Sober Holiday
A Sober Holiday… Have you been on one yet? These might be tricky in the beginning because, as we all know, alcohol is a HUGE part of anything social, including holidays. But mán… Nothing beats a booze-free holiday once you´ve got the hang of it!
And to make it even easier for you: How about a holiday where alcohol isn´t even part of the equation? I organise sunny, sober get-togethers, where you can combine a blissful time away in the sun with meeting like-minded women in a fabulous alcohol-free setting. So you won´t even be tempted!
Besides the absence of temptation, there are many other great advantages of booking an organised, sober holiday. And today I am sharing my Top-5 perks that make a booze-free trip so desirable.
Top-5 Sober Holiday Perks
1. First of all: There is no seduction! Nobody drinks & there’s no alcohol on site. This makes it a LOT easier to not even have to consider drinking & thus no headspace is wasted on any contemplation. Which opens you up for a relaxed time away that besides authentic joy, brings you clarity, control & confidence! My favourite 3 C’s of sobriety❤️
2. Meeting like-minded people: All my retreaters might be very different people, coming from a variety of places in the world YET there’s one huge thing that connects you all: You made the choice not to drink alcohol⚡️ Which is a pretty cool thing in this alcohol-soaked world. And how wonderful is it to be able to share stories, experiences and reasons that led to that choice? Real conversations & belly laughs, isn’t thát what holidays are truly about?!
3. You’ll have so much TIME…! Time to actually relax and do things that make you happy😄 Be it finally reading that book that’s been on your nightstand for months, going hiking, practising yoga/meditation or having a chat around the pool with a yum alcohol-free cocktail in hand. And not only do you have more time to do these things, but you’ll also have more energy since there won’t be a single hangover in sight.
4. A simple YET HUGE advantage (in my humble opinion): You can go to bed early without feeling like a party pooper! There is no endless partying/boozing going on around you so no need to sneak out early if you´re done for the day and you just want to crawl into bed with a book… You can! Looove!!!
5. You will return home RESTED and WITH ENERGY! You remember those boozy trips and holidays in which you drink (even) more than usual (because eh, it´s a holiday!) and then you come home literally exhausted and, if you´re sensitive for this, I sure was!!, with the added post-holiday blues… No more baby, that´s all behind us. We come home being as fresh as a daisy with a completely new look at life!
Do these perks of a sober holiday sound good to you? Then check out my 2023 Sober Retreats NOW! There are still a few spots left for the first one of the year, which takes place from 12-18th May ‘23. Don’t miss out, plan it in now, and pay later (only a deposit is required). Click HERE for all info on my sober retreats or HERE to ask me any questions about them!
Sober Bliss Retreat in Loja, Spain – May 2022
To give you an idea about what my sober retreats look like: Last month I organised a Sober Bliss Retreat in Loja, Spain. It went way too fast but what a weekend it was❤️
Even before this retreat started I knew this group of sober rockstars (who were strangers before the trip) would just wórk… And it did: There was a super relaxed atmosphere and lots of chatting & relaxing, walking and swimming. There were amazing massages & yoga practices plus an abundance of delish food & alcohol-free cocktails. There were (more than) a couple of serious talks and a whole lot of laughs😄 Friendships for life were made and for me this weekend was yet another confirmation: The best way to solidify your sobriety is CONNECTION💕
One of my lovely guests that weekend sent me this beautiful testimonial when she returned home and I would like to share it with you:
Testimonial of a Sober Holiday
My Bubblypop Sober Retreat, June 2022
“I booked our retreat on a whim, swept along by my daughter’s enthusiasm that we do something sober-fun, to reward us for our 80-day sober stretch. After all, we had saved all this cash by not coiffing the wine, so why not?? However as the departure date drew near I felt I had spent a great deal of cash on a weekend break that would be a waste of time, exhausting and triggering – sunshine and Spain equals sangria, right? I believed that these people were running a business, trading on people’s vulnerabilities – and were probably just out to take our cash and ply us with platitudes. How wrong could I have been??
I am a 63-year young lady – a wife, a mother and a nanna, who works full time as a secretary in the NHS. I work hard for my wages and being from Yorkshire, like value for money! I can find all kinds of excuses not to treat myself – wine was never a treat, just a normal part of every day, which became a necessary part of my everyday life. I’ve never been one for getting my nails done, going for a massage, or getting my bits waxed, so spending my hard-earned cash on a dash to Spain seemed so frivolous and extravagant, that I really did not want to go.
When you first meet Izzy you are immediately taken by her warm welcome, her sparkly, friendly blue eyes, the warm hug making you feel immediately at ease. She is casually dressed in shorts, vest-top and flip-flops, hair tied back. No make-up reveals glowing clear skin – her voice is cheery, clear and confident with her perfect English uttered in the cutest Dutch accent. I imagined she would be a typical professional, highly polished and clinical with a clipboard. How wrong was I going to be??
From the minute of arrival to the tearful embraces at departure, this retreat was a soul-bath, a tonic, a restoration, and FUN!! Everything was organised in such a way that you didn’t feel obliged to take part in anything. You felt very much at home and Izzy was always there to reassure, make sure you were happy, and hand you a glass of her sparkling AF rose wine! You felt like a guest in her own home – nothing was too much trouble and everything was done with a smile, a chirpy laugh – and with love.
After 2 nights (3 days) on this glorious retreat, mixing with a diverse group of other sober ladies, I felt freed from the shame that I unknowingly carried. I felt equal and valued. I had arrived not sure that I wanted to commit to total forever sobriety, but left feeling that it was possible and that my life would be healthier, happier and longer and that alcohol was powerless over me and never the friend that I had imagined it to be.
There was no preaching, no pushing, just honest naturally flowing conversations, which revealed us all to be on the same road, but at different stages of our journey, with loads of laughs and a few tears.
The whole weekend was amazing value for money – luxurious, spacious accommodation, inclusive of all meals, drinks and snacks. There was an AF cocktail workshop, numerous yoga sessions with a top Marbella yoga coach, a lovely countryside walk cumulating with a dip in the river, all transport and transfers. There was even a very generous welcome bag and on departure a mini picnic for the journey home – all effortlessly produced by My Bubbly Pop Izzy – who in my book is a super sober rock star!!”
Liz, United Kingdom
As you can imagine, the first time I read it, this testimonial brought tears to my eyes… I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to become (a small) part of people’s sober journeys and I enjoy every second of it! ❤️
Contact me NOW if you want to hear more about these Sober Retreats and perhaps even join me next time!
Izzy x
