The beauty of slow traveling and how to travel slow

I have fallen in love with slow traveling. There is nothing better than going to a new country, using it as a base for a few months, and doing trips to surrounding areas. Then, after some time, move on to the next area.

This article explains what slow traveling actually is. Moreover, its advantages and disadvantages, including tips for your next slow travel adventure. I will also tell you my slow travel stories and why I fell in love with the slow pace to travel.

Slow traveling definition

Simply explained, it means to move slower, choose slow transportation, and stay at a location longer.

Mac Millan dictionary describes it as traveling long distances over sea or land because of environmental concerns. It makes the journey part of the trip. Slow traveling is taking the time to see a place in depth. It is not engaging in a fast-paced travel society to see all the important sights and then carry on. No, it is about taking your time to see them and experience the culture. The term slow travel was inspired by the slow food movement that started in 1989 in Italy as a response to the rise of fast-food chains. Slow food is about growing and preparing food locally.

Furthermore, there is an umbrella term, the slow revolution movement whose idea is “to do everything at the right speed” (Carl Honoré).

Why should you travel slowly?

In the last two decades, the way we communicate has changed at a tremendous speed. Not only communication but also everyday things. Technology brought you to this fast-paced world. There is no time to stop and think. You can have so many things instantly with one click. Consume, and receive information instantly. However, with these constant changes in the world, technology it’s becoming increasingly important to slow down. This is shown in the increase in interest in meditation and mindfulness practices. How about being more mindful while traveling? If you can get easily overwhelmed, or if you can’t remember what you have seen unless you look at the pictures or even mix up destinations. This can happen quickly while seeing one city after another in a very short time. Then you should probably travel more consciously and engage in slow traveling.

How I fell in love with slow travel

On my Balkan trip in September 2019, I had two goals: first not taking any airplanes and going with the flow/being spontaneous. I just had a handful of predetermined places I wanted to see. Kobarid, Slovenia was one of them. I ended up staying two additional 2 nights since I liked it so much. I was just taking in the scenery and the ambiance of the area.

Slow traveling is about getting to know the place better. It is about being ok with seeing less, no need to explore all sights but explore the sights you really want to see and take your time. That’s what I did and enjoyed. Nonetheless, while I was in the Alps of Albania, I remembered that and wished I would have stayed longer in Theth. But at this time, I had some travel companions for the Theth to Valbona hiking trail. So, I adapted to my travel style.

Moreover, I did not see as many places during my one-month journey through the Balkans. I wanted to go more south in Albania. But after being in the alps and the journey to get there and back, I was exhausted. I allowed myself to rest a little in Shkoder before I made my way up north, back home.

I started to like the concept of traveling slowly and letting go of the pressure to see popular sights the destination offers.

Slow traveling with others

Also, my Sweden trip was split by traveling fast and going slow. With my older sister, I was taking the train from Austria to Hamburg, Copenhagen, and Gothenburg. For each city one day. Not my ideal pace, but I adapted my travel style to my sister’s because she didn’t have as much free time. In Sweden, I stayed for one month in two different locations and made a few days and overnight trips. On the way back, I traveled with my younger sister in the car. We drove down to Austria within a week. Stopped overnight in a few cities. Probably we could have also gone slower, but it was a good pace for us.

Benefits

• Get to know the place better
• Learn more about the culture
  • Including a better understanding of the culture
• More time to regain energy for new explorations
  • You don’t get so easily overwhelmed
  • It reduces stress
• Discovering the places in a different style (travel like a local)
  • Time to discover off the beaten track

Disadvantages

• It can be more expensive (depending on the travel style)
• Travel companions need to adapt
• Not enough time to travel for a longer time
• You don’t see many things
• Less flexibility in movement

The How-to-Guide – Slow traveling for beginners

Planning

For travel planning, I simply say don’t do it! Often, traveling comes with an emotional roller coaster. You have a clear itinerary of what to do this day, but you don’t feel very well and want to stay in. But at the same time, you feel bad not visiting this sight that you have planned to see and tell your family back home about. Slow traveling is allowing you to do so. The huge plus is you don’t feel bad because you already paid for a tour, activity, etc.

Just make a rough plan and plan a week prior in more detail or on even shorter notice.

I love planning but I don’t do it anymore. I book transportation early (cheaper) and accommodation depending on the season 1-2 weeks prior. At the destination, I simply go with the flow or ask locals what I should see.

I know that this travel style is not for everyone. If you like to have your travel itinerary, don’t make it too full. Plan more time for the activities and sights you want to do and also add a chill time.

Transportation

Slow traveling includes also the environmental aspect. Such as the reduction of air travel. Consider alternative transportation, that’s often highly dependent on the distance and region you travel. Sometimes you can make your trip all about the vehicle you are traveling with. Campervanning, living in your car or campervan, and exploring what the world has to offer. An even slower pace to discover new regions is bikepacking. In Europe, it is most easy to travel by train. Walking, hitchhiking, or sailing are additional alternatives for conscious slow travelers.

Accommodation

Lodging is a big cost block while traveling, especially if you travel slowly. There are multiple possibilities to save on accommodation costs: You can exchange your workforce for free lodging or swap your home with someone else’s. Here are the most common ways to travel slowly and save on accommodation costs.

House-sitting is an awesome concept. You can care for a house, garden, and animals while others are on holiday. So, you can work a little and stay for free in a location of your choice. Websites like housecarers.com or trustedhousesitters.com.

Apartment swaps gained more popularity. It is simply swapping your home with another person’s home. The requirement is to actually own an apartment. Some websites you can explore are homeexchange.com or lovehomeswap.com.

Volunteer work is another option. You exchange your time and workforce to receive free lodging. At the platforms mentioned below, you can get in contact with people that need volunteers. The work can range from babysitting, elderly, and animal care, to gardening, construction, and help with photography, and social media or language help. Workaway is a very popular platform. However, from my experience, the whole platform is based on the power of hosts, and the value that you get for the price isn’t that good. I prefer helpx.

Couchsurfing might sound familiar to some. It might sound crazy, but once you use it, you can make really great memories and make new friends. The concept is that travelers get hosted by a local. Reviews from other members help with reliability and trustworthiness. Couchsurfing is a known platform. Nevertheless, there are many alternatives. For instance, Bewelcome, TrustRoots, or Couchers.org.

Some platforms for female travelers are Sister Home, Host a Sister, 5W and Travel Ladies.

Discover slow food destinations – support local vendors

Participate in the Slow Food movement while discovering new places. That doesn’t mean grabbing a quick bite at McDonald’s or Burger King. Check local markets, restaurants, or alternative vendors. By doing so, you gain more knowledge about the agriculture of the region and its traditional dishes.

And what tastes better than delicious homemade bread, jam, or pesto? By the way, did you know that the first slow food travel destination is in Austria, the Lesachtal? The grain, for the bread, is ground in a water mill. Also, milk, cheese, bacon, and vegetables are all locally produced.

Conscious learning while traveling – meet the culture

Slow traveling also involves getting to know the culture. Join cultural festivals, talk to locals, and observe. When you engage in slow traveling, you have more time to just walk into local neighborhoods, check out the stores, sit down, and have a coffee. In some cultures, it is easy to get a conversation started with strangers in others it is difficult. Whatever it is, it often helps to take the initiative and engage in conversation with people.

Sometimes you will be surprised by your culture’s similarities or differences.

My Mexican friend is a passionate German fan who recently traveled to Germany. He went to a park with a couple of beers, introduced himself, and said he wanted to meet friends and share beers. I know we aren’t all that outgoing, but isn’t traveling all about leaving your comfort zone?

Get ready for your next trip

I hope this blog post inspired you to engage in the slow travel concept. Slow traveling can have many facets, whether it is traveling at a slower pace, engaging with locally produces products, or staying longer at a destination. To enjoy your trips without stress and explore mindfully, perhaps you might include some concepts from the slow travel philosophy into your upcoming vacation.