Helen's Wellness and Sober Travel Tips and Tricks 

***Check back regularly as I'll be adding to these!!!!

                                            

• set your intentions before you leave home.  Will this vacation week (or longer!) go more smoothly if you maintain your fitness routine?  Or is a modified routine (daily beach walks) what you need?

• look at the schedule ahead of time and block the time that you will dedicate to wellness (workouts, spa treatments, meditations, yoga etc) before you leave home.  Find out what time the gym opens, book classes and spa treatments in advance if possible so that they are already set.  You’ll be much more likely to follow through if your schedule is set and things are pre-booked!

• find the gym and other facilities when you first arrive at the resort, hotel or on board the cruise ship.  The longer you delay in checking it out, the more resistance you’ll build up in your mind to actually going each day

• have accountability build into your plans.  Whether that’s your travel partner or your regular workout friends at home.  Let them know what your intentions are before you leave.  Share your sweaty selfies or gym pics on social media…..accountability helps you follow through!

• stick to your regular routines while away.  There is no rule that says that being on vacation means partying all night long!  In fact, getting out of your regular routine can result in your feeling even more run down and not able to enjoy your time away.  It also opens you up to the risk of getting sick.  You’ll not only sleep better by sticking to your routine but you’ll also get to enjoy some spectacular moments like the sun rising over the ocean in the morning!

• remove things that don’t align to your health routine.  If the hotel/resort/cruise line has left a welcome bottle of champagne in the room, let your room steward/butler know right away or call the front desk and ask for it to be replaced with non-alcoholic wine, fresh juices or sparkling water.  Your room should be a place of refuge and relaxation, not stress!   

• let your Travel Advisor know that you don’t drink.   There are some resort brands and cruise lines that are now being very intentional about catering to the growing crowd of non-drinkers and your Travel Advisor can recommend the ones that best match your budget.   They can also contact the resort/cruise line in advance to make requests on how the room should be prepared for your arrival (this is never guaranteed, but there are some brands that do a good job of this!)

And most importantly, have fun!  Travelling without alcohol and maintaining a great wellness routine while away doesn’t have to be about restriction and lack.  In fact, I would argue that it will enable you to have fuller days and pack more into each day than the crowd who is stuck in their rooms nursing a hangover for half of their vacation!   Be proud of who you are and the standards that you have created for your life!