We live in a fast-paced culture that thrives on instant gratification and convenience, which isn’t to say these aspects of our modern age are always negative. But we would benefit from slowing down to be mindful of the sights, sounds and other beings around us. The Slow Travel movement wants us to make time for detailed observations before speeding off to the next destination or attraction on our to do list. Better yet, ditch the to do list.

The concept of Slow Travel was inspired by the Slow Food movement, which began in Italy in the 1980s in response to an increasing demand for convenience foods, loss of local culinary traditions, and fewer convivial and relaxing mealtimes. Concepts from both movements are usually combined by travelers who want to take time to really absorb their journeys. 

Here’s why you should opt for slow travel and how to get started.

How to travel slowly

Choose activities that allow you to share conversations and experiences with locals or lose track of time in bustling bazaars and on city streets. Stop to get a caricature drawn by a street artist or sample the local comfort food from a park street vendor. Slow travel can also mean taking longer to get to your destination by train or a meandering road trip instead of a non-stop flight.

If you visit a well-known art museum, take the time to absorb the intention and beauty of a few works, instead of rushing to see every gallery, numbing yourself to the experience due to visual overload. If you have the privilege of an extended stay in your destination, try to live like a local; hang out at the favorite bars and coffee shops. Take part in festivals the locals look forward to every year. 

Why Slow Travel?

You’ll feel less burnt out.  

We often feel pressured to see every tourist attraction in our destination. How can we say we went to the Louvre and not have seen the Mona Lisa? Of course, you’ll want to have some must-see places in mind, but don’t feel pressured to spend most of your day shuttling between points. Be comfortable with knowing you can come back to see more. If you travel slowly, you’ll feel more fulfilled and less ragged at the end of your journey, travel blogger Esther Susag tells HuffPost. 

“I’ve heard countless times how exhausted people are when they come back from their vacation and feel like they ‘need a vacation from their vacation,’ and that’s because many times we pack so much into a very short amount of time,” Susag says. “We want to see everything, do everything, and not waste a minute.”

It’s often more cost effective.

Because you’re not fitting in every recommended restaurant, museum, archaeological site and more, you’re probably not spending as much money. Instead, your funds go toward immersing yourself in your destination and mindfully taking it all in.

You’ll gain empathy and awareness.

Slow travel is a great way to learn about cultures around the world. It’s about having conversations with locals to practice the language. And when you observe how others live, you can take those lessons home with you. Perhaps you’ll learn the art of chanoyu, or matcha tea ceremony, in Japan and you will whisk and sip the tea at home, taking the time to savor it mindfully, as is the custom. Or imagine visiting Sweden and experiencing  Fika – which translates to setting aside moments to share coffee and cake, with friends and family. Maybe you’ll take home that spirit of camaraderie and more highly prioritize your loved ones. 

It’s better for the environment.

By nature, slow travel is sustainable with its focus on eating locally and staying longer in one place, which decreases use of environmentally harmful methods of transit. Seeing more in a smaller area often means traveling by bike or on your own two feet.

You’ll enjoy the best food.

For a most delicious and languorous vacation, combine Slow Travel and Slow Food. Eat locally whenever possible, and budget time for longer meals in-between walking to other destinations. Tour farms and vineyards, to learn the origins of the foods you enjoy. Ask a local to teach you some of their favorite dishes. Seek out the region's comfort food.

Wherever you roam, don’t forget to protect yourself with travel insurance. Get a quote and find the right plan for your trip.

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