“Slow Travel” Is A Better Way To Vacation, Taking Away The Stress Of Following Strict Itineraries And Replacing It With Easy-Going Relaxation
Have you ever been on a trip with someone who stressed you out because they had a very strict itinerary and freaked out if you didn’t follow it to a tee?
While it’s normal to want to see a lot when you’re traveling to a new place and ‘get the most’ out of your experience, after all the stress many of us have gone through since the pandemic and the last four years in general, more people have been embracing ‘slow travel.’
What is slow travel?
It’s a term to describe the kind of vacation where you focus on relaxing and go with the flow. Instead of following a long, complex itinerary, you focus on getting in enough time for resting and rejuvenating.
Not only is the idea of slow travel for you to slow down and take time for yourself, but it’s also an opportunity to unplug and see new things. Instead of sitting in a resort and lounging in a chair with your face in your phone, immerse yourself in local culture and embrace what’s around you.
If planning a trip based around slow travel sounds like something you’d be interested in, here are some tips for how to do it.
Be mindful of your destination
You’ll want to pick a place where you’ll be able to relax. Slow travel is best for places that don’t have too much going on but have just enough of a social atmosphere so that you don’t feel too isolated.
For instance, maybe don’t pick a whole new part of the world you haven’t seen yet because those kinds of locations are for more eventful and busy trips. Pick a spot with cozy-looking accommodations and nice scenery.
Marius V/peopleimages.com – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only, not the actual person
Think about how you want to relax
One way to help you finalize your destination and determine where you should stay is to list how you want to relax. For instance, do you want to focus on getting some good writing or journaling done? Look for a nice hotel room or Airbnb that has a great space for writing. Do you want to get some meditation done? See which spots have a relaxing, spiritual vibe.
If you want to rest well and treat yourself to some pampering, choose an Airbnb or hotel with an amazing spa or spa-like bathroom.
Plan to disconnect
Again, you need to unplug from major distractions to truly embrace slow travel. Consider deleting your social media apps and letting your followers know you’re taking a break. Text your friends and family and let them know you’re going to enjoy some ‘me-time’ and that you may not be on your phone as often.
Don’t be afraid to turn your phone on ‘do not disturb’ and set restriction timers to force yourself to be present where you are. One of the easiest ways to ruin a trip is to spend most of it on your phone. Come on, you scroll on your phone enough when you’re at home!
Make some plans
While you don’t have to have a crazy detailed itinerary, you should make a few plans to keep yourself occupied and prevent cabin fever. Book yourself some reservations at local restaurants for dinner, spend an afternoon in the nearby town, go on a hike, see a few historical sights, etc.
Enjoy some smaller, simpler activities during this trip. That way, you won’t have spent all your time in your hotel but won’t feel bogged down by too many plans.
Those are just a few easy tips to remember when booking a slow travel trip. Enjoy your time, and remember to keep it laid back!
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