Introducing The Amber Life Retreat
Are you at a crossroads in your business or life?
Are you successful on paper, yet feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, or stuck in patterns that no longer fit?
Have you been holding your breath…working hard…keeping it all together…and secretly longing for clarity, a renewed confidence, a fresh way forward?
If so, you’re in the right place. This is your turning point.
If 2025 left you tired, questioning or simply wanting more, you don’t need another push…you need a reset.
A moment to step back, breathe, and reconnect with the version of you who is capable, visionary, and ready to lead your personal and professional life with clarity again.
Whether your year was disappointing, demanding or wildly successful, one thing is certain: 2026 will require you to think differently to feel differently.
The AmberLife Retreat is where that shift happens. In the Algarve’s sunshine, with a powerful blend of strategy, mindset, and inner alignment, you’ll gain the clarity, confidence and direction you’ve been craving.
This is where overwhelm lifts, ideas land, and momentum returns. If you’re ready to unlock your next level, professionally and personally, the AmberLife Retreat is the answer.
The retreat will give you time and space to explore your future, your potential, and how you want to work and live. Whether it’s reshaping your business, finding your purpose, pivoting your career or changing your life completely, we can help you.
For over 25 years, Jo James has helped hundreds of business owners to grow their revenue, raise their profile and build thriving businesses with confidence. An experienced entrepreneur, Master Practitioner NLP, business coach, trainer and author with previous careers in hospitality, retail and recruitment, Jo is passionate about business growth and helping you realise your potential.
Jo James is joined by Claire Linley, a transformation therapist, coach, NLP practitioner and intuitive guide with 25+ years of experience helping people navigate life’s crossroads, reconnect with purpose, and feel the truth of who they are. Claire is originally from Tasmania, where she had a career in Corporate Communications and was a presenter on Australian TV.
Together, we will empower you with super-effective business and mindset tools. You will start letting go of whatever is holding you back, so you leave the Retreat feeling more confident and happier again, ready for your next compelling chapter.
How would you like to feel?
Let’s go there instead, for a change!
Meet your coaches, Jo & Claire
Jo James believes making changes doesn’t have to be so hard! After successful careers in hospitality and recruitment, it was a natural step for her to become a business coach and trainer.
Jo’s clients usually DOUBLE (or treble) their revenue, and always talk of having renewed confidence and clarity in HOW to build their business and achieve their personal goals.
Jo moved to Portugal 10 years ago, and met Claire after they both spoke at one of WIN Portugal’s networking events.
Claire Linley relocated to Lagos 12 years ago and has been coaching people to feel more grounded, overcome trauma, and become more confident and happier about their lives and futures.
Claire and Jo are proud to call Portugal their home.
Both being Practitioners of NLP, we work to transform lives and businesses, making changes feel easier and empowering.
Kate Darracott, Microbarbox
“I really loved the pace of the retreat, the leisurely mealtimes to the very focused sessions, all set in a stunning location. I now have a much clearer picture of how I’m going to take MicroBarBox to the next level and have a very detailed set of steps to get there.
I love your seemingly endless supply of energy Jo, and the way everything was organised and in place before we arrived.
An absolute joy to work with, a heady mix of business strategies and fun.”
[2023 update: Kate sold her 7-figure business and is enjoying her newfound freedom and writing on Substack!]
Discover Strategies in the Sun
Erika Harding, Comfort Zone Concepts & SPArty Algarve
“Working with my strengths, Jo helped me get organised, and prioritised how to get SPArty launched in Portugal.
I first met Jo when she was speaking at an International Women’s Day event in the Algarve, and knew she would be the right person to help me. I was in a bit of a slump and wanted that extra ‘you can do it’ push as I had a long list of things I wanted to get done to get my second business up and running.
I already had the logo, and had all my ideas but I was feeling overwhelmed with how to execute it and go forward with it.
During the first session, Jo gave me clarity and a clear plan of action.
Working with my strengths, she helped me get organised, and prioritised how to get SPArty launched.
It was a great experience working with Jo and I have recommended her to other business owners in the Algarve.
It was a great boost to my confidence and self-esteem too!
On top of her knowledge of building businesses and motivating people, Jo’s a good person and she executes with good intention.
Her follow-up is strong and she continues to care about me and my business success.”
Erika Harding, owner of Comfort Zone Concepts & SPArty Algarve.
Feel renewed confidence
The AmberLife Retreat is a unique opportunity to invest in yourself to emerge with newfound clarity and the tools to navigate life with more confidence, ease, and joy.
All set in a serene luxury hotel in the Algarve.
Enjoy personalised service and settle into a three day weekend with us in an award-winning 5 star Hotel in the Algarve.
Your reservation includes VIP treatment all the way:
• You will stay in a gorgeous double room or shared twin room overlooking the pool and view for miles.
• The hotel has a gym, a jacuzzi and a plunge pool, grounds to walk around in to take in the fresh air and enjoy feeling relaxed again.
• You can book yoga or other gym classes, and there are spa treatments to choose from
• Enjoy the magic of the ocean with optional sunrise or sunset walks on the beach with stunning views of the Atlantic and the Algarve coast.
• The food is delicious and caters for any dietary needs.
Come and relax, learn and revitalise your senses in the sun.
Bring a friend, business buddy or enjoy time away by yourself with us.
NEW 2026 AmberLife Retreat Dates to choose from:
January 29th to 1st February 2026
or
March 26th to 29th 2026
We hope these dates work for you, or email me your preferred dates if you would like to book a private retreat.
Let’s arrange a Google Meet call to meet each other, answer any questions you have and to see how the retreat can work for you. Email me here to ask any questions.
*Flights, insurance, transfers and spa treatments are not included. We liaise with the hotel to book the room, and we can recommend our travel consultant who will look after everything else for you.
If you’re a resident or on holiday in the Algarve, you can choose to attend the retreat and go home each night if you prefer.
Let’s talk to make sure we’re a good fit for each other.
Kay Daniels, Financial Troubleshooter.
“I was going through a major business overhaul and wanted time to get away, focus on my business, talk through some ideas and get clarity on my goals, which is why I booked the retreat.
It was a safe environment in which we could discuss everything, and I loved the ideas, help and support, the breakthrough moments and the laughter.
I’ve certainly got clarity and a plan to put everything into action now.
The food was absolutely fabulous.
Yoga sessions and walks on the beach were relaxing and were a real energy boost.
Working with Jo James was an uplifting, positive and fun experience.
Facilitated brilliantly, helping us stay on track when we drifted off our path!”
Ani Shehigian
“My experience with Claire at the Cultivate You Retreat in Portugal was truly transformative. She has a gift for turning big ideas into simple, meaningful insights that landed exactly when I needed them. Claire took great care to make each of us feel genuinely seen, balancing individual and group time beautifully, and her guidance was always practical, relevant, and healing.
I felt deeply supported throughout the retreat, and her impact on my life has been real and lasting.”
During the retreat, you will:
Reconnect with what you truly want
Not just the goals you “should” want, but the ones that light you up.
Feel renewed confidence
Release what has been draining you: stress, comparison, doubt, overwhelm.
Gain a practical plan
You’ll leave with clear steps for business growth, structure, and action.
Experience an inner shift you can feel
Not just ideas, but experience embodied change. Feel Calm. Gain Clarity. Direction.
Remember who you are
Your purpose. Your strengths. Your next chapter.
Everything you experience is tailored to your stage of business and life.
Would you like to join us? Apply today and introduce yourself. Please email me with any questions and preferred dates.
We look forward to welcoming you and getting to know you.
To your success and happiness,
Here’s a quick video I posted on Instagram at the end of May’s Retreat, before leaving the hotel