What Is Slow Travel and Why Should You Do It?

Slow travel, like many other things in today’s digital age, became popular in response to the way travel is often shown on social media. Based on social media content, you might think travel is only a way to take Instagram-ready photos or check countries off a list. So what is slow travel and how does it challenge these trends?

What is slow travel?

Slow travel is an approach to travel that focuses on connecting with the culture and people of a destination. Instead of gauging a trip by how much you were able to do and see, it focuses on the quality of experiences and the impact they had on the traveler and local community. It means living in the moment and getting to know a place and it’s people rather than rushing through it and then heading home feeling exhausted.

Despite the name, slow travel doesn’t necessarily mean you should only lay on a beach or sit at cafes all day. It’s just a mindful approach to travel that prioritizes quality of experiences over quantity.

What are the benefits of slow travel?

Feeling connected to a place and its people

As I mentioned, slow travel will help you feel connected and knowledgable about a place in a deeper way. Meeting the locals and taking their recommendations results in more meaningful experiences than a generic list of things to do that you found online. In Bogotá, I signed up for a week of Spanish classes to refresh my skills. This helped me meet locals, as well as visitors from other countries. I ended up doing some activities with people I met at the school and other activities on my own. I felt much more connected to the city and got a feel for what it’s like to live there.

Less stress

A slow travel approach is much less stressful. Much of our everyday lives involves running from appointment to appointment, errand to errand. Why would you want the same schedule when traveling? Slow travel leaves space to really pay attention, soak in your surroundings, and return home feeling renewed.

Saving money

Slow travel can help you save money. Fewer entrance fees for big tourist spots or not spending money on a bunch of souvenirs will help you make travel more affordable.

Getting out of your comfort zone

Slow travel can push your boundaries. Some of the most meaningful experiences and opportunities for personal growth happen when you’re out of your comfort zone. By interacting with new and different people, finding yourself in foreign surroundings and situations, or being presented with new challenges, you can learn a lot about yourself if you’re open to it.

How can I slow travel?

Plan for free time

Slow travel is the easier type of travel, in my opinion. Instead of rushing through a long checklist, focus on a few of your favorite plans and leave free time around them. There is nothing wrong with wanting to see popular tourist attractions, but leave enough time before, after, or between those plans to explore off the beaten path.

Prepare beforehand

I’ve always found travel to be a better experience if I’ve done some preparation before arriving. It’s helpful to learn some of the language and read about the culture, customs, and history. This is not only practical, but it will also help you recognize and appreciate parts of your travel experience.

Prioritize

Just because a sight is very popular, doesn’t mean you have to visit it. If you really want to, then of course go ahead. But often, we feel pressure to hit the top tourist spots just to check them off a list. By prioritizing what you’re actually excited to see or do and skipping the rest, you’ll end up with more time to thoroughly enjoy the overall experience.

Do you have experience with the slow travel approach? Is it something you’d like to try on your next trip? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

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