Sober travel.

I realise that in the current financial crisis, I am lucky to even be able to consider going abroad. However, due to my sobriety, I have saved some money and had the opportunity to go to a place that I have always wanted to visit Iceland! However, as the day of travelling came closer, so did my anxiety, how was I going to avoid alcohol at the airport, surely it will be boring without drinking and how am I going to get the full experience if I can’t indulge? Here are a few of the things that I learnt during my trip.

The Airport.

I am not sure about the last time that I travelled while drinking, but I know that my brain plays tricks on me, as even when I was drinking, I would not have drunk before getting on a flight. The reason for this is years of drinking have destroyed my bladder and there is no way I would have put up with waiting in departures. What I found this time, not drinking was I was a lot more relaxed, I had time to look around a few shops and grab a coffee before heading to departures, leaving me feeling so much more in holiday mode than if I had drunk before the flight.

The first day away.

This is where the holiday gets so much better being sober. While I was drinking the first day would consist of getting smashed for 24 hours followed by being hungover for the following 48 hours. In effect wiping out the first 3 days of the holiday. Now, this might be bearable if you are staying for 2 weeks but being in Iceland for only 5 days, time was precious.

Being sober my first day, instead consisted of, getting to the hotel, going out for a coffee and a snack, before returning to unpack cases and getting an early night. Now, this may sound boring to some, but that feeling of waking up for the first full day exploring Iceland, clear-headed was amazing!

Excursions.

My wife used to hate travelling with me, as I refused to go on excursions. This was for several reasons, but mainly it was time away from the bar that I could be drinking. I have no idea why I used to pay so much money to travel, just to stay in the same hotel for 2 weeks drinking, I might have well stayed at home and saved my money.

Now excursions are what makes a holiday for me, finding out more about the country that you are in. Some of these were organised and some of these were things that we planned and did ourselves.

Here are a few of the things I did while in Iceland for 5 days:

· Went to the whale museum.

· Swam in the blue logon hot springs.

· Saw a waterfall.

· Saw a Geiser.

· Stood on a cold hill and did NOT see the Northern Lights.

· Had many coffees in coffee houses which were also bookshops.

· Had 2 nice meals out and lots of cheaper street food.

· Went to the penis museum. Helps put things into perspective!

· And my personal favourite, seeing humpback whales in the wild.

There is no way I would have done half of this while still drinking.

Going home

I always used to reflect on getting home and how tired I felt, I would joke that I needed another holiday to get over the one that I just had. The reality however is that I would not have relaxed while away, just drinking, and being hungover, followed by more drinking.

Returning from Iceland, despite all we had done, I felt refreshed and relaxed and that I had a great break. The final plus was when we landed it was warmer in the UK which also lifted my mood.

I hope from this, you can see that sober holidays are not something to be worried about but something to be excited about. The holiday is about so much more, and you return feeling so much more relaxed, than if you were drinking.

Happy holidays!

Ben – It's That Sober Guy

Disclaimer – I am not a trained addiction or mental health professional, information is based on my own life experiences and shared in good faith to help others.