Slow Travel for more Comfort – How to slow down your travels and make them more comfortable, a brierf guide for slow travel
If you’re someone who travels often, then you’ll know that it can be seen as a whirlwind adventure, packed with activities, sights, and experiences crammed into a few precious days.
While exciting, this type of travel can leave people feeling exhausted and overwhelmed instead of refreshed and fulfilled.
Slowing down, known to some as just embracing slow travel, can make holidays more enjoyable and memorable.
By spending more time in one place, travellers can discover hidden gems, savour the atmosphere, and truly connect with the destinations they visit.
Why slowing down can make travel better
A busy schedule might seem like the best way to experience as much as possible when you’re flying off somewhere, but it can very easily lead to stress if you’re not careful or have too many things on your to-do list.
Constantly moving from one location to another can make a trip feel like a checklist rather than an adventure, and this can quickly diminish your holiday experience.
So instead of rushing around everywhere, slowing down offers you a chance to soak in your surroundings and make deeper memories with the places that you visit.
When people spend more time in one place, they can discover what makes a location special. Walking through backstreets, visiting local markets, or having a quiet coffee at a corner cafe can often provide richer experiences than rushing between famous landmarks.
Slower travel also makes vacations less tiring, leaving more energy to enjoy the moments that matter the most.
Benefits of slowing down
Taking a more relaxed approach to travel comes with many perks:
- Deeper cultural experiences: Spending time in one destination allows travellers to understand the culture better, from traditions to everyday life.
- Less stress: Without constant packing, unpacking, and rushing for transport, travel feels easier and more enjoyable.
- Environmental impact: Staying in one place reduces the carbon footprint caused by frequent flights or long drives.
- Cost savings: Fewer moves between cities or countries often mean fewer travel expenses.
Plan a more flexible itinerary
Travelling doesn’t have to mean rigid schedules and constant activity. A flexible itinerary allows for spontaneity, relaxation, and the chance to enjoy a destination on your own terms.
Overloading a trip with planned activities may seem efficient, but it often creates stress and leaves little room for discovering the unexpected joys of travel. By allowing extra time between activities or even dedicating entire days to leisure, travelers can feel more connected to their surroundings and return home feeling refreshed.
For example, if you’re visiting Paris, plan to see the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre on one day, but leave the afternoon open to stroll along the Seine or sip coffee at a charming café. Building in this kind of breathing room can make experiences more enjoyable and less hurried. Here are some tips to help create a more flexible itinerary:
- Limit daily activities: Choose two or three main attractions or activities per day to avoid burnout and allow for spontaneity.
- Leave gaps between events: Avoid scheduling back-to-back activities. Use the extra time for a snack, a quick rest, or to explore something unexpected.
- Research loosely: Have a general idea of what interests you, but don’t feel obligated to follow a strict plan. Let curiosity guide you.
- Embrace the “lost” moments: Wandering off the beaten path, getting lost in a new neighborhood, or chatting with locals can lead to unforgettable experiences.
- Add rest days: Dedicate one or more days to simply relaxing or exploring at a leisurely pace, without a specific agenda.
With a flexible plan, travel feels less like a race and more like an opportunity to savor each moment. It’s in the unscripted parts of a journey where the most authentic and memorable experiences often happen. Slowing down and allowing for a mix of structure and freedom makes the trip not only more comfortable but more enriching as well.
Choose accommodation that promote relaxation
Where you stay greatly influences how comfortable and enjoyable your travels feel. In Portugal, for example, instead of staying in a traditional hotel, you might opt for a charming guesthouse in Porto, a cosy holiday rental in the Algarve, or coliving in Lisbon. These choices often come with shared or homely spaces, giving a sense of community and relaxation.
Co-living spaces are especially great for those traveling solo or working remotely. They provide opportunities to connect with others and explore a destination at a slower, more immersive pace.
Spend more time in one destination
Jumping from one city to another might seem exciting, but it can leave little time to truly enjoy any one place. Slowing down by staying in one location for several days—or even weeks—can bring a sense of comfort and familiarity.
Take Lisbon as an example. Instead of cramming visits to every museum and neighborhood into a single day, spend several days exploring at a relaxed pace.
Stroll through the charming streets of Alfama, take in the views from Miradouro da Senhora do Monte, and enjoy leisurely evenings sampling local cuisine. Staying longer also allows time to interact with locals and discover hidden gems that guidebooks often miss.
Explore on foot or by bike
Travelling slowly also means exploring slowly. Walking or cycling is one of the best ways to truly experience a destination. This approach allows for closer observation of daily life, from street art to the enticing aromas from bakery windows.
For instance, renting a bike in Amsterdam to explore its canals and streets is a much more personal way to experience the city than quickly moving from landmark to landmark by car. Walking tours in smaller towns or neighborhoods can also reveal fascinating stories and details that are easy to miss.
Enjoy meals as experiences
Instead of rushing through meals to get back to sightseeing, take the time to enjoy food as part of the journey. Dining is an excellent way to connect with a destination’s culture, and lingering over meals can become one of the highlights of traveling.
Visit a local market to sample fresh produce or spend a couple of hours at a family-run restaurant to savor authentic dishes. In Italy, for instance, a long dinner with wine, pasta, and conversation can offer just as much insight into the culture as a visit to its historical landmarks.
Be open to the unexpected
One of the joys of travelling slowly is the freedom to embrace the unexpected. This could mean stumbling upon a street festival, finding a small art gallery, or simply watching the sunset from a quiet spot.
Rushed travel leaves little room for these moments, but a slower approach creates space for spontaneity. These unplanned experiences often become the most cherished memories from a trip.
Travel light and stay comfortable
Packing less can make a trip more comfortable and less stressful. A heavy suitcase or backpack is harder to manage and can slow down movement. Bringing only the essentials means less time spent organizing belongings and more time enjoying the journey.
Comfortable clothing and shoes are also important when traveling slowly. Long walks, bike rides, and casual exploration are far easier and more enjoyable when wearing the right gear.
Slowing down travel can transform holidays from a race against the clock into meaningful and relaxing experiences. Spending more time in one place, embracing flexible plans, and focusing on smaller, simpler pleasures help create memories that last.
By travelling at a comfortable pace, travellers can connect more deeply with the places they visit and truly enjoy the journey. Instead of ticking items off a list, it becomes about living in the moment and finding joy in the unexpected.
