What is Slow Travel – & Why You Should Do It Too!

People often ask us how we have been able to afford to travel continually for the last 5 years. And the truth is it is not just one thing we did or do that enables us to live this lifestyle. But one of the most significant ways we have been able to achieve our travel lifestyle is to embrace the slow travel philosophy.

Since we started travelling as teenagers in the 90s, we have been on many trips exploring Australia, New Zealand, America, Europe and the Middle East. But, it was in Asia (where we met) that we realised we could spend the same amount of money for a few months of travel as some people spent for 2 weeks.

In fact, we fell in love with Asia, and the love affair has never ended. So we keep going back every year. This is how we started to slow travel and why we never stopped. We are here now as we write this, living the slow travel life.

Why we always go to Thailand’s Islands… & why you should too!

NOT Slow Travel!

Now don’t get us wrong, we have spent many vacations rushing from cities and attractions to try to see as much as we could squash in.

And we humans often do rush from site to site as if life is so short we must fill it up with so many things.

However, travel in this last decade has become a must-have accessory for 20-year-olds. Complete with a bucket list, a credit card and an Instagram account, their goal is to get to as many countries as they can. And as many Likes at the same time.

You will see them drinking $25 cocktails they can’t afford at fancy bars on the Greek Islands and rushing around the tourist attractions trying to cram everything in. They will be ticking off the sights after their 5-minute visit with the mantra of YOLO and the aim to have that selfie to say they have been there. But you know what, they are having fun. And this is their once in a lifetime trip, and they want to do everything!

But does this pace of travel really allow you to experience a place fully?

What is Slow Travel?

Slow travel is a shift from being a tourist that is visiting a place to see the highlights. It’s about an attitude and outlook that prioritises doing things like meeting the local people, learning the culture and language.. It is about being open to experiences than a planned itinerary to see as much as you can see at each destination.

It is not just about speed but about a mindset of slowing down. It’s about taking the time to explore the destination thoroughly and connecting with it. You slow down and live for the here and now and truly experience and enjoy a place, a moment, a chance meeting with a local. It makes your journey more meaningful.

We wake up and linger over breakfast at a local cafe. We wander aimlessly, we get lost, we sit in a restaurant for hours on end watching the people. There is no rush. We are free to visit places we stumble upon. We are open to not visiting tourist sights that are on the must-see list of the destination.
It is unquestionably about the journey, which is about exploration and discovery. It is living in the moment.
But mostly it is about letting your day unfold; unplanned and without expectations.
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Does that mean we miss out on seeing the highlights?

Well, Yes, sometimes! Because we have made the informed decision that we don’t need to rush to every sight. We pick the ones we have the most interest in and visit those. On the way to our chosen attractions, we often walk a few kilometres around the back streets exploring the neighbourhood.

We feel this way we can get off the beaten track even in the most touristed places. This results in new experiences and finding hidden gems.

By not rushing, it allows us to learn so much more about a country and its people and its culture. This, to us, is more rewarding travel.

So Why Should You Slow Travel?

Slow Travel is Budget Friendly

While not our main reason for slow travel, it is clearly the cheapest way to travel. This is one of the ways we have managed to stay non-stop travelling for 5 years.

By staying in one place for longer, we automatically save money. There are no transport costs while we are staying put in one place, except for our local transport.

When we are staying somewhere longer, we often find we can negotiate a cheaper deal on accommodation. As slow travellers, we look for rooms away from the main tourist attractions in areas not necessarily in the city centre. This means we often pay less for accommodation. We also save money by staying in local Airbnbs or homestays instead of staying in a hotel in the city centre. The price difference is often quite dramatic.

Plus, sometimes these places offer a kitchen and laundry. This means we can save even further by buying fresh food at the local markets and then cooking it ourselves. We can then spend the day having a picnic in the park. Relaxing and people watching allows us to learn more about a place than a particular attraction will show us.

And yes we do go out for a fancy meal. But, while staying longer in a place and away from the more expensive tourist areas, we learn the cheaper places to eat. When we are travelling slowly, it gives us more opportunity to meet locals who we ask to recommend their favourite restaurants. It is always a good conversation starter and has resulted in some pleasant conversations and meaningful experiences. And some of the best places we have found to eat are from recommendations from locals.

Also, we do go out to expensive attractions. But by not visiting some of the main tourist attractions that we really weren’t that interested in, we save the cost of steep admission fees.

Slow Travel is Less Stressful & More Relaxing

We often see people rushing around trying to cram in all the sights and experiences in a city in a day or two. Yes, we have done this too. And yes, it is fun. But it can be very exhausting rushing around crowded sites. And as there is no time to think, after a while, it starts to blend in.

By trying to see more, you are in fact seeing less, as you have no time to absorb the atmosphere of a place. Nor does it allow time to interact with locals, except for those who are serving your needs. There is definitely no time to relax.

Slow travel allows you time to sleep in, to go for a morning jog or swim and, it enables you to stay healthier while you are travelling.

Also, if you are on a long trip, slow travel enables you to combat travel burnout.

Mostly it allows you time to sit back, enjoy the view, and soak in the atmosphere of a place.

This is how we love to travel! In fact, our personal motto is “Let the others rush!”

When you Slow Travel You Travel Deeper

The most rewarding experience of slow travel is that it allows you to get a deeper connection to a place. Once you see a place and get to know the culture, it feels more rewarding than just having visited the attractions. You are not just a visitor anymore; you are someone who lives there transitorily.

By travelling in this way, it helps us learn about a place, the world & even ourselves.

Seeing the main attractions of a country is not necessarily learning about it. It is only the attractions that we have seen.

Yes, we love seeing the attractions in Rome, Florence and Venice. But what we loved more is when we went back to Venice a year later. There was no rush to see the attractions that we had seen the year before. Now we were able to spend time walking around the nooks and alleys and exploring the less popular attractions. These are the things that are not classed as attractions at all but are interesting in our eyes, nevertheless. We were able to sit for hours in a cafe and learn some language while chatting with an Italian couple at the next table and observing tourists and locals alike.

We unquestionably choose slow travel over running around trying to jam a month worth of living into a week. By surrendering to the journey and travelling slow, we learn what we want and how we like to travel. Also, it leaves us more room for authentic, local experiences.

Moreover, slow travel is more respectful to the locals. And because you have slowed down, it allows you time to connect with people and learn about them and their culture. You aren’t there just to rush through and stomp all over the historic sites before moving to the next place.

Slow Travel is Sustainable Tourism

Slow travel is better for the environment. When you slow travel you are more likely to catch a bus, train or drive yourself instead of flying. This is an eco-friendly way of decreasing your carbon footprint.

Actually, we prefer train travel, and we always choose it over a flight. We find the train trip more relaxing. The instant you get on that train, the journey has begun, and you can stare out the window all day taking in the views. Also travelling by train allows you more opportunity to meet with locals. We find it is easy to start chatting on a train when neither party is rushing to get anywhere with nothing specific to do.

Additionally, instead of taking a taxi or tour bus around the city, walking is more friendly to the environment. By walking it allows us more opportunity to engage with locals. We find pleasure in visiting less touristy sites at a more leisurely pace than mass tourism allows. This is better for the local community, and better for the swarmed historic sites.

Road trips are another eco-friendly alternative to flying. The road trip becomes the journey. You take the back streets and see the countryside and the local way of living. An added benefit of the back streets is the money you save on tolls by not rushing down the motorway. We saved a fortune doing this in Italy and France.

Also, by spending your money in the local markets or local restaurants, your money stays in the local community. You will be making a low impact on the local culture and community by doing as they do. Rather than expecting your needs as a tourist (like eating at western restaurants) to be met, you embrace the way they live. This results in a more authentic experience.

It is possible if more people embraced slow travel, we could redefine the future of our current mass tourism and make it more sustainable.

But you don’t want to slow travel??

Yes, it is not for everyone. We understand some people love touring all day long and seeing as much as they can. These people may find slow travel dull.

Also, some people like everything organised for them, so all they have to do is follow a tour guide.

Additionally, for some people, the reason they travel is to visit the attractions and eat at the fancy restaurants every night in the tourist centres. They are happy with this type of holiday.

Furthermore, some people feel they don’t have time.
If your mindset is that you don’t have time, and feel this is the only time you will visit a place, then you may feel the urge to do as many activities and attractions as possible.

Unfortunately, you could be missing out on the cultural experience and travelling deeper.

We recommend you give slow travel a try to see for yourself how rewarding it is. You can try it for a part of your trip. First, you can rush around and see the highlights (if this is what you want), and then unwind and immerse yourself in the local community for the rest of the time. This is a great way to try slow travel and compare your experience.

We have compiled a list of slow travel ideas below, and you may like trying some out for a day or more.

We slow travel because we love the experience. There will always be another trip to a place we love, so there is no need to rush. We just live for the moment and do the things that come our way.

Ideas for Slow Travel

• Take the bus or train instead of flying and see the scenery along the way.
• Rent a villa in the countryside away from the mass tourists.
• Spend a few hours at the local coffee shop.
• Buy food locally such as fresh bread from bakeries, and cheese and vegetables from local markets.
• Cook your own lunch and eat it somewhere with a view.
• Do an aimless self-guided walking tour exploring the surroundings.
• Buy an all-day bus/tram pass and spend the day riding around on different lines discovering different neighbourhoods.
• Ask locals where their favourite restaurants are and what are the best things they like to do in their area.
• Visit under-rated destinations. You will find they are not only cheaper but less crowded than the tourist hot-spots.
• Get a bicycle and ride around the countryside. This is the most eco-friendly way to travel.

Also, we Love the The Telegraph article “The rise of slow travel: 20 adventures to take at a leisurely pace.” Here you will find a list of fabulous slow travel destinations from around the world.

Some people may think it is easy for us to say as we are long-term travellers and have all the time in the world. But it is not about how long you have. Ultimately, slow travel is a way of thinking whether you have a day or weeks. Most of all, it is about not rushing, getting to know a place and becoming part of the community. Principally, it’s about doing what you want to do and not what guidebooks tell you the highlights are or ticking off items off a bucket list.

This is old-school travelling. People set off on their travels to learn about different cultures, the world, and to grow. It was an exploratory adventure where there was no need to document it all on social media but to open yourself up to a world of possibilities. Try it. You may find it changes your future.

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