The Reality of ‘Slow Travel’
I write about slow, mindful and more sustainable travel here, on my Substack and for my clients - but what is the reality of adopting a slower pace to your travels, especially for someone who frequently travels for work?
I’m not perfect. I still take flights, I’ve visited destinations where I am perhaps not welcome, and I still occasionally experience giddiness that makes me want to rush around and try to do too much in too little time. But overall, over the past several years, I have made a conscious effort to slow down the way that I travel. I look back on the years crammed full of long weekends in various cities and feel exhausted just thinking about those trips. Sometimes I find myself spending a couple of days scurrying around a foreign city - two trips that immediately spring to mind are Copenhagen a couple of years ago, catching up with two friends who live elsewhere and Paris next month, for work - but that is no longer my preferred way of experiencing new places. I much prefer taking slower, longer trips such as spending a couple of weeks driving through the countryside or island hopping at my own leisure. Right now, my dream getaway would be to find a house by the sea in Greece or Italy or one of the Balearic islands and spend a whole month there, just settling into everyday life.
The reality of slow travel is that it is not formulaic and will look different for everyone. There are aspects of slow travel that you will come across over and over again (I’ve written about some of these here, including train travel, sustainable travel and having looser plans) but everyone’s version of it looks different. Some people have completely sworn off flying, others (myself included) will still occasionally fly but try to take other forms of transport when possible. Some people will go on one long trip each year, living like a local somewhere for a month or two while others take a couple of fortnightly holidays. Perhaps your version of slow travel looks like staying in a small off-grid boutique hotel and spending all your time eating, swimming and reading by the pool - or it could look like staying in a cosy cabin where you can spend most of your time outdoors, hiking and exploring. There are no rules.
Or rather, there are rules but they can be manipulated. To travel at a slower pace, you should physically slow down the way you reach your destination and how you get around once you arrive. Travelling by train, boat or road is more in line with slow travel than flying. However, some places cannot be easily reached by rail or boat, and it is possible to enjoy slow travel if you fly to your destination. Just be conscious of how carbon-intensive your flights are, and don’t be complacent by flying someplace new every other month. If you’re short on time or budget, could you fly in one direction and take the train home (I’m doing this myself next month)? If you’ve flown to reach your destination but want to travel around when you get there, take trains or hire a car rather than additional flights. Choose to stay in eco-friendly or off-grid accommodation and eat locally-grown food to offset the flights you took to reach your destination. Get around day-to-day by walking or hiring a bike, rather than hiring a car or hopping in taxis. Every element of your trip can make a difference to it’s pace and to how sustainably you travel.
Slow travel and sustainable travel go hand-in-hand, you see. Once you begin to slow down the pace of your travels by taking the train instead of flying, staying for longer in one destination rather than many shorter trips, and investing your money into the local economy rather than staying in big chain hotels and eating in big chain restaurants, you are also travelling more sustainably.
For me, slow travel is also about what I do when I am there. Gone are the days of rushing around trying to do and see as much as possible (unless I’m on an assignment writing an article that requires this) and in are slow paced trips where I have plenty of time to just be. My plans for my upcoming two weeks island hopping in the Greek Cyclades look like this: swim, eat, read, walk, snooze. I want to return from my travels feeling inspired and invigorated, but also rested and free of stress. I’d rather plan my day around one or two activities - such as walking to a beach for a swim, then continuing along the coastal path to find a hidden taverna I’ve heard rumours about - than trying to squeeze as much as possible into 24 hours. My boyfriend gets bored easily and will often say he’s ‘completed’ something such as the beach we’re lounging on after just a short while. I’m the opposite - I’m very happy to spend the day on that beach, so long as I have my book to read and endless hours to spend floating in the sea.
The benefits of slow travel are vast. Less stress, more time to relax and more time spent outdoors does wonders for both your physical and mental health. You will have more authentic experiences and forge deeper connections with the places that you visit. Slow travel can also be more affordable, although there are many different ways to embrace slow travel and ‘slow luxury’ is fast becoming popular. But all you need for a slow trip is a tent and a positive attitude! Many of my favourite slow adventures have involved camping trips right here in the UK.
If you’re thinking you’d like to give slow travel a try, here are my tips:
Travel with intention
Have a clear purpose for your trip - whether you want to experience a different culture, spend time relaxing and switching off from work, learn about a particular place or activity or eat a cuisine you have always wanted to try. This doesn’t have to be a particularly deep and meaningful intention (also volunteering is very in line with slow travel) but it gives you purpose and meaning. All too often, we visit a destination without really knowing why we are there or what we want to get out of our journey.
Live like a local
Sleep in the neighbourhoods where the locals live, eat in the cafes and restaurants they frequent, and participate in daily activities a local person might enjoy such as visiting markets, swimming in quiet coves or going for a stroll. By doing as the locals do, you’ll get a deeper understanding of the heart of the place you are visiting.
Be flexible with your plans
You may want to book a particular restaurant or make a reservation to visit a gallery that interests you, but try to keep most of your plans loose. You want the flexibility to go with the flow and see where each day takes you. If a side street looks interesting, wander down it. If you hear someone talking about a hidden cove or small shop selling artisan crafts, seek it out.
Simply enjoy being there
Rather than being there for the sake of taking photographs or ticking off a list, just enjoy the present moment in time. Our holidays can be quiet and thoughtful, just living our day-to-day lives in a different place. They don’t need to be all singing, all dancing, returning home with a camera roll to show off.
Do what you want to do
Take recommendations from influencers, bloggers, guidebooks, magazines, etc. with a pinch of salt. Yes, these are all great places to look for inspiration, especially if you’ve discovered sources aligned with how you like to travel, but you are travelling for yourself, so do what you want to do. Even if that means a lazy day sat by the pool with your book.
Get off the beaten path
If you’re visiting a popular destination, seek out the neighbourhoods or surrounding places that are a little more off the beaten path than the usual tourist track. Even better - think outside the box and choose to visit places that you know little about and don’t often hear people talking about. Quieter destinations are much more welcoming of travellers than those places struggling with over-tourism, and you’ll also find it easier to discover a place for yourself if you’re not following someone else’s guide to the area.
Embrace cultural differences
Respect and embrace the cultures that you encounter when travelling. Eat the local cuisine, rather than hunting for what you are familiar with. Be respectful of local laws, customs or dress codes. Show an interest in the culture of the place you are visiting, and don’t be ignorant.
Ask local people for suggestions
Interact with the people that actually live there, and seek out their recommendations rather than relying on the advice of people who have visited once. Not only will you discover hidden gems, but you’ll hear stories and make connections that you’ll otherwise completely miss.
Think quality over quantity
Ultimately, slow travel is about embracing quality over quantity. It doesn’t matter how many places you visit, how many sights you see or how many trips you can cram into one year. What matters is the quality of your experiences and the memories you make.
Read more about slow travel here on my Journal and over on my Substack.
