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Modern life is usually about going faster. Faster working, faster internet, faster cars. Slowing down rarely seems to be on the mainstream radar.
This is often true for travel as well. All too often, people are only really interested in how they can get to their destination quicker and how much they can pack into their holiday. But before making a long bucket list of everywhere in the world you want to see and racing through your holidays with more Instagram photos than actual memories or experiences, take a step back and think about why you want to travel in the first place.
If your desire to travel is really all about immersive, authentic experiences, and getting to know places that are a little off the beaten track, then you might want to explore the idea of ‘slow travel’.
What is slow travel?
Slow travel is all about making a deeper connection to the places you visit and the people, cultures, and traditions that you discover along the way. This kind of holiday or vacation is all about having fun and taking a break from everyday life, although it’s often also a learning experience and it can have an emotional impact too.
The slow travel mindsets urges travellers to look beyond the big attractions and the international chains and dive deeper into the local way of life and the excitement and enjoyment of smaller, more authentic pleasures. Popular destinations from Big Sur in California to the western Caribbean islands have so much to offer, and slow travel lets you discover more and explore further.
Slow travel is also all about immersion. Taking a holiday or vacation a little more slowly (and not being in a rush to see all that there is to see in one place, or tick a load of sights off a list) means engaging more deeply and discovering more about everywhere you do decide to visit. Taking in a museum for a few hours, rather than a few minutes, will let you discover the hidden exhibits and tucked away displays that not everyone finds, for example. Spending more time in front of your favourite work of art might help you understand it that little bit better, while wandering gently around a town will bring you to the restaurants, cafes and bars that the locals love, rather than the same old tourist traps.
At the end of it all, a “slow” vacation will leave you with a deeper connection to the places you visited and it may even encourage you to return for a second visit!
What are the benefits?
Slow travel has benefits for both the traveller and the communities and places they visit.
Prevent burnout
Do you ever come back from a trip and feel like you could do with another vacation? Slow travel takes you away from packed itineraries and frantic checklists, helping you to relax a little more seriously.
Save money
Chain restaurants, big-name hotel resorts and the most famous attractions tend to be the most expensive options on vacation. By staying in smaller hotels (or even self-catering in an AirBnb) and eating in local, independent restaurants, you’ll end up saving loads of money. Check out www.caraman.co.uk for a complete travel guide including more great tips on how to save money while travelling.
Meet new people
Slow travel is, by its very nature, a bit more adventurous. If you learn a little of the local language and ask for recommendations, you’ll make connections you might not have expected to make and meet fascinating new people who’ll show you new sights and experiences.
How do I travel slowly?
Slow travel is really all about your mindset – being more open to a different sort of vacation, and getting out of your comfort zone – but there are a few hints and tips you can follow as well.
Live like a local
Talk to locals as soon as you arrive, whether it’s your taxi driver, the concierge at your hotel or the cafe owner across the street. Find out where they like to go, where they like to eat and what they tend to do on a Saturday afternoon. They are likely to be a better tour guide to their own home town than any guidebook.
Throw away your list
Slow travel is all about trying not to get caught up seeing all the main attractions. Don’t try and check everything off your list all in one go, or better still, don’t make a list at all!
Try new things
Slow travel is an adventure, and you’ll likely end up in unusual places and unexpected situations. Don’t be afraid to try new things, and say ‘yes’ to novel experiences. You’ll end up outside of your comfort zone…but that’s a good thing! Whatever you do, don’t avoid doing things you might not have done before for fear of being awkward or uncomfortable!
Take the same approach at home
Bring your slow travel mindset home with you, and you might end up seeing your own home in a different light as well. Are there a bunch of attractions you’ve not seen for ages, or never quite had the motivation to visit in your hometown? A new restaurant perhaps? Thinking and acting “slowly” doesn’t just have to be for your holidays or vacations!
How do you feel about the concept of slow travel? Are you a slow traveller? Share your thoughts by commenting below.
This is a sponsored post.