Sober Vacations

Sober Vacations

What makes a recovery story truly inspiring? For many women in sobriety, it’s that mix of everyday relatability and practical, no-nonsense tips – and that’s exactly what this conversation between host Catherine Moss and returning guest Rebecca Watson brings to the table. Focusing on sober holidays and work trips, the chat is full of real-life examples, gentle humour and the sort of honesty you rarely hear about travel.

Rebecca shares how a trip to New Orleans at about 30 days alcohol-free became a turning point: “I thought that was a real challenge for me, and if I could make it through that, I could travel anywhere sober.” From there, you’ll hear how both women shifted from “proof I did something in the daytime” sightseeing to actually enjoying early mornings, local culture and clear-headed memories. The episode looks at two big themes: planning and permission.

Planning means things like telling your travel companions you don’t drink, researching local alcohol-free drinks, checking out meetings in advance, and even packing meditations, journals or a favourite treat for tough moments. Permission means allowing yourself to say no to bars, late nights or wine tours, to go back to the hotel with a book, or to turn a bar tab into opera tickets instead.

Rebecca also talks about the extra challenges of work travel, where you often have less control over schedules and venues. Her tips – have a ready answer for “Why aren’t you drinking?”, arrive later to drinks and leave earlier, and quietly arrange your own soft drinks with waitstaff – are especially useful if you’re surrounded by colleagues who see heavy social drinking as normal.

If you’ve ever wondered whether holidays and business trips can still feel fun, free and relaxing without alcohol, this conversation might be the reassurance you’ve been waiting for – what small change could you plan for your next trip to make sobriety feel more supported and less stressful?