Does slow travel have to be long travel? No. How to slow travel on a short trip comes down to mindset.
What is the key to slow travel, even on a short trip?
When people ask us about our travels, we talk about how we enjoy traveling at a slow place. For example, in Taiwan we’re doing 2 stays, one in Taoyuan and one in Taipei. Each stay is for a month.
We love that pace, and the immersion it allows us to have in a neighborhood.
Slow travel, though, doesn’t have to be long travel.
An example of slow travel during short trips
Even a short trip can have a slow mindset.
Our first trip to Vietnam was over December 2022 and January 2023. Even though we were in Vietnam for a month, it was more like we had a series of short trips smooshed together.
We stayed a few days in one city or town, then made our way a little farther south.
Most places we stayed only around 3 nights.
However, we knew what we wanted out of each place.
In Hoi An, our biggest priorites were a lantern-making class, visiting the night market, and making wishes with candles and lanterns during a night-time boat ride.
In Phong Nha, our only priority was visiting one of the boat-accessible caves.
When we go somewhere, even for a few days, we keep a slow mindset. Here’s how.
This one thing is the key to slow travel
People think it has to be a multi-month or multi-week trip. The key to slow travel isn’t the duration of the vacation.
Rather, it’s the intention:
Build your short trip around your interests and goals, sprinkle in some downtime, and leave room for serendipity.
That’s that key to slow travel.
You can always pack a slow travel mindset
Whether it’s a week, a weekend, or even a day, a slow travel mindset can be part of any trip.
Slow travel isn’t about the length of the trip, but the mindset. Once you have that, you can bring a slow travel mentality anywhere you go.
