A relatively new decision has become part of the travel calculus: to drink or not to drink.
According to a recent Gallup poll, 54 percent of Americans say they consume alcohol, down from 64 percent 10 years ago. That is the lowest level since Gallup began tracking alcohol consumption in 1939.
The decision to abstain is an even more pronounced one at the start of the year, thanks to Dry January, a movement in which participants give up drinking for the month. The popular sobriety challenge started over a decade ago in Britain and has picked up steam in the United States in recent years.
The decrease in drinking is affecting the hospitality industry. “We definitely see an uptick in mocktail sales and just general inquiries about what the offerings are,” said Adam Lewis, the general manager of Grand Hyatt Vail in Colorado. “It’s really about providing a variety.”
Given that drinking — on the slopes, at the pool, or at the hotel bar — is for many people a staple while on holiday, forgoing the ritual leaves time for other activities.
Here are six hotels that have devised alternatives to drinking, from snowshoeing to aerial stretching; from making mocktails to simply sipping them.
New Paltz, N.Y.
Mohonk Mountain House
Ever since the Smiley family founded it in 1869, Mohonk Mountain House — once a 10-room inn, now a Victorian-era castle with 262 rooms and a National Historic Landmark designation — has focused on well-being through recreation and relaxation.
The property’s director of mindfulness, Nina Smiley, a fifth-generation founding family member who has a doctorate in psychology, recently came up with an idea for a mixology class that would follow the principles of mindfulness. The class is set to debut during a special Mindfulness in Minutes weekend, Jan. 9 to 11 (complimentary for hotel guests). Dr. Smiley will begin the session with a quiet moment of intention before turning it over to Natasha Stanton, the hotel’s assistant beverage manager and mixologist, to guide guests in using their senses to create up to four recipes with aromatic herbs, fresh fruits, housemade syrups and zero-proof spirits. The hotel is also rolling out a mocktail of the month program to spotlight its new spirit-free creations.
After imbibing, guests might head to the outdoor ice pavilion to partake in an open skating session, enjoy the indoor heated swimming pool, watch a movie or listen to live music.
Rates from $1,200 for two per night, including three meals, most activities, entertainment, wellness and fitness classes and gratuities.
Zermatt, Switzerland
Cervo Mountain Resort
In the shadow of the Matterhorn in Zermatt, Switzerland, Cervo Mountain Resort offers a design-forward Alpine retreat for adventure and wellness aficionados. The 54 rooms and suites spread across seven lodges are light-filled, with neutral-colored linens, Hästens beds and natural oak wood floors. There are an additional five apartments at a lodge farther down the mountain for larger groups.
A sustainable ethos guides the vision for the property, including its three restaurants. The extensive mocktail menu, which features zero-proof counterparts of its signature cocktails, leverages local ingredients and scraps from the kitchen. A mocktail called Too Hot to Handle, for example, is a umami-forward mix of Rebels Botanical Dry, a nonalcoholic gin; lemon; bell peppers; tomato and smoky housemade bitters.
Similarly, wide-ranging wellness activities are offered as alternatives to the lively après-ski scene that takes place at the center of the resort. From about 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., complimentary spa sessions include sauna infusions, in which a therapist adds scents such as pine wood and local honey to the air circulating within the outdoor Finnish sauna; steam peelings, in which guests are covered in a mix of exfoliating salts before enjoying a steam bath; and guided “Ice and Breath” sessions that combine ice bathing with structured breathing.
Rates start at 1,250 Swiss francs, or about $1,584, for a double, and include breakfast, use of the spa facilities, daily activities, arrival and departure transfers and a welcome drink.
Monteverde, Costa Rica
Hotel Belmar
Forty years ago, the Belmar family opened a hotel in the Costa Rican cloud forest, inspired by the Alpine chalets of Austria. The resulting property, which has 26 rooms and suites and is still run by the family, features high ceilings, expansive windows offering verdant views, and floors, ceilings and furniture made from a mix of tropical cedar and teak, a prized tropical hardwood.
Amid the lush natural landscape, there are many activities offered, both quiet and adventurous, among them bird-watching, tree climbing, zip lining and night walks with a naturalist. Culinary experiences showcase the carbon-neutral hotel’s dedication to craft and sustainability, including organic coffee tasting, a “garden-to-glass” cocktail class and, as of three years ago, a mocktail version of the popular cocktail class.
During the hourlong complimentary weekly class, a mixologist leads guests through crafting two to three creations, using infusions, syrups, teas and muddled herbs or flowers that come from the property’s own gardens and farm. “People can learn about Costa Rican botanicals and flowers that they’ve maybe never seen before,” said Pedro Belmar, a family member and president of the hotel.
In addition to the mocktail class, Hotel Belmar offers several nonalcoholic drinks, including kombucha made in the hotel’s fermentation lab, and zero-proof beer from an on-site brewery.
Rates start at $480 for a double and include breakfast, daily yoga, some classes and an in-room minibar.
British Virgin Islands
Rosewood Little Dix Bay
The allure of warm waters and tranquil days makes the Caribbean a popular winter destination. In recent years, opportunities for wellness and social connection have been additional perks at Rosewood Little Dix Bay. “Travelers are increasingly seeking experiences that support a healthy lifestyle,” said the resort’s managing director, Katya Herting.
The 500-acre beachfront property features 85 spacious guest rooms, suites and villas with pitched ceilings, Italian linens and seating areas scattered among gardens and palm trees. Snorkeling, sailing and other water sports are big draws, as is Rosewood’s racket sports program.
Building on the success of its sunset pickleball clinics, the resort is offering a special version on Friday evenings in January, followed by an alcohol-free gathering with hors d’oeuvres and fresh juices ($50 per guest). “Our goal is to give guests a memorable way to socialize off the court in a way that supports their well-being,” Ms. Herting said.
A more robust mocktail menu, featuring concoctions like the Carioca, made with mango, lime juice, agave and ginger ale, is available at the resort’s restaurants and bars.
Rates start at $1,095 for a double and include daily breakfast.
Vail, Colo.
Grand Hyatt Vail
While the ritual of après-ski is still going strong at Grand Hyatt Vail, it’s not the only thing to do after an afternoon on the slopes.
“Historically, après was a post-ski indulgence,” said Mr. Lewis, the hotel’s general manager.
Three years ago, the property introduced après-spa, a range of treatments in the 3-to-6 p.m. après slot when the treatments would be most beneficial. Examples include the Après Adventure Sports Massage (50 minutes, $215) to enhance muscle recovery, as well as the Alpine Rescue Facial, which focuses on skin hydration at the high altitude (50 minutes, $245).
A more social option is the après-snowshoe ($20 per guest), an hourlong round-trip hike up the mountain, departing at 4:30 p.m. and returning in the dark (headlamps are provided) to a warming yurt with cocoa and s’mores.
Many of the slope-side hotel’s 285 rooms in Vail’s Cascade Village have mountain views, and there are an additional 75 rental condos. Zero-proof alternatives to the resort’s most popular cocktails, including an espresso martini and Aperol spritz, are available both in guest rooms and across the property.
Rates for a double start at $409.
Carefree, Ariz.
Civana
Civana, a wellness resort that sits on 20 acres of Arizona’s Sonoran desert, has 144 rooms and suites with calming neutrals, earthy art and ceramics, and private patios and balconies. Beyond its elegant environment is an emphasis on balance and well-being. Recently, that has also come to encompass which drinks are served.
In January, Civana is introducing a mocktail version of its “Mindful Mixology” class. In the hourlong workshop ($59 per guest), a mixologist guides guests on practical techniques they can replicate at home with ingredients like fresh juices, herbs and nonalcoholic spirits.
Handcrafted zero-proof cocktails, along with alcohol-free wines and beers, are also offered at a regular “Happiness Hour.” Chrissy Skaggs, the resort’s director of food and beverage, noted that interest in the drinks has continued to rise. “Guests appreciate having elevated options that support mindful drinking,” she said, noting the practice of “zebra striping,” or alternating between alcoholic and zero-proof drinks.
A rotation of 100 or more classes is available each week, many in the late afternoon and evening. Instead of gathering at the bar, guests might try numerology; aerial stretch, a class for stretching from suspended silk ropes ($40); or the heart-pounding “Dance It Out” class.
Rates start at $621 for a double occupancy-room and include signature programming and the use of fitness amenities. Packages inclusive of the above and dining (excluding drinks), one spa treatment per guest per night, spa amenities, fees and taxes start at $1,023 per night.
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