Alcohol-Free Travel in Bali: Hangovers Not Included

Over eighteen months ago, my business partner, Susie Streelman, founder of Zeroproof Experiences (ZPE), told me she had decided to arrange an alcohol-free trip to Bali. I thought, “Oh, that’s nice,” deciding then and there that this would be one event I would most definitely pass on. After all, as the Chief Connections Officer for ZPE, I was fully immersed in the events we had already hosted and planned to host all over the US, but traveling to a country more than halfway around the world had no appeal to me whatsoever. This was a place way outside of my comfort zone.

Little did I know that Susie would not take no for an answer and, sensing my resistance, booked the flight a little over a year ago.

I didn’t think much about the trip until a few months ago when Susie started having meetings with our Bali host, Maree Makenzie, owner of Soul Bliss Journey, and the other women who signed up for the trip. As the date came closer, the thought of being on a plane for an entire day filled me with anxiety. My husband wasn’t thrilled about me going, but there didn’t seem to be a way to back out.

When the day came, and our friend Lisa dropped us off at the San Francisco International Airport, I became increasingly quiet. Although I consider myself well-traveled, the furthest I have traveled was to Europe.

When I walked on that Singapore Airlines Air Bus and saw that 12A looked more like a tiny home than an airplane seat, I wept with gratitude. Equipped with an actual bed, I slept nine and a half hours on the first leg of our flight. I was served lattes in bed. We arrived in Sanur, Bali, around nine in the morning with the most negligible jet lag I have ever experienced.

Rested and hydrated, we stepped out of the airport and into an exotic world I can only describe as brilliant chaos. Bali is different from any place I have ever been. There were stunning landscapes, temples, street vendors, and many people. The interplay between cars, motorbikes, and narrow streets had me holding my breath at times, yet I was in awe of Balinese driving skills. Did I mention they drive on the wrong side of the road?

Maree and Reddy, owners of Soul Bliss Journeys (soulblissjourneys.com), created a customized itinerary for our group of nine alcohol-free women—a pediatrician, a lawyer turned art docent, two nurses, a real estate agent, a trade show business owner, another business owner turned professional traveler, a former physical therapist turned entrepreneur, and a social worker. The itinerary was designed to experience the world-famous Balinese hospitality from the minute we stepped into the lobby of the Sudamala Resort in Sanur.

Maree, who has lived and worked in Bali for years, is warm and friendly and has developed deep connections with the Balinese people, which gave our group and all other groups working with her a unique, intimate, and unforgettable experience of Balinese culture and customs. Maree has been alcohol-free for ten years. Reddy, Maree’s partner, is charming and knowledgeable about the places we visited, adding to our experience. Maree and Reddy planned such diverse and immersive activities that highlighted what Bali has to offer, and we all appreciated the time allocated for leisure that, for some, included many opportunities for massages and shopping. Susie and I had fun dressing up in Balinese costumes for a photo shoot.

ZPE Bali Itinerary:

Sudamala Resort: Sanur

• Day 1: Balinese Welcome Ceremony and Dinner/Traditional Balinese Dance Performance

• Day 2: Dinner at the cliffside restaurant, Mana, followed by a trip to the Uluwatu Temple for the Kecak Dance Performance, also known as Bali Fire Dance

• Day 3: LaBrisa Beach Club

Kuwarasan Resort: Ubud

• Day 4: Lunch and a Sound Healing Session at the Pyramids of Chi in Ubud

• Day 5: Visit Putu’s, a traditional Balinese family home and temple, for a cooking class

• Day 6: Hike down to Goa Raja Waterfall, followed by a raw lunch and massage at the Taksu Garden

• Day 7: Sacred Water Ceremony, Coffee/Tea Tasting, Swings, and Lunch at the Tegalallang Rice Terraces, followed by a final dinner at the Sayan House

• (Alex McRobs, owner of the Mindful Life Practice, led yoga sessions on the resort rooftop)

Interesting Bali Facts:

• In front of every business, home, and temple, you will see little boxes carefully constructed of coconut leaves containing food, flowers, fruit, water, and other offerings called canang sari. These boxes, often seen with burning incense, are a visual representation of the importance of gratitude in the Balinese culture and are renewed daily.

• Balinese people do not use a family last name. Both boys and girls receive a birth order name from a small typical group of names for each birth order position. These names may vary due to caste, regional customs, and variations in the Balinese language between the north and south of the island. Boys have an “I” in front of the name, girls “Ni.”

• One food you HAVE to try is rempeyek a chip of sorts, made from batter, infused with spices, studded with crunchy peanuts, covered with light fragrant threads of kafir lime leaves, then deep fried.

• Indonesia is much bigger than Europe. There are seventeen thousand plus islands, of which only seven thousand are inhabited. With 240 million people, Indonesia is the fourth-largest populated country after India, China, and the US.

• Balinese people love marigolds. They are commonly used for offerings and decorations. Their golden color is associated with Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa, the Supreme God in Balinese culture. The flower also represents the power, strength, and light inside a person.

• Monkeys are indigenous to Bali. They were abundant at the Uluwatu Temple and are known for their thievery. A naughty monkey will grab an object like a cell phone, sunglasses, or a flip-flop and (maybe) return it only when offered a treat of their liking. One of our guests tangled with a thieving monkey who had to be convinced with food to give her sandal back.

• My bill for services at the Sudamala Resort for the Balinese costume photo session, two massages, a mani-pedi, a few dinners, and laundry services was four million, four hundred eighty thousand one hundred sixty-three dollars–$272.73 US.

• Most families live in traditional Balinese generational house compounds, where daily functions are separated not by rooms but by individual structures within an enclosing wall. The asta kosala guidelines, similar to how feng shui is applied in Chinese culture, were used to construct Balinese homes. Each compound has a temple in the center.

• You will see many intricate kites flying on the island, made from colorful paper, meant to thank the gods who watch over Bali and request bountiful harvests.

• You will also see beautiful decorative umbrellas all over the island called tudung, which literally means “to guard,” symbolizing protection. They are also said to symbolize a mountain whose protective shade covers the land and people. Balinese mountains are said to be the home of the gods, the pinnacle of spirituality.

• Bali still deals with issues like garbage disposal and the uncontrolled dog population, breaking my social worker heart. Dogs in Bali, like other dogs around the world, are valued for their ability to protect people and property and are not treated like we treat our pets in the US.

Alcohol-free tourism is a growing trend for people already connected by their alcohol-free journey. Alcohol-free travel allows for increased sleep, the ability to be fully present, fully take in their surroundings, and ready to explore and engage in activities that promote well-being, like yoga, hiking, massage, and other spa activities—according to the British Medical Journal, abstaining from alcohol when traveling reduces injury by 19%.

Reflections from the group:

Susie: When I first connected with Maree, the owner of Soul Bliss Journey, in October 2021, I didn’t know if it would be possible to host an elevated, alcohol-free trip to my beloved Bali. 

So, making this trip with nine strong women brought some emotional experiences!  Like meeting Alex McRoberts, AKA @soberyogagirl, after messaging for almost three years.  And our group walking around a corner and seeing Zeroproof Experiences spelled out in Marigolds!  I’m so grateful to all the strong women who traveled and our fabulous hosts and support in Bali. 

Anne: I knew sober tourism was a growing trend but didn’t grasp the full range of benefits until my first group vacation with non-drinking friends. From day one, you’re connecting with like-minded people who’ve gone through a similar life experience—becoming alcohol-free. You have the energy to do active and adventurous things, get out of your comfort zone, and find new avenues of personal growth. You make the most of every day with a clear head. You have thoughtful and authentic conversations and minimize the possibility of travel drama.

Eiman: My visit to Bali was a turning point in my life. I was sober for six months, and then I relapsed right before the trip. I was worried, anxious, and feeling terrible about my drinking. I tried to stop, but it was hard because I was doing it by myself. Going to Bali and being with eight incredible women has helped me to reset my sobriety. And their love carried me through the mini bar.

The atmosphere is so tranquil. I felt I was more in touch with myself. I had never laughed from the bottom of my heart like I did in Bali by being with the group of women who have a great sense of humor. The Balinese people have a smile that comes from the heart, and their level of service is amazing. The trip taught me a lot about sobriety, the wonderful Balinese culture, religion, food, and how to stay calm during heavy traffic. It’s incredible how the Balinese people have no road rage or accidents. They are so respectful to each other. I will definitely go back to Bali in the future to learn more about it. I returned feeling more relaxed, refreshed, vibrant, and, more importantly, sober.

Amy: Our Zeroproof retreat group at half-past sunrise gathered for a yoga class in an open-air rooftop studio overlooking local rice paddies. Our meditation began with the hum of crickets, rooster crows, and bird songs. Our instructor, Alex, (themindfullifepractice.com) is a bright young Canadian and student of life. Alex asked, “Did you ever imagine that by surrendering alcohol, you would land on a rooftop studio doing yoga in the land of Bali?” The answer to this question reflects this profound truth: The choice to initiate a positive change in our lives, no matter how hard, will produce an outcome that will exceed our wildest expectations! When I set aside my “beloved” Sauvignon Blanc three years ago, I never imagined it would bring me to such a beautiful place—geographically, emotionally, and spiritually. Now, I’m standing in the Warrior position pose, and I can glance back and see where I was and then turn my focus to the future ahead. I know that the ongoing practice of surrender (to alcohol, particularly) will keep me exactly where I want to be—grounded in a space of tranquility, presence, and peace!

Jenny: Stuff like this, you can’t write a check for.

Kendra: If we had been drinking, there would have been times when we all would have done things we may not have wanted to…or our boundaries may have been obliterated by people-pleasing behavior. We all had good boundaries in that we participated in what we wanted to, there was no pressure to “go along” with anything we weren’t up for, and we were independent in many ways.

Patti: Let’s see…I get an email from a company I’ve never heard of, Zeroproof Experiences, to travel halfway around the world, to be with eight women I’ve never met, to a country I know nothing about. Crazy right? Crazy, yes, but this was one of the best experiences of my life, and I am so glad I stepped out of my comfort zone. The Balinese people are the most gracious people I’ve ever met. They are welcoming and charming. The landscape is exotic and diverse. The food is unique but delicious. The hotels are exquisite but unbelievably inexpensive. Overall, a wonderful experience. But I think the best surprise was meeting eight strong ladies with different backgrounds who traveled beautifully together. These ladies will stay in my heart and memories forever.

Janet: When it comes to saying goodbye to each other, I’m not.

Yes, Janet, I agree. The friendships we have forged on this trip will be life-long ones.

Contributor: Peggi Cooney, MSW, Author of This Side of Alcohol, Chief Connections Officer @ Zeroproof Experiences

Resources: The Solo Girl’s Travel Guide Bali -Alexa West Guides

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