a talk for the Adventure Travel Trade Association on living boldly. Jenkins is the creator of Chubby Diaries and the Nat Geo show Never Say Never, which features himself—a large Black man—taking on adventures like rafting down a 25-foot waterfall. In a video clip from his rafting expedition, the audience clearly sees the look of “what the hell am I doing” on Jeff’s face just before he plunges down the falls—and joyously lives to tell. As Jeff emphasized in his speech, life begins where your comfort zone ends.

I think this is especially true for people in recovery. Maybe you got extremely comfy on that bar stool in your favorite bar, or at home boozing it up on your couch. Then in recovery, maybe we get in a predictable schedule of going to certain therapy groups and hanging out with other people like us. Same if you don’t drink for religious reasons—you might spend most of your time with others of the same faith, going to the same places to worship and socialize. While a support group is vital, we can clip our horizons without even noticing. Untended, our comfort zones have a way of shrinking.

Travel does just the opposite. When we go new places with new people, we find ourselves in situations we never expected. These could be fabulous or trying, but either way our worldview expands. Just like Jenkins never imagined a chubby Black man like himself would go on big adventures, many people in recovery don’t expect to chart a course from barstool to life-changing experiences traveling the globe.

Sober travel: beyond mocktails

So what makes for successful sober travel beyond just not drinking? Incorporating elements of these four long-term indicators of happy sobriety will turn your vacation into something much more meaningful. And while you could say this is good advice for anybody, drinker or not, it’s especially important for those who don’t drink in an alcohol-fixated society. Focusing on these elements could make the difference between white-knuckling it through a “vacation” dominated by other people’s drunken revelry and having a life-enhancing experience away from home.

Health

Taking time away from your regular routine can let you focus on what you need for your physical and mental health. Many people find they get more exercise while on vacation, especially desk workers. At a beach they may have more opportunities to surf, swim, and snorkel. Or if they’re in an unfamiliar city without a car, they’ll explore on foot. Then again, maybe you need more rest, meditation, and reflection during your vacation. You might also think more about your diet rather than just eating what’s handy.

Connection

People need to connect with each other—and this is done more sincerely when your mind isn’t veiled by alcohol. If you’re traveling with a partner, friends, family, or colleagues, this is time to spend together. You can also meet other travelers or local people at your destination, especially if you’re going solo. Nature lovers like me will also feel a connection to rivers, landscapes, and wildlife. And when we travel to awe-inspiring places, we may feel more connected to a higher power and/or to deeper aspects of ourselves.

Adventure

This is the part where we expand our horizons. “Adventure” is a subjective concept. Maybe you’re rafting down that 25-foot waterfall. Or maybe you’re navigating a country where you don’t speak the language, or camping when you’re more experienced at hotel living, or trying foods that seem very strange to you. Adventure is scalable. You don’t have to go for the biggest one first. Even baby steps will expand your comfort zone. But remember that our brains respond to novelty. That’s why we’re always reading about how learning a new language or taking a dance class can help stave off dementia. Travel also lights up the brain’s novelty circuits.

Contribution

If you’re a 12-step person, chances are that you’ve served as a greeter, coffee maker or meeting secretary. Same if you don’t drink for religious reasons—you’ve probably helped out in your mosque, church, temple or other place of worship. Contributing connects us to others and helps us develop a sense of purpose. It helps us value ourselves and gives us self-respect. While traveling, you could contribute in a big way, like going on a voluntourism trip to build a school in an impoverished area. Or you can contribute in a constant stream of little ways, like shopping at small businesses to keep your money in the local economy. You can help your fellow travelers by offering sunscreen or a Band-aid, and carrying the suitcase of that person with the aching knees. As a travel writer, I try to contribute by promoting locally-owned businesses and sharing the stories of people in remote places that rely on tourism. However you contribute, it’s a more satisfying feeling than going somewhere and simply consuming resources and experiences.

This post is an excerpt from my full-length sober travel book, which Microcosm is publishing in 2025.