Have you gone alcohol-free for Dry January? Alcohol Change UK are encouraging people to refrain from drinking post-party season to enhance their physical and mental health. Many are adopting the campaign’s initiative to go alcohol free for 31 days.
The alternatives are alcohol-free drinks and beverages. Although they’ve always been on the menu for some time, since the pandemic you may have seen an increase. This is because many have decided to change their relationship with alcohol.
Whether you’re one of them, or you wish want to adopt an alcohol-free lifestyle, there are now many options – including some from big brands. But not only are there more alcohol-free alternatives. Sober or low-alcohol holidays have emerged to support this lifestyle.
Backed up by Expedia brands Unpacked ’24 travel trends report 40% of the 20,000 respondents said they’d be likely to book a detox trip within 2024. 50% also admitted they’d stay in hotels which offered a decent selection of alcohol-free drinks.
So, if you’ve taken up Dry January, have chosen a sober lifestyle, or you are just curious about the movement read on to get to grips with some ‘dry’ destinations.
The Maldives
Recently, researchers revealed that the most popular destination on our bucket lists was The Maldives. We wanted to understand why. So, we asked two members of our team who’ve been there.
They said: ‘The Maldives is one of the most picturesque, tranquil, and remote destinations in the world. The perfect place to completely unwind and forget about everything. I sat on the sand by the water’s edge most mornings around 6am, and I’d be the only person there. It was like having your own personal island.’ Plus, ‘the Maldives doesn’t have to be expensive. The islands cater for different budgets!’
Also, The Maldives has islands that cater for people who live sober lifestyles. So, it is a picturesque place to unwind while abstaining from alcohol. This shouldn’t be a challenge because The Maldives is a Muslim country, although alcohol is still available in certain places. To avoid it altogether you could book into one of seven alcohol-free resorts.
For instance, stay on Fiyavalhu Maldives for a tea and snacks with the locals after a snorkelling excursion. Then, visit Season Paradise on Thulusdhoo Island for a picnic after an island tour to see the dolphins. On balance, all the islands offer affordable water sports and wildlife-watching trips. You’ll be welcome to try local cuisine and many juice and smoothie bars to keep refreshed throughout too.
If you enjoy sampling the local cuisine on holiday, book your holiday to have a Dry January or February in Morocco.
Morocco
An alcohol culture doesn’t exist within Morocco because alcohol can’t be drunk in public. So instead of going to a bar embrace its strong food culture instead.
Join a food tour in Marrakech or Rabat and you’ll learn about Morocco’s culture through its food influences. These come from North Africa, Spain and the sub-Saharan region. Throughout your tour, taste seasonal treats such as seafood, spices and delicacies like tropical snails! Then, for an immersive experience, you could cook a Moroccan dish with a Moroccan family.
To find the best ingredients for any Moroccan meal, wander around the Jemaa el-Fnaa marketplace in Marrakech. This square is where to learn more about Moroccan culture from watching live music, entertainers and artists.
To observe more culture outside Marrakech, visit UNESCO World Heritage Site Ait Benhaddou. This became a heritage site due to its Ksar type construction. You’ll notice that its traditional, mud-brick structures shine in the sun beneath the mighty Atlas Mountains. Also, you may recall that Ait Ben Haddou was once the filming location for many Hollywood films. These films include Lawrence of Arabia, Jesus of Nazareth, Gladiator and more.
Costa Rica
If you’re booking alcohol-free in Dry January, a trip to Costa Rica is not only a very warm winter sun destination. It’s also a desirable place for nature lovers and wellness enthusiasts! The country’s volcanoes, tropical rainforests and unique wildlife have existed there for thousands of years. An ideal place to escape from modern life, its wellness and health industry has been growing over the last few years.
To support its visitor’s aim – to enhance their health – many of Costa Rica’s retreats and resorts provide alcohol-free alternatives. For example, the Lapa Rios Lodge only has non-alcoholic drinks on the menu. Alcohol-free alternatives include juices, teas and coffees. However, they’ll have a fresh and rich flavour you wouldn’t have experienced at home. Visit the Costa Rica Coffee Plantation or join one of five coffee tours to try more.
During your trip, sit back and go with the flow! Spend day one relaxing at the beach. Then discover the different ways you can observe nature! Walk through one of the world’s largest butterfly gardens (Selvatura Park) before horseback riding through the mystical Monteverdes Cloud Forest Biological Preserve.
Also, each tourism company you encounter follows Costa Rica’s sustainability model to support the country’s natural and cultural resources. So, wherever you stay and whatever you eat, drink or do, you’ll be enhancing your life. Plus the lives of the people and wildlife that call it home.
Nordic Countries
If you visit Iceland, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Greenland and the Faroe Islands you can buy alcohol. However, its heavily regulated. The restrictions across these countries restrict promotions and may ban alcohol advertising altogether. All types of alcohol are heavily taxed too with limits on its availability. This may make a visit to one of these countries a good time to abstain!
Unlike the UK, most Nordic countries see alcohol as no ordinary commodity. By collaborating and putting restrictions in place, they aim to decrease the negative effects alcohol can bring to their societies. While increasing the ways it’s people can make healthier lifestyle choices. Positive campaigns ensure that Nordic residents aren’t stigmatised for avoiding alcohol. They’re encouraged to look after their health instead.
So, if you’re looking for inexpensive ways to have fun in these Nordic countries while enhancing your health, start by embracing the best things in life, like family. Also, you could plan a cultural trip, to Gothenburg to experience Sweden’s best music and cuisine – for free – during its cultural festival (Kulturkalas). Finland is also full of surprises. Stay in the capital city Helsinki – one of the greenest in Europe. Here you can relax in eco-designed saunas and eat in zero-waste restaurants that use organic ingredients, where a lot of thought has been put into non-alcoholic beverages.
Alcohol-Free Options On Cruises
For a way to explore more than one destination on an alcohol-free holiday, many cruises now offer a comprehensive alcohol-free range in their bars and restaurants.
Cruises continue to grow in popularity by offering guests a range of experiences en route. Today, one new experience (found in the Alchemy Bar and main dining rooms on the Carnival Cruise Line) is the full range of Lyre’s alcohol-free alternatives.
If you have health and fitness on your mind after your refreshing drink, go for a walk and enjoy the scenic view. After taking in the sea breeze, escape to the spa to relax from head to toe. Forget the world around you during a massage and facials.
Travel Insurance for Alcohol Free Holidays
Have we helped you pick a suitable dry holiday destination if you’ve stopped drinking in Dry January? Whether you wish to live a sober lifestyle or attempt dry February or Sober October have fun planning a unique holiday in detail.
Also, don’t forget to include Free Spirit Travel Insurance. Unlike other standard travel insurance policies Free Spirit is different because it provides cover for people with existing medical conditions and disabilities.