Slow Travel Guide: What is Slow Travel & What Are the Benefits?
- Guillermo
- Aug 26
- 7 min read
Updated: Sep 4
You’ll probably agree with me when I say that holidays can sometimes be almost as stressful as daily life. How many times have you come back from a trip more exhausted than when you left? Slow travel has many benefits that could make your next vacation more relaxing, meaningful and memorable than ever. There are many reasons to slow travel, so let's discover what slow travel is and some of the benefits of slow travel and slow tourism to inspire your next adventure.
Instead of rushing around from place to place and ticking off tourist sites like a shopping list, there is a different way to travel. Slow travel can provide more meaningful experiences while respecting the pace of your body, the environment and the local people you come in contact with.
In this post, I will show you how slow travel can redefine the future of tourism and why you should seriously consider it for your next holiday.
And don't worry if you only have a short time for your trip - slow travel doesn't mean you need to spend weeks or months traveling, you could have a slow travel experience in just a few days!
What is Slow Travel?
Here’s what I answer when people ask me how to slow travel:
“Take your time, enjoy the unexpected. Don’t do too much, just choose to do what you really like. Connect with local people, try traditional food and discover local culture. Immerse yourself in the destination you’re visiting and transform a simple holiday into a life-changing trip. This is the definition of slow travel.”
When you understand that by doing less you can actually experience more, then you are more able to let things happen. By allowing the unexpected in your holidays, and leaving time for it to happen, the magic of travel finally comes to you. You are able to transform what could have been a regular holiday into a life-changing trip.
Furthermore, this new mindset allows you to relax, take the time to do things you really like, and ultimately have an overall richer experience of your trip.
The Two Types of Slow Travelers
We could categorise slow travelers, people who slow travel, into 2 categories. Some try to slow down as much as possible so the journey takes longer, while others focus more on the destination they’re visiting.
Travel from One Place to the Next Slowly
The first type of slow traveler, therefore, chooses slower means of transport rather than fast ones. For example, they prefer a train to a plane, a bike to a car, etc…
By physically slowing down their journey, they get a closer contact with local people and have a deeper feeling of the atmosphere of the places they travel through.
And when the unexpected happens, being in a slow mindset allows them to be open to it. They let it become part of the trip rather than resisting it, and that makes up for much deeper experiences.
Think about it:
How many people would you meet if you travelled through a country by car? And how many would you meet if you were to travel the same country by bicycle or on foot?
The slower you go, the closer you get to local people, and the richer the experience you get out of it.
Immerse Yourself in a Destination
The second type of slow traveler, however, focuses on a destination instead of the speed. In this case, they could get to their destination straight away, but then adopt the slow travel ethos during their stay.
They choose carefully where to stay and would stay in one place, rather than going from one accommodation to the next. Staying in the same neighbourhood, for example, allows you to get a deeper connection to it, get to know the place better, and often get to know some friendly people as well.
On top of that, they would probably not try to cram in as much as they could and hit all the must-sees of the area, but just schedule a few things, making sure to leave some time for themselves.
That unscheduled time becomes very handy during the trip, as it allows them to do what they really want at each moment.
It could be to relax for a while, get lost in an area or discover off-the-beaten-track places that tourists don't usually visit. And of course, it would allow them to accept an invitation from a friendly local to discover something really authentic about the place they’re visiting!
This aspect of slow travel is often forgotten about, but it is very important to mention. You do not need to have plenty of time for a trip, or in a place. Of course, the more time you have to travel, the better, but you can also slow travel even if you only have a short length of time.
What you do in a destination matters more than how much time you spend there.
Note that…
I’ve categorised slow travelers into two types to make it easy to understand the difference in how slow travel could be reflected. This isn't a strict division, so you don't have to choose one or the other - both of these slow travel styles are complementary and you can mix and match to find the best fit for you.
As for me, I am usually the second type of slow traveller because it is much more compatible with my lifestyle. You need less time, less preparation, and slow travel could fit any weekend trip you’re undertaking.
But twice in my life, I have been lucky enough to have the time to be the first type of slow traveler, and those were some of the richest and most memorable travel experiences I've ever had. It is more difficult, but if ever life gives you the chance to travel slow, seize it! I guarantee you won’t regret it.
5 Reasons to Slow Travel
1. Relax, Recharge your Batteries and Improve your Health
Have you had enough of those trips that leave you more tired than you were before taking them? By emphasizing slowing down a trip, slow travel allows you to relax, reconnect with yourself and finally get some time off from doing anything.
This is a necessary step to recover all your energy, so after your trip you will go back to your daily life with renewed enthusiasm. Studies have shown that travel could have long-lasting effects on our health by lowering stress levels, and it can even help us live longer! So embrace the slow travel movement and enjoy!
2. Empower the Local Economy, Wherever You Travel
When you go slow, you go local! Stay away from multinational chains and discover small, local and family-run businesses. By staying in just one area, wandering around and communicating with people who live nearby, you can easily find local businesses wherever you are.
And as every place and every person is different, they will always have something new for you to discover.
Another benefit of slow traveling like this is that supporting local businesses has a major impact on the local economy of the place you’re visiting. Your money stays within the community instead of disappearing into the pockets of board members or shareholders!
3. Reduce Your Carbon Footprint and Preserve the Environment
Another slow travel benefit you may not have considered is that the slower a means of transport is, the greener it is!
Think about it:
Walking, cycling, riding a train, a bus, a car, taking a plane… Speed seems to be highly correlated with pollution. Air travel produces far more CO2 than taking a train, and you get to enjoy the countryside you pass through while you are there!
The slower you travel, the less you pollute. And the more you preserve the destination you visit.
4. Slow Travel to Become Part of Local Life
Slowing down the pace of your travels creates a deeper connection with the local cultures of the places you travel to.
Similarly, making the conscious choice to do less – picking out what you really like over a long checklist of must-dos, and focusing on immersing yourself in local life, will certainly help you to get to know the people, and the destination, better.
5. Get Unique Memories and Have Life-Changing Experiences
When you adopt a relaxed mindset and do not have too many plans, you’re more eager to accept the unexpected whenever it appears.
And the unexpected, often (if not always!), becomes the thing that will change a simple trip to a lifelong memory.
Will You Start Slow Traveling?
We have seen in this article the numerous reasons to travel slowly, and the benefits of slow travel that can positively impact not only your journey but also your health and the destinations you visit.
We believe slow travel is a win-win for everyone, and that is why we created Barcelona Slow Travel. Through our slow travel experiences, we offer an easy and authentic way to become part of the Catalan local life, while respecting it at the same time.
For example, our private farm-to-table cooking class allows you to meet a local farmer who is passionate about organic produce. He'll take you into the fields to harvest seasonal produce that a professional chef will show you how to cook, before you sit down together to enjoy the meal with selected organic wines. Sound good?
So, what’s your opinion about slow travel? Is it something you do already? If not, are you considering it now? Let us know your opinion in the comments!
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