Avoiding alcohol while traveling can be difficult for many, as the idea of relaxing with a drink in hand is such a stereotype for vacationing. However, it is possible to go on an amazing trip without risking your sobriety. It just takes some planning and commitment. Talk to your travel companions up front if you feel comfortable doing so. It’s also important to eat and drink plenty while you’re gone so that you aren’t more susceptible to cravings. Make sure you empty the mini-fridge or let the hotel know that you do not want alcohol in your room. And finally, keep in touch with your support system and bring along helpful resources. By focusing on your commitment to sobriety, you can enjoy a vacation without needing to turn to alcohol.
Avoiding Alcohol While Traveling: Sober Living
Talk to Travel Companions
It can be very helpful to talk to your travel companions before leaving if you’re avoiding alcohol while traveling. If you feel comfortable, let them know that you are in recovery. Hopefully, they’ll be very supportive and try to not drink heavily around you or bug you to join in. However, letting other people know about your recovery is a deeply personal decision. If you don’t feel ready, you can still travel without alcohol.
Stay Fed and Hydrated
Another important thing to remember when avoiding alcohol while traveling is to stay fed and hydrated. Our bodies often confuse hunger and thirst signals for cravings. And these cravings can eventually lead to cravings for alcohol or drugs for addicts. If you keep yourself full and drink plenty of fluids, it’ll cut down on those cravings. And don’t forget to indulge in some delicious virgin mocktails so you feel like you’re treating yourself on vacation.
Remove Alcohol from Your Room
The mini bar can be a big threat to anybody avoiding alcohol while traveling. Hotels often stock it with mini bottles of alcohol and snacks. Call the hotel ahead of time and ask that they remove the alcohol or remove the mini-fridge altogether. If you arrive and there is alcohol in your room, remove it and give it to the front desk. Just because you can easily resist it at some point during the day doesn’t mean that there won’t be other times when you are more tempted. Better to remove it altogether.
Keep Resources Close
Finally, when avoiding alcohol while traveling, keep your sobriety resources close. Stay in touch with your support network while you’re away. You can even find Alcoholics Anonymous meetings to attend all over the world. Bring books or other resources that help you with avoiding temptation along with you. Don’t feel like you can’t reach out and get support, no matter where you are.
Avoiding alcohol while traveling is possible as long as you commit to your sobriety and make a plan for yourself. If you feel comfortable talking to your travel companions, let them know you won’t be drinking on this trip. If you aren’t comfortable opening up, that’s fine too. Keep yourself well-fed and hydrated so that you’re less likely to have cravings. Ask the hotel to remove alcohol from your mini-fridge so that you don’t have the temptation. And finally, bring along resources and keep in touch with your support network. Hopefully, by making these adjustments, you’ll be able to enjoy a fantastic vacation without having to risk your recovery.
