The cocktail lover's guide to sober holidays

Less sip, more dip

“Find out what the driver is behind the behaviour of drinking alcohol, and then choose an alternative experience to give you the same or a better outcome". Image: iStock

Zero-alc vacays (aka dry tripping) are taking over health retreats as the next big trend in wellness travel. But would you last? One intrepid writer checks in to find out.

Confession time: the notion of avoiding alcohol while on holiday at a fancy Fijian resort would have seemed absurd to my cocktail-loving self a few months ago. What’s the point of an island escape if not to unwind with a mojito (or four) by the pool? 

But like the 40 per cent of Aussies keen to stay at hotels with booze-free offerings – an increasingly popular travel trend dubbed ‘dry tripping’ – I’ve started to prefer relaxation methods that don’t involve a glass of red. 

So, when I needed a reset recently, I decided to bypass the health retreats that sometimes feel overly restrictive, and instead make the 35 lush acres of tropical gardens at The InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa home for seven nights. The goal was pretty simple: recharge on my terms. 

Before leaving Sydney for the five-star property, set on the white sands of Natadola Beach on Fiji’s main island of Viti Levu, I experiment with activities at home, like hitting the sauna or reading a book in the bath – which, to be honest, deliver the same feeling I look for in an after-work wine. 

Psychologist Tara Hurster, founder of The TARA Clinic, suggests a similar approach for anyone wanting to attempt a sober holiday. “Find out what the driver is behind the behaviour of drinking alcohol, and then choose an alternative experience to give you the same or a better outcome,” says Hurster. “Are there other things you could do to have fun or relax? A massage? Go scuba diving with turtles perhaps?”

Luckily, there are many ways to answer that question at the InterCon. The tree-lined, waterfront views from our beachfront suite, complete with a freestanding tub on the balcony, is just the start. Swimming in the calm bay every day reminds me of a feeling of weightlessness I’ve only ever felt in a sensory deprivation tank – when the saltwater is at body temperature it’s easy to stop noticing where you end and the ocean begins. 

“Find out what the driver is behind the behaviour of drinking alcohol, and then choose an alternative experience to give you the same or a better outcome".

One morning, we treat ourselves at the hilltop Club InterContinental for an à la carte breakfast (try the Navo Island Breakfast of poached eggs and grilled line fish for a healthy option packed with local flavours) and a swim at the exclusive members’ pool with uninterrupted views of Natadola Bay. On another, we book a snorkelling safari, where a glass-bottom boat shuttles us to a nearby coral reef teeming with fish. Then at the multi-award-winning Spa InterContinental, I experience the queen of all stress-melting treatments: a mesmerising 75-minute Yon-Ka Optimiser Contouring Firming facial and massage. 

Most of our days end at Kama Lounge, the hotel bar by the beach, watching the sky turn from blue to orange to black as the sun goes down. At first glance, the drinks menu appears to only have a handful of your standard mocktails, but look carefully and the zero-alcohol options are sprinkled throughout: there’s the Bula Paloma, a signature mix with tequila essence and grapefruit, an Aperol Spritz, sparkling white (my go-to) and beer. 

“Find out what the driver is behind the behaviour of drinking alcohol, and then choose an alternative experience to give you the same or a better outcome".

As an appreciator of a good cocktail, I admit I can’t leave the resort without sampling the drink specials. The Kava Martini, based on the traditional herbal beverage, and the Fjian Pop, a local-style bellini with papaya, only available at Sanasana restaurant, are worth a try. 

Speaking of the onsite food venues, Topa Bar and Grill, located between the adults-only infinity pool and the kids’ splash zone, features a range of healthy options, thanks to the influence of the executive chef who previously worked at A-List wellness resort, Kamalaya. The Omega 6 Burger and Vegan Cheesecake are standouts.  

My trip ends up sober-ish, rather than teetotal, but it’s the healthy recharge I’d hoped for, and when I return home I discover I’m drinking even less than before. “In my mind, there is no bandwagon [to fall off on a sober holiday],” says Hurster. “Just explore the lesson that you learnt through the experience. What did you think you knew about yourself that perhaps now you are a little bit clearer on? And you can have fun with it. Remember, it’s your holiday!”

Originally published as The cocktail lover's guide to sober holidays