Rehab Abroad Guide is operated by Liberty Home, a clinic in Cape Town. We wrote this checklist because we believe every clinic – ours included – should meet it. You can use it for any clinic you're considering.
Search for "rehab abroad" and you'll find dozens of clinics with beautiful photos, pools and ocean views. They all promise the same thing: peace, professional help and a fresh start. But behind the photos are big differences in medical care, in honesty, and in what happens once you're back home.
These 10 checks help you see past the marketing. Just ask the questions on the phone. A good clinic answers without hesitation – and is happy to put the answers in writing.
The checklist at a glance
| # | Check | The question to ask |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Medical detox in the clinic itself | "Where exactly does detox happen, and who supervises it?" |
| 2 | 24/7 medical cover | "Is a nurse on site day and night, and when is a doctor available?" |
| 3 | Registered clinic and clinicians | "What is your registration number, and who are your clinicians?" |
| 4 | No waiting list | "After the assessment, when can I actually start?" |
| 5 | A clear admission process | "What are the steps between this call and my admission?" |
| 6 | Mental-health care alongside addiction | "How do you treat depression, anxiety or trauma as well?" |
| 7 | Real, checkable reviews | "Where can I read your reviews for myself?" |
| 8 | A transparent all-in price | "What is the total cost – and what is not included?" |
| 9 | Honest terms if plans change | "What happens if I leave early or need to stay longer?" |
| 10 | Aftercare in the UK | "What happens in the first months after I get home?" |
The 10 checks explained
1. Is medical detox done in the clinic itself?
Why it matters. The first days without alcohol, benzodiazepines or other substances can be hard and sometimes dangerous – think agitation, insomnia, high blood pressure and, with alcohol, even seizures or delirium. Good detox is medical work.
What to look for. Some clinics send you to a partner hospital or external detox unit. That can be safe, but it means you spend your most vulnerable days somewhere else, with different people, and then have to move. Also ask which substances they can safely detox on site.
Red flag: vague answers such as "we arrange that" or "we work with the best hospitals", without explaining who, where and how.
2. Is there 24/7 medical cover?
Why it matters. Complications don't keep office hours. You want to know someone medically trained is there at night.
What to look for. Nursing on site day and night, a doctor who is reachable and can attend quickly, and a clear emergency protocol.
Red flag: "there's always someone here", without it being clear whether that person is medically qualified.
3. Is the clinic registered – and are its clinicians?
Why it matters. In South Africa, addiction treatment centres must be registered with the authorities, and doctors, psychologists and nurses are registered with their professional bodies (such as the HPCSA for doctors and psychologists, and the SANC for nurses).
What to look for. Ask for the clinic's registration number and the names and registrations of its clinicians – you can look them up yourself. Also ask who owns the clinic and which organisation runs its website.
Red flag: a team listed by first names only, or a website that doesn't say who runs it.
4. Can you start without a waiting list?
Why it matters. The willingness to accept help is often fragile. Every week of waiting is a week in which things can go wrong.
What to look for. "No waiting list" only means something if the clinic can say how many days after the assessment you can start. Ask for a concrete date.
Red flag: promising "a bed today" before any medical assessment has been done. A good clinic first wants to know it can help you safely.
5. Is the admission process clear?
Why it matters. You're stressed enough already. You should know what happens from first call to arrival.
What to look for. Clear steps: introductory call, medical assessment, flights, airport pick-up, first day – also sent to you in writing.
Red flag: pressure to book or pay immediately ("only one bed left!").
6. Does the clinic treat mental health as well as addiction?
Why it matters. Addiction rarely comes alone. Depression, anxiety, trauma or burnout often sit underneath – and if they're not treated, relapse is more likely.
What to look for. Ask how they assess and treat co-occurring conditions, and who does it.
Red flag: a one-size-fits-all programme with no individual therapy.
7. Are the reviews real and checkable?
Why it matters. Reviews from former clients and families say more than any brochure – but only if they're genuine.
What to look for. Reviews on an independent platform you can open yourself (such as Google or Recovery.com), with the number of reviews shown. A few unsourced quotes on the clinic's own site aren't reviews.
Red flags:
- "Awards" and "best clinic" titles from articles. Check whether the article is labelled advertisement, advertorial or in partnership with. Unlabelled "top 5" lists are often paid for in this sector.
- Success rates without a source, such as "85% stay sober". Ask: measured in whom, after how long, and by whom?
- "Research across dozens of clinics" with no indication of who did it or how.
8. Is the price transparent and all-in?
Why it matters. As a private payer you carry the whole cost. You don't want surprises.
What to look for. A written price for the whole programme, stating what is and isn't included: detox, medication, individual therapy, accommodation, airport transfers, aftercare.
Red flag: "price on request" that keeps changing, or extras that only come up after you arrive.
9. Are the terms honest if plans change?
Why it matters. Sometimes people need longer, and sometimes they leave early. That's part of reality.
What to look for. Ask in writing what happens to the cost if you leave early or need to extend, and what the deposit and cancellation terms are. Check too whether your travel insurance covers a trip for treatment – many policies don't.
Red flag: no written terms at all, or a non-refundable full payment demanded up front with no explanation.
10. Is there aftercare when you get home?
Why it matters. The first months after treatment are the most vulnerable. Back in your own environment, the old triggers return. Good aftercare reduces the risk of relapse.
What to look for. Ask concretely: how often you'll be in contact after returning, for how long, and whether your GP or a local service is involved. Is there support for family too?
Red flag: "aftercare" that amounts to a leaflet and a phone number.
Three signs a clinic isn't being honest about itself
- You can't tell who runs the site. An "independent comparison site" that always sends you to the same clinic or phone number often isn't independent. Check the footer for who runs the site – a company name and registration should be there.
- Awards no one can verify. A "clinic of the year" title only means something if you know who gave it, on what basis, and whether it was paid for.
- Numbers without a source. Good care can be measured, but honest clinics always tell you how.
How Liberty Home answers the 10 checks
You can hold us to the same standard. Here are our answers so you can compare.
| # | Check | Liberty Home |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Medical detox in the clinic | Detox in the clinic itself, no partner hospital |
| 2 | 24/7 medical cover | 24/7 nursing; doctors involved in detox and treatment |
| 3 | Registered | Ask us for our registration and our clinicians' registrations – we'll send you the details |
| 4 | No waiting list | No waiting list; admission often within days of the assessment |
| 5 | Clear admission process | Introductory call → medical assessment → flights → pick-up at Cape Town International → first day |
| 6 | Mental-health care | Treatment of addiction alongside burnout, depression and anxiety |
| 7 | Real reviews | Reviews are on Recovery.com, where you can read them yourself. We don't buy awards or publish unsourced success rates |
| 8 | Transparent price | Fixed all-in price agreed in writing before you travel. What isn't included, such as flights, is listed separately |
| 9 | Honest terms | Our terms are sent to you in writing before you book – ask us anything |
| 10 | Aftercare | Online groups and relapse prevention after you return home |
If a clinic can't give you a clear answer on any of these points, keep asking. That applies to us too.
When Liberty Home is not the right fit
We're not the right place for everyone. If you're looking for help for someone under 18, a locked ward or detention is needed, or you need care close to home, we'll gladly point you, free of charge, towards the right help in the UK – for example via your GP or local drug and alcohol service.
In immediate danger? Call 999. For urgent mental-health help call NHS 111, or talk to Samaritans on 116 123.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know a rehab abroad is trustworthy?
Ask for the clinic's registration, the names and registrations of its clinicians, where detox happens and where you can read reviews. A trustworthy clinic gives you that information straight away, in writing.
What's the difference between detox in the clinic and in a partner hospital?
With detox in the clinic you stay in the same place, with the same team, from day one. With a partner hospital you start somewhere else and move after detox. Ask where it happens and who holds medical responsibility.
Are rehab "awards" and "top 5" lists reliable?
Not always. Check whether the article is labelled as an advertisement or advertorial, and who did the assessment. Unlabelled rankings are often paid for in this sector.
Can I use this checklist for clinics in other countries?
Yes – it works just as well for Thailand, Spain or a private clinic in the UK. See also best rehab abroad from the UK: how to choose.