Guide · Four options, compared
Sober retreat vs wellness resort vs a month with a small group: which one fits you?
Four very different ways to step away for a while. Here is what each one really costs, how long it lasts, who you share it with, what you eat, how private it is, and who it suits. Including who should not choose ours.
Photo is illustrative, not from a past month. Credits.
You want to step away for a while. Maybe from alcohol, maybe from late nights and a full inbox, maybe from all of it. You search, and four very different things come back: a week-long sober or wellness retreat, a luxury wellness resort, the idea of simply taking a sabbatical on your own, and small-group months like The Quiet Month.
They all promise "time for you". They are not the same thing at all. Booking the wrong one is how people end up lonely in a beautiful flat, bored at a spa on day four, or home from a lovely week with their old habits waiting by the door. This guide compares the four honestly, ours included, so you can pick the one that fits the person you actually are.
Please read this first. If you drink heavily or every day, or use other drugs daily, stopping suddenly can be dangerous. Talk to a doctor before you stop. The Quiet Month is not medical, not therapy and not rehab. In a crisis, call your local emergency number or find a free helpline at findahelpline.com. More in our questions.
The short answer
- Only have a week, and want a reset with others? A week-long sober or wellness retreat.
- Want comfort, a spa and staff, or medical checks? A luxury wellness resort or clinic.
- Want total freedom and enjoy your own company for weeks? A sabbatical alone.
- Want a whole month, a simple daily routine and a few good people around you? A small-group month like The Quiet Month.
- Need medical or professional help with alcohol, drugs or your health? None of these. Start with a doctor. More on that below.
The four options side by side
| Week-long sober or wellness retreat | Luxury wellness resort | Sabbatical alone | The Quiet Month | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Typical price | About US$1,800 to US$4,000 per person, often before flights | About US$740 to US$860 a night and up; a week from about US$6,000, the largest suites over US$20,000 | No programme fee: your own rent, food and travel, plus any lost income | US$10,000 programme fee for the month (about US$333 a day); you pay your own flat |
| Length | A weekend to about two weeks | Usually 3 to 14 nights | As long as you like | One month minimum; two or three months possible |
| Group size | Often 8 to 15 guests, sometimes more | Many guests, but you mostly keep to yourself | Just you | Up to 4 guests, never more |
| Structure | A full timetable, every day different | A menu of classes and spa sessions you choose from | None, unless you build it | The same calm daily rhythm, plus one free day a week |
| Food | Set group meals, varies by retreat | Restaurant menus, often with a healthy menu | Whatever you cook or find | Shared low-carb, keto-style meals; I set each guest's eating window |
| Privacy | Shared rooms are common | High: your own room and plenty of staff | Total | Your own private flat, in your own name, about ten minutes' walk away |
| Alcohol | Alcohol-free by rule on sober retreats; varies on others | Often available, or just "not included" | Up to you | No alcohol, no smoking, no drugs for the month |
| Medical staff | Usually none | At clinic-style resorts, yes | None | None. Not medical, not therapy, not rehab |
Price notes: week-long trips from published 2024 to 2025 sober group trips (for example £2,155 to £3,200 for 5 to 12 days) and retreat listings; resort prices from published 3 and 7-night packages at two well-known resorts. Ranges are typical, not complete, and they change often. Full links at the end.
1. A week-long sober or wellness retreat
What it is: a group trip of a few days to two weeks with a set programme. Yoga, walks, workshops, group meals, sometimes a sightseeing tour. Sober retreats add one clear rule: no alcohol. Most of what is on offer has this shape. In August 2024, for example, the group-travel company Flash Pack launched alcohol-free trips of 5 to 12 days priced from £2,155 to £3,200. A 2025 roundup of smaller sober travel groups listed trips from about US$1,800 to US$2,200, flights extra.
The good parts: it is affordable next to a resort, easy to fit into a year's holiday, and a ready-made group means you are never short of someone to talk to. Every day is planned, so you do not have to think.
The honest catch: a week is short. A 2009 review of holiday research found that the good effects of a break are real but small, and tend to fade within weeks of getting home. In my own experience, the first week of any new routine is mostly noise: new bed, new faces, missing old habits. By the time it starts to feel normal, you are packing. Groups of a dozen or more can also feel busy, and shared rooms are common.
Suits you if: you only have a week, you like a full timetable, you enjoy meeting lots of new people, or you want to try an alcohol-free break before committing to anything longer.
2. A luxury wellness resort
What it is: a high-end hotel built around rest and the body: spa, pools, classes, a healthy menu, and at the clinic end, doctors and tests on site. Published prices are steep. A three-night stay at Chiva-Som in Thailand is listed from US$2,215 (sharing, off-peak), about US$740 a night before a possible service charge and tax. The shortest seven-night package at SHA Wellness Clinic in Spain is listed from US$6,007 sharing, with the largest residence at US$20,430.
The good parts: comfort, privacy and very good service. Someone else does everything. If you need medical checks, a resort with real medical staff is a sensible place to look, and a much better choice than any retreat without them, ours included.
The honest catch: it is expensive per night, so most people stay a few days to two weeks. Many resorts still serve alcohol, or list it simply as "not included", so a resort is not automatically a sober break. And with a large guest list and a menu of options, you can spend a week there and hardly talk to anyone. Lovely if that is what you want. Less so if the point was company and a new routine.
Suits you if: you want pampering, privacy and staff, you have a short window, or you need some form of medical supervision.
3. A sabbatical alone
What it is: you take a month or more off, rent somewhere quiet (or stay at home), and plan your own days. No programme, no group, no fee except your living costs. Research on sabbaticals is encouraging: a 2010 study of 129 university staff on sabbatical, compared with 129 matched colleagues who stayed at work, found that those on leave reported less strain and more well-being during the break.
The good parts: total freedom and the lowest cost of the four, if you already have a place to stay. You can go at any pace, go anywhere, and change your mind every morning.
The honest catch: nobody holds the routine but you. It is very easy for "a month to reset" to become a month of late nights, takeaways and screens, only in a different flat. Evenings alone can be long, especially if you are also stopping alcohol, which for many people is a social habit as much as anything. If your plan is to change how you eat, move and drink, doing it entirely alone is the hard way.
Suits you if: you are very self-disciplined, you love your own company, or you need the time for a project like writing a book. My guide to taking a wellness sabbatical covers asking for the time, the money and coming back well.
4. A month with a small group: The Quiet Month
What it is: a calm, healthy-living month for up to four guests, lived alongside me in one place. Here is the shape of it:
- US$10,000 for one month. That is the programme fee. Two months are US$19,000 and three months US$27,000.
- Your own private flat, which you book and pay for yourself, in your own name. I choose a one-bedroom flat about ten minutes' walk from me and send you the listing first.
- Daily exercise together: walking, swimming, strength and stretching, at your pace.
- Shared low-carb, keto-style meals: eggs, fish, meat, vegetables, olive oil, nuts and a little fruit. Allergies and medical diets are agreed before you arrive.
- A short daily meditation, 10 to 20 minutes, always optional.
- An eating window that I set for you after our video call, with your doctor's fit-to-join letter in mind, and adjust as the month goes. I am self-taught in nutrition, not a doctor.
- One rule: no smoking, no alcohol, no drugs for the whole month. Prescribed medicine is always allowed.
- One free day a week, and long talks over coffee in the evenings, if you want them.
The good parts: a month gives a routine time to stop feeling new. Thirty mornings are simply more practice than seven. Four guests is small enough to feel like a household, not a tour, and your own flat means you always have a door to close. Compared with a resort, a month with us costs about the same as one week in the most expensive suites, but it is not a resort, and I will not pretend it is.
The honest catch: no spa, no room service, no medical team, and no published location (I share the country and city after our video call, before you sign). You pay for your own flat on top of the fee, so it is not cheap. And a month is a real commitment of time.
Suits you if: you can stop alcohol safely, you want a long, calm break from late nights and old habits, you like small groups and early mornings, and you want your own space as well as company. You also need to be 21 or over, with travel insurance and a doctor's letter.
Who The Quiet Month is NOT for
This is the most important section on the page. I would much rather you read it now than find out on day three.
- Anyone who needs medical care, or help with alcohol or drugs. If you drink heavily or every day, or have ever had shakes, sweats, seizures or seen things when you stopped, stopping suddenly can be dangerous. The US National Library of Medicine says alcohol withdrawal can range from mild to life-threatening. You need a doctor first, not a retreat.
- Anyone who has tried to stop and could not. That is exactly what professional addiction care is for, and asking for it is a normal, sensible step.
- Anyone in crisis, or who feels unsafe. Please contact your local emergency number or a helpline today.
- Anyone whose doctor says no to a low-carb diet, an eating window or daily exercise, or who has a history of eating problems. Every guest brings a doctor's fit-to-join letter.
- Anyone under 21.
- Anyone who wants pampering or a party. There is no spa and no bar. A resort or a good holiday will make you happier, and that is fine.
- Anyone who wants complete solitude. We eat and exercise together most days. A sabbatical alone suits you better.
- Anyone looking for a promised result. I can promise breakfast and a walk. I cannot promise who you will be on day 30.
Plainly: The Quiet Month is not rehab, not medical and not therapy. It is not a medical or addiction treatment programme, and it never replaces your doctor or any care you already have. There are no doctors or nurses on site. I am not a doctor, a counsellor or a coach.
Where to find professional help
- Anywhere: your own doctor is the best first step. For a free, confidential helpline in your country, see findahelpline.com.
- In the US: the SAMHSA National Helpline, 1-800-662-4357, is free, confidential and open 24 hours a day. FindTreatment.gov and the NIAAA navigator help you find professional care.
- In the UK: your GP or a local alcohol service. The NHS alcohol support page lists where to start.
If a doctor later says a calm month away sounds fine, you are very welcome to apply then. You have lost nothing by asking first.
Which one fits you? Six quick questions
- Can you stop alcohol and other drugs safely, on your own? If no, or not sure: a doctor first. If yes: read on.
- How much time do you really have? A week or less: a retreat or a resort. A month or more: a sabbatical or a small-group month.
- Do you want company? Lots of new people: a group retreat. Nobody: a sabbatical alone or a resort. A few people, the same faces every day: a small-group month.
- Do you want comfort or routine? Spa, room service and a menu of choices: a resort. The same simple, healthy day repeated: a small-group month.
- How good are you at keeping your own rules? Very good: a sabbatical alone may be all you need. Honestly, it depends on the day: pick something with other people and a rhythm.
- What is your budget, including the parts not in the price? Add flights, rooms, service charges, insurance and time off work for every option before you compare.
Five questions to ask any of them before you pay
- What exactly is included, and what is extra? Rooms, meals, transfers, service charges, tax.
- How many guests, really, at the busiest time of year?
- Is the alcohol rule written down, or is it just "not included"?
- Who is in charge, by real name? I use a professional name, Sami Adham, and say so openly. You get my full legal name in writing before you sign or pay.
- What are the refund terms, in writing? Ours include a 7-day fit promise, set out in the terms.
For the full price story, see what a one month wellness retreat costs. If you are weighing a sober retreat against sober living or professional care, read sober month retreat, sober living or a rehab centre. And if a group appeals but you are not sure about living close to others, how a small sober group works explains the rules that make it easy.
Dates, applying and paying
- Start dates: the first month starts on 1 January 2027, then on the 1st of every month. You can apply at any time.
- Steps: apply (about five minutes), then a free video call. If we both want to go ahead, I tell you the country and city, and you get a written agreement.
- Paying: a US$1,000 deposit by bank transfer or Western Union, part of the fee, then the balance in two halves on day 1 and day 15. No card form, nothing paid before the call and the agreement.
See the January 2027 month, how a day works, the price and what's included and the safety steps. Not ready for any of the four? Try my free 7-day plan for a quiet week at home first. It is the cheapest test there is.
Questions people ask
What is the difference between a sober retreat and a wellness resort?
A sober retreat is usually a group trip of a few days to two weeks with a set programme and a clear no-alcohol rule. A wellness resort is a high-end hotel with a spa, classes and healthy food, where you choose what you do, and where alcohol is often still available. Resorts cost far more per night.
Is a month better than a week?
Not always. A week is easier to fit in and costs less. A month gives a new routine time to stop feeling new, and research suggests the good effects of a short holiday tend to fade within weeks of getting home. If you want to change daily habits, more time usually helps. If you want a rest, a week may be enough.
How much does The Quiet Month cost?
US$10,000 for one month, for the programme: shared meals, daily exercise, short meditation, activities and local transport. Your own flat, flights, visas and travel insurance are extra. Two months are US$19,000 and three months US$27,000.
Is The Quiet Month rehab or a medical programme?
No. It is not rehab, not medical and not therapy. It is a healthy-living month for adults who can already stop alcohol, smoking and drugs safely. If you need medical or addiction care, please talk to a doctor first, or find a helpline at findahelpline.com.
When can I start, and how do I pay?
The first month starts on 1 January 2027, then on the 1st of every month, and you can apply at any time. After a free video call and a signed agreement, you pay a US$1,000 deposit by bank transfer or Western Union, then the balance in two halves on day 1 and day 15.
Sources
- Compare Retreats: Chiva-Som 3 to 14 night stay (3-night prices, service charge note)
- Compare Retreats: SHA Wellness Clinic 7 to 14 night programme (7-night package prices, largest residence)
- Globetrender (August 2024): Flash Pack launches alcohol-free adventures (5 to 12 days, £2,155 to £3,200)
- The Sober Curator (September 2025): The top 5 sober travel groups in 2025 (trips from about US$1,800 and US$2,200)
- BookRetreats: sober retreats (listed lengths and prices)
- de Bloom et al. (2009), Journal of Occupational Health: meta-analysis of vacation effects on health and well-being (small effect that fades after return to work)
- Davidson OB, Eden D, Westman M et al. (2010), Journal of Applied Psychology: Sabbatical leave: who gains and how much? (129 on sabbatical vs 129 matched controls)
- MedlinePlus (US National Library of Medicine): Alcohol withdrawal (mild to life-threatening)
- SAMHSA National Helpline (US) (1-800-662-4357, free, confidential, 24/7)
- NIAAA navigator: find professional alcohol care (US)
- FindTreatment.gov (US)
- NHS: Alcohol support (UK)
- Find A Helpline: free helplines in many countries
- The Quiet Month: price and what's included (programme fee, what is not included)
Prices and facts were checked on 23 October 2026. Prices change; always check the source before you book anything.