Why More People Are Investing In Slow Travel

Contributed post.

Booking your next trip is an exciting time. That pre-trip anticipation of all your plans coming to fruition, experiencing new cultures, destinations, and foods, and basking in some of the best the world has to offer. It really is food for the soul. However, sometimes, that action-packed trip can leave you more frazzled than when you left and needing another trip just to relax and get over the one you meticulously planned. Sound familiar?

The whole point of getting away is to give yourself a chance to relax in new surroundings - even adrenaline junkies need downtime. And this is where slow travel can be the perfect compromise. Fewer stops, longer stays, and more coffee breaks over rushing to preplanned activities.

Let's take a look at why slow travel has become more and more popular in recent years.

Less Rushing, More Living

Sure, you want to cram everything in, but the problem with cramming in every single landmark is somewhere between the third bag drop off and the fourth “quick photo stop”; everything stops becoming fun. It turns into a checklist, not an experience you’re actually enjoying.

Slow travel ditches this; it prioritizes lazy breakfasts over pre-sunrise dashes to hotspots. It's taking the longer route because you can not, because you need to say you drove a certain route. And honestly, everyone prefers it. No one remembers the tenth museum visit in two days, but they do remember the lazy day you took in the hotel, looking out the window at the rain, enjoying room service. Or the cute cafe you stumbled into because you weren't rushing to be somewhere.

Fast Travel Seems Like Work

The biggest irony of a jam-packed trip is that it can end up feeling like a second job. And suddenly, that time off you were excited for is much more work than actual work. From managing time slots to negotiating with travel companions, sticking to deadlines, and stressing when transport is late, there's a lot that can make your blood pressure shoot through the roof. And this is as far from relaxation as you're likely to get.

Slow travel cuts through the noise. You're not on a stopwatch, you're not standing in line at 7 am, so you can beat the crowds. You can stay longer in one place, and you can actually get a sense for its rhythm, the morning market, the afternoon lull in the heat, the nightlife, and the locals actually enjoy. It's less about packing it all in and more about just stopping to smell the roses. 

Slow Travel = Real Connection

There's something that happens when you stay in one palace for a little while. As you start to connect with your surroundings, the people around you, the other visitors, and locals, you become acquainted with the routine of your location and become a temporary local. You discover that small bakery that the locals keep hidden from tourists, and you greet the same people each morning, giving you a sense of community, as does the noise and hustle of the everyday sounds. This is something people traveling in an RV experience frequently. By pitching up at an RV Park, they can connect with other and local communities and get more from their visit other than just the usual tourist traps.