Holidays are a time to relax, explore new destinations and spend time with loved ones. For many, this means unwinding with an alcoholic beverage. However, for a growing number of travellers, alcohol-free holidays are becoming increasingly popular. In fact, a survey of 20,000 people found that 40% of them were likely to take a detox trip in 2024.
Another study found that young people, in particular, are drinking less than previous generations. With more people choosing to cut down on their alcohol consumption while on vacation, or even go completely without it, what are the best destinations for travelers who want to avoid alcohol?
To determine which city offers the best opportunity for a sober vacation, InsureMyTrip looked at eight different ranking factors. These include the price of a local beer, average annual alcohol consumption per person, the number of national parks and world heritage sites, and the average cost of a wellness retreat.
The latest available data for each city is standardized within each category. The data is standardized using min-max normalization and the values were multiplied by 10 to create a score from 0 to 10.
The study reveals that Asian destinations are the best for a sober holiday, with six countries from the continent making the top 10. A report has revealed that there is a growing number of “sober-curious” people in Asia Pacific, with more and more people opting for non-alcoholic drinks.
Nepal takes the top spot with an overall score of 7.02. Home to Mount Everest, Nepal is not only a great destination for adventurers looking to summit the world’s highest peak. For those looking to unwind and relax, Nepal has highly rated national parks (4.62/5) and spas (4.45/5). Wellness centers are also among the most affordable in the study, costing an average of $584.
The number of tourists in Nepal has been steadily increasing post-pandemic, with the country welcoming over a million tourists in 2023. However, Nepal remains a hidden gem, with neighboring countries receiving millions more tourists each year. For those looking to avoid the hustle and bustle of more popular tourist destinations, Nepal offers a perfect retreat.
Nepal also scores well for low alcohol consumption. With an average alcohol consumption of just 1.36 litres per person per year, alcohol consumption is not as widespread as in other countries surveyed. For an alternative drinking experience, tea tours are an ideal option. Nepal’s farmers grow a range of high-quality teas, and tea tourism is growing in popularity. These experiences offer tourists a unique opportunity to stay on farms and make tea themselves.
Morocco, in North Africa, follows closely behind Nepal, with an overall score of 7. Morocco ranks well because of the average cost of its wellness retreats ($808), which is less than half the average cost of a wellness retreat in the study ($1,790).
Morocco is known for its rich culture and history. It is full of markets, beaches, museums and monuments to explore. For those who want to spend their time pampering themselves, the country’s spas are highly rated (4.43/5).
Alcohol consumption in the country is also very low, with tourists restricted to specific areas, making it an ideal place for those opting for an alcohol-free trip. The average alcohol consumption per person per year in Morocco is just 0.49 liters.
In third place is Costa Rica, a Central American country, with an overall score of 6.73. It received the highest score in the study for its national parks (4.74/5). This destination is known for its lush forests, volcanoes and waterfalls, perfect for reconnecting with nature. Costa Rica's spas also received high ratings (4.63/5).
The average alcohol consumption per person per year is 3.45 litres. Although this figure is slightly higher than the average alcohol consumption in Nepal and Morocco, it is still well below the study average (7.09 litres).
Retirement in Costa Rica costs an average of $1,807, which is slightly higher than the study average of $1,790. This cost contributes to Costa Rica's slightly lower ranking.
In fourth and fifth place are Turkey and Greece with overall scores of 6.57 and 6.41 respectively. Turkey is highly rated for its low alcohol consumption (1.82 liters per person per year on average). Turkey also has the second highest number of eco-certified spas in the top 10 (185). The average cost of a wellness treatment is $2,898, which is by far the most expensive in the top 5. This expense contributes to Turkey’s slightly lower score.
Greece has the highest rated spas in the top 5 (4.71/5) and the highest number of eco-certified spas (300), making it an ideal destination for a relaxing break. However, the high average alcohol consumption per person per year (7.12 litres) contributed to its lower ranking in the study.
In the overall categories of best things to do and best places to relax, Greece came out on top while Jordan, in seventh place, received the highest overall rating for its low alcohol consumption.
Sara Boisvert, Director of Marketing at InsureMyTrip, commented on the findings: “With the growing popularity of wellness vacations, it’s only natural that these travelers are looking to reduce or eliminate their alcohol consumption while traveling. Our goal with this study was to make it easy for sober travelers to find their dream vacation destination.”
