Questions about slow travel and perspective based on our experiences as a family of four
Have you been looking for a slower pace in your trips and vacations? Has fast travel left you overwhelmed, overstimulated, and exhausted? Our slow travel FAQ can help you understand more about how to travel, do what you want to do, and come back refreshed.
What is Slow Travel?
Slow travel is a mindset. Instead of rushing around on overscheduled vacation days, you choose to leave space for rest, spontaneous discoveries, and doing the things that matter to you on your trip. When in a group, slow travel can also make it easier to take everyone’s needs into account.
To learn more about what slow travel is, also check out this article from Conde Nast.
Do you have to travel solo?
Slow travel has more to do with state of mind and overall purpose than with how many people are in a group. Slow travel is about being intentionally in the moment and not in a hurry. A solo traveler can engage in slow travel. So can a larger group.
We’ve traveled slowly as individuals and as a couple. As parents, slow travel is key in our approach to activities and sightseeing.
Can you fly?
Slow travel is not about how fast the transportation is, but how often you change locations. Instead of staying for 1 or 2 nights, consider 4 or more (7, 10, 14, 28…). Staying longer in one place reduces the amount of transportation you need, and best of all, you need to unpack and repack less!
Have you planned your travels around your priorities? Are you keeping a focus on right-sizing your day’s plans, avoiding the trap of over-scheduling, and being in the moment instead of rushing about? Then it doesn’t matter if you travel by plane, train, bus, car, motorcycle, hitchhiked 18-wheeler, donkey, jetpack, foot, or wheelchair. Heck, if redlining a fast motorcycle was your priority for the day, you could still have a slow mindset even while you speed about.
When you are getting around your travel destination, slow travel still comes into play. It is okay to need to get somewhere quickly, or want to catch a bus or train at the time you intend. The key is that your priorities support your goals for the day, instead of focusing on an arbitrary schedule or amount of time at an attraction or activity.
Is slow travel about sustainability?
Slow travel can definitely contribute to a more sustainable type of adventure. Changing location less, scheduling time to just walk and wander, can make your travel better for the environment while also making it more enjoyable for you.
Slowing down can also make longer trips more sustainable for you! Don’t be afraid of having open time. Embrace a little bit of boredom and see where it takes you.
Can you schedule activities or tours?
Yes, you can schedule activities and still do slow travel. Many activities, such as a class or performance, are going to have a set start time. If you want to be part of the activity, then naturally you’ll need to honor the time requirements. Scheduling isn’t a problem with travel vacations. Over-scheduling is the problem.
We find that our slower pace actually makes it easier to schedule activities.
When our days are not overscheduled, we find time to chat with locals and get on-the-ground recommendations. Many of these interactions have made some of our most fond memories. When we do need to schedule an activity, we balance the day. A very busy active day has a rest day after. Our kids taught us early on that we all benefit from a little rest and reset.
How long does a trip have to be to count as short travel? Do short trips count?
Short trips, long trips, weekenders, overnighters, heck, even a long lunch break can count. Slow travel has less to do with a minimum amount of time, and more to do with how you spend whatever time you allocate to that trip. The focus is about savoring, instead of feeling like you need to frantically check something off the list.
We have taken afternoon hikes that we count as slow travel. During a weekend trip, we might build in two activities, such as taking in a holiday lights display one evening, and the next day going on a waterfall hike. It was a short trip, but we got in exactly what we wanted to do, and still had time in our schedule to relax.
Is it possible to travel slowly as a family?
Traveling with our kids was the reason we found that slow travel works so well for us! When our children were babies and toddlers, they needed rest during the day. This forced us to slow down. As we learned to focus on setting priorities for our vacations, we discovered we could be okay with lower-priority activities remaining undone. Since we aren’t tiring ourselves out rushing from place to place, we find it much easier to roll with needs and challenges.
In our experience as a family of four, we are able to adapt to a need for food, toilet, or a rest. Plus, since our days aren’t packed with activities and transit, we face fewer tantrums, bad tempers, and grumpiness. The kids are much happier too 🙂
Do cruise holidays count?
They can be. While cruises are incredible for offering lots of activities, you are inherently on a ship moving through the water. The nice thing about a cruise is that you have lots of options inside a relatively small space.
A cruise can actually be a great way to practice slow travel. Cruises put out daily itineraries of activity options, from shows to shore excursions. You can choose what you want to do, and decline the rest. That’s the very essence of slow travel. As you research cruise lines, you can get a feel for which ones might push a faster pace that you’re interested in, and you can hone in on the lines that match better with your slow travel priorities.
Can you practice slow travel if you use digital tech tools and the internet?
We believe that digital tech tools and the internet actually make it easier to have a slow travel mindset. Our tech tools and internet access help us make arrangements more easily or conduct research faster, so we can spend our time in other ways.
That said, sometimes putting down a tech tool, going offline, or using analog resources can help someone slow down and decompress. That’s slow travel too.
The main thing to remember is that slow travel isn’t about whether you use a phone or a notebook. It’s about being intentional about your choices and doing what you need to have a trip you are satisfied with.