Yes, you absolutely can! I was sober on my own honeymoon in French Polynesia, and honestly, it was so much easier than I expected it to be. One of my favorite memories from the whole trip is sitting on the deck at the bar at the St. Regis Bora Bora, watching the sun go down with a pineapple mocktail in my hand. Whether you're in recovery, sober by choice, or just not much of a drinker, I want you to know you can have an incredible honeymoon here without alcohol anywhere near you. It just takes a little planning up front, and that's my favorite part!
The mocktails were the best surprise of the trip
I went in expecting the usual sugary juice-in-a-glass situation, and I was wrong. The mocktails at the St. Regis Bora Bora were incredible. My favorite was a pineapple drink made with fresh pineapple juice, a little orange juice, and a few other ingredients that made it absolutely delicious. I wish I could tell you the name (I've tried to remember it so many times!), but what I remember most is that it wasn't overly sweet. That matters to me, because I've found a lot of mocktails are SUPER sweet, and after one you're kind of done. This one I could have ordered all night!
The presentation was so fancy, too. It came in a gorgeous, classy glass, and it looked every bit as special as the cocktails around me without being cheesy about it. If you're nervous about sticking out because you aren't drinking, please don't be. You'll blend right in!
What was waiting for us in our overwater bungalow
Before we left, I let each of our resorts know that I'm sober. When we walked into our overwater bungalow at the St. Regis, they'd stocked the room with non-alcoholic options for me, which was such a relief. And then I saw the table. They had printed a photo from our wedding, framed it, and set it out as a surprise with a handwritten note congratulating us and welcoming us to Bora Bora. And it was a hilarious picture of us! We'd completely forgotten we even took it, and we both cracked up the second we saw it.
So how did they get it? Our contact at the St. Regis is actually a friend of ours, and they stalked my Facebook, found the wedding photo they liked best, and used that one. Out of all our pictures, they picked the silly one, and honestly, it was perfect. I love them for it!
Why that happened (and why it can happen for you)
That moment happened because of a relationship, and that's a big piece of what I do for my clients. Because of the relationships my mom and I have built with the people at these properties, we can ask them to do special little things for the couples we send. Non-alcoholic options in the room, a welcome amenity that fits who you are, a personal touch that makes you feel like they were expecting you specifically. Being a Virtuoso agency helps a lot, too, but those little moments come down to knowing who to call and having them actually want to help.
Moorea was just as easy
We also stayed at the Sofitel Moorea, and being sober there was every bit as easy as it was in Bora Bora! I'd let them know ahead of time, too, so I never had to explain myself or work around anything when we arrived. The St. Regis was the standout for me, but I didn't feel like I was making any compromises on Moorea either.
I never once felt like I was missing out
This was a big one for me. When a lot of people picture a honeymoon, they picture a big all-inclusive with a swim-up bar, a party atmosphere, and alcohol everywhere you turn. If that picture makes you anxious, I get it! During our whole time in French Polynesia, I didn't come across a single guest who was noticeably intoxicated. That helped me so much. I didn't feel any FOMO, and I was never uncomfortable. It was just the two of us enjoying where we were, which is exactly what a honeymoon should feel like.
If you're in recovery, this is for you too
I want to say this clearly, because I think a lot of sober travel content skips right past it. If you're in recovery, your sobriety is something you've worked incredibly hard for, and your honeymoon should protect that. You deserve a trip that's planned around it from the very first conversation, with nothing in your room or your welcome amenity that you have to push aside.
I've planned trips for clients who've asked for no alcohol in their rooms, and some of my couples simply don't enjoy drinking. You never have to tell me why you don't drink. Whether you're in recovery or it's just a preference, I take it seriously and plan it the same careful way, and you can share as much or as little as you're comfortable with.
Tell your advisor you don't drink (seriously!)
This is my biggest piece of advice, and it's the reason I'm writing this post. Be honest with your advisor about your drinking. A lot of properties stock the rooms and mini fridges with alcohol, and the welcome amenity for honeymooners is very often a complimentary bottle of champagne. That's a lovely gesture for most couples, but it's not what you want waiting for you if you're sober, especially if it could be a trigger. When your advisor knows ahead of time, they can ask the resort to clear out the mini fridge and choose an amenity that actually fits you.
My other tip is to ask about non-alcoholic versions of the drinks you already love! Non-alcoholic beer, non-alcoholic prosecco, sparkling cider, and of course mocktails. Not every property offers all of these, but it's always worth asking, and a good advisor will ask for you. You don't need to give anyone your life story, either. Something as simple as "we don't want alcohol in our room" is all I need to get started!
If you're dreaming of a sober honeymoon in French Polynesia and wondering whether it'll feel awkward, that's where I come in. Book a complimentary consultation with me! We'll get to know each other, I'll walk you through how Susan's Travel Services works (including what being a Virtuoso agency means for you), and we'll talk about next steps.