For many people, time seems to speed up as they grow older. The average person often tries to fill up their schedule with as many activities, tasks, and events as possible. Before they know it, weeks, months, and years have gone by, and it feels like they have barely even had time to stop, take a breath, and think about all they have accomplished. Even if they can get a minute to take a brief break from their daily routine, it is often spent on a vacation which frequently involves traveling from activity to activity and trying to do as much as possible in the limited time they are there. Some people have begun noticing this and are taking steps to slow down time a bit. A new term called “slow travel” has been recently trending to describe people like this.
What is Slow Travel?
Slow travel involves soaking in the moment and immersing yourself in a local culture. It involves
becoming familiar with the local people, participating directly in their culture, trying their cuisine, and listening to their music. It provides the traveler with a strong emotional and educational experience. The purpose of slow travel is to encourage tourists to take a step back from their daily lives and even busy vacations and simply take some time to experience what a local community has to offer. Many traditional vacations involve extensive sightseeing and traveling from location to location. With so many locations to travel to, travelers don’t have as much time to spend in each unique area. Slow travel places an emphasis on just spending time in one area.
Benefits of Slow Travel
Cost-effective
Slow travel is a good option for traveling from a financial perspective. A typical travel experience may involve staying at two or three different properties throughout the week as you travel from location to location. At each location, you may be inclined to spend money on more tourist attractions since you are only there for such a short period. While slow traveling, you will be at one location for the duration of the trip. This gives you more time to simply walk around, bike, and observe the new culture and its surroundings. Hiking in the area, exploring nearby towns, and watching the sunset are all common activities of people engaging in slow travel. Another key aspect of slow travel is getting to know the locals, which also doesn’t cost any money.
Less Tiring
Traveling can come with a lot of stress. There is preparation with packing to make sure you have
everything, making sure you arrive on time, looking over directions to make sure you aren’t lost, and having enough of a budget to complete all your activities. This can even get more daunting if you have a trip where you are constantly traveling from place to place. While slow travel still requires packing and taking the appropriate transportation to arrive there, it is relaxing knowing that you will be in one area for a long duration. One of the main keys to traveling this way effectively is going without an itinerary. Activities will be created on the fly, so you won’t have to constantly worry about falling behind schedule. When you get tired and anxious, you will be less likely to appreciate all the activities you have planned. Slow travel gives you more time to soak in the moment, have less stress, and gain a better overall experience.
Gets You Out of Comfort Zone
As previously mentioned, an effective trip of slow travel does not involve having an itinerary. This could
be extremely relaxing for some but also nerve-racking for others. Either way, the thought of not knowing what will come out of a trip will certainly leave travelers wondering what they may expect. There could be language barriers, cultural boundaries, and different ways of living compared to back home. Travelers will need to be complacent in knowing that things will work out and need to adopt the mindset that they should just go with the flow. A slow travel trip will give you a better perspective on how different cultures function and hopefully give you some great memories.
How to Effectively Slow Travel
- Learn about Where You Are Going- This will help you to fit in with the culture and be less surprised by cultural differences compared to what you are used to.
- Stay Longer – If the ability to work remotely is possible, extending the trip beyond the typical week will give you a better opportunity to experience the culture.
- Go with the Flow- Many great slow travel experiences happen when the traveler isn’t expecting them because they don’t have a set daily schedule. Flexibility is key.
Properties Need to Be Prepared
Slow travel is a trend that will likely continue to become more popular in the future. Properties need to be prepared for these types of travelers. They could be staying at the property for longer periods than the average guest. As always, your property must offer high-quality bedding, amenities, and dining options. However, they should also make it a priority to advertise local activities. Since slow travelers are looking to experience the local culture, they should highlight nearby restaurants, musical events, and other festivals or events occurring in the area. InnStyle is here to help your property with its linen needs. Please give them a call and speak with one of their account managers about any questions you may have. They can be reached at 267-354-6020 or 800-877-4667. Their website is https://www.innstyle.com/.