The last time my husband and I visited an adults-only, all-inclusive resort was over a decade ago. My memories of that trip are hazy, filled with drinks at the swim-up bar, wine-fueled dinners, and feeling a bit hungover each morning. Since then, I’ve chosen an alcohol-free lifestyle, but my husband still drinks.
Recently, we traveled to Sandals’ newest resort in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and I was a little nervous about flexing my sobriety muscles in an environment where the booze would be flowing and my husband would be drinking it.
As it turns out, the trip was one of my favorites ever. St.Vincent and the Grenadines is a beautiful country, Sandals’ newest resort is stunning, and being sober to fully experience it all was a true joy. The trip only solidified my decision to live alcohol-free and made me proud of how far I’ve come since beginning my sobriety journey nearly seven months ago.
Here’s what it was like to stay at an all-inclusive resort as a sober person, and how I navigated my husband’s decision to drink alcohol while I abstained.
There were as many alcohol-free options at the resort as alcoholic
I wasn’t sure what to expect visiting an all-inclusive resort for the first time since I stopped drinking, but Sandals was incredibly accommodating. Many of the bars had zero-proof cocktails and mocktails on the menu, I drank tons of fresh juices and coconut water, and after requesting my in-room refrigerator be stocked with club soda and grapefruit juice, I had festive things to sip on while in my room.
To my surprise, there were just as many options for alcohol-free drinks as there were alcoholic ones, including two separate coffee shops that made amazing lattes.
I kept busy with activities rather than drinking
On our five-night trip, we spent two full days at the resort. While resort days would have previously involved me floating on a raft or sitting at the swim-up bar drinking cocktails, I focused on the activity schedule instead.
From kayaking to artisanal soap-making, there were plenty of things to do that didn’t involve alcohol. I even spent a morning making friendship bracelets and sipping an iced latte with other guests while my husband had a few beers by the pool.
Evenings were a bit more challenging, as my husband would go from wine at dinner to cocktails at the bar, and I struggled to know what to do when drinking felt like the focus. Luckily, there were also evening events, like Caribbean dance shows and poolside movies. Sticking to some of my favorite bar orders, like club soda with a splash or juice or ginger beer, made it easy to stay alcohol-free, as did having nighttime activities to pay attention to.
On excursion days, I was well-rested and energized
Waking up without a hangover is a part of sober travel that will never get old. On the two days we left Sandals to do excursions on the island, I woke up bright and early to get breakfast and meet up with our tour guide.
Not feeling exhausted and nauseous on long bus rides, beach walks, and waterfall hikes made my choice not to drink feel worth it, and I didn’t envy the people who couldn’t wait for their first drink of the day to chase away last night’s drinking headache.
At dinner each night, I focused on the resort’s cuisine, not a glass of wine
The food at Sandals was truly amazing, from its staple Japanese izakaya-style restaurant to a St. Vincent and the Grenadines-exclusive restaurant, Buccan, which served Vincentian food in a family-style setting. A pro tip for non-drinkers traveling to an all-inclusive resort? Make sure the resort is known for its food — not just its bar menus. Each evening, I’d focus on the delicious food in front of me rather than waiting for my wine glass to be refilled, and it was way more rewarding.
We had a few tough discussions about alcohol during the trip
It’s tough traveling together when one person drinks and the other doesn’t. There were times during our trip when I felt like everyone but me was feeling tipsy, and I was the solo non-drinker, which felt like a true bummer.
My husband and I had a few big discussions about alcohol during the trip, from digging deeper into the reasons I stopped drinking in the first place to discussing how his drinking impacts my own feelings. It’s always tough to have hard-hitting conversations with the person you love most, but the trip provided a great opportunity to open up some discussions we’d not had previously.
It was fun to enjoy the resort’s amenities fully, without the impairment of alcohol
Sandals St. Vincent and the Grenadines, which just opened in March 2024, is truly among the most beautiful resorts I’ve visited. Our room had a swim-up pool, and it was lovely to use the semi-private swimming area daily and enjoy such a beautiful view.
Whether using the cruiser bikes provided by the resort to get from one part of the grounds to the other or eating lunch on a porch taking in views of the rainforest and beach, I felt overwhelming gratitude for my sobriety and all it allows me to enjoy.
We grew closer as a couple on the trip, tough conversations and all
Tough conversations aside, my husband and I grew closer as a couple on our all-inclusive trip. Being in such a beautiful, adult-only atmosphere and bonding together without our two kids around was truly special, and I’d do it again, regardless of whether either of us consumed alcohol during the trip.
My biggest advice for couples embarking on a similar journey is to give each other space to follow your own convictions and be respectful of how your actions impact one another. At the end of the trip, we walked away better as a couple, both from having gone through an all-inclusive resort experience at this stage in our lives and from taking in the beauty of St. Vincent.
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