Savoring the Sights

You may have heard of the slow living movement or the slow food movement, but what about slow travel? Slow travel has many faces, also called sustainable travel or mindful travel, and there is no list you must follow to be a slow traveler. Slow travel is mostly about meaningful travel, essentially incorporating the lifestyle of slow living into your travel experiences by staying present and savoring your current experiences. It may involve keeping an open schedule, staying in one place, or exploring the local area to its fullest.

So, what are some of the benefits of slow travel?

Deeper Explorations

In the world of Instagram that often bombards you with beautiful pictures of tropical islands and foreign cities that “you must see,” it is hard to ignore the pressure to visit as many places as you can. Rather than jumping from one location to another, slow travel embraces the idea of staying in one place for a longer period of time. This allows you the chance to really explore that one area, getting to know its local people, culture, and hidden gems for a more meaningful travel experience that leaves you feeling fulfilled.

Less Stress

Have you ever gone on an over scheduled trip where something is taking up your every second, and you get home and think, “Wow. I need a vacation from my vacation.”? Traveling this way can be more stressful than fun sometimes. Slow travel, alternatively, encourages taking the time to relax and appreciate a single place, or at least fewer places, without the pressure of a highly packed schedule. Sit down for dinner for a few hours or take a long walk through nature! It’s not about never going to a museum or a fun excursion, but it is about making sure you have the time to appreciate the experiences you are having without feeling rushed into the next activity or place you have to see.

Lower Budget

When it comes to travel, the more you move around, the more money you spend. Slow travel can significantly cut down your expenses since you won’t be packing your schedule tight with expensive activities and excursions. Additionally, accommodations tend to offer discounts for longer stays, so staying in one place for a week is often cheaper than switching accommodations nightly.

Reduced Environmental Impact

Slow travel encourages the idea of reducing your environmental impact by choosing more sustainable travel options like train or bus, rather than taking a plane. Of course, sometimes this is impossible to avoid depending on where you are going, but you can choose sustainable options even when you arrive at your destination. Choose public transportation, walking, or biking over renting your own car. In short, the slower you travel, the lower your carbon footprint.

The main thing you should ask yourself when traveling is what do you want out of your travel experience. If the idea of packing your schedule full of activities and sightseeing as many different places as you can excites you, then by all means, do that. But for some, that type of travel experience can be very overwhelming, and the idea of slowing down and really enjoying one place seems like a much more relaxing and enjoyable experience. Whatever you choose to do, just make sure it is what you want to do, and not what you feel like you should do.

If you decide to hop on the slow travel bandwagon, let us know @theedgemag on Instagram! Happy travels!