Slow travel gives you time to relax while saving you plenty of money. Here’s why you should try it at least once.
Save more money
When you stay longer in one place, you can save a lot of money. You cut down on transportation costs including flights, airport transfers, taxis, and trains. If you travel slowly, you would know where the locals go to get the best price.
More meaningful experiences and relationships created
The longer you stay, the more meaningful experiences you will get. You’ll likely forget your experience after a couple of years when you spend only two days.
Slow travel is more sustainable
The fact that traveling– especially by plane– leaves a whopping carbon footprint. The slower our means of transport, the less that [carbon] footprint is, said Green Global Travel.
It’s about taking the time to observe, to be at the moment, and take pleasure from simple things
Sometimes you would not remember all the building you tried to get to in a single day. But, it’s the cool street musician you found and shared conversation; the stories you’ve heard from girls that helping you to get to the most beautiful cave in Indonesia, or the time you sneak into a wedding parade on the street of New Delhi.
It will preserve your energy
“It’s too easy to get caught in the trap of trying to see everything there is to see; going through the motions but not absorbing anything. Slow travel will keep things fresh and prevent the burnout that is inevitable when you are on the road for months,” said Simon and Erin from Never Ending Voyage
Learning the language
“Especially if you decide to travel in an area that is not popular with tourists. Many times you will be required to know a few key words or sentences,” from Dying To Travel
Get into a routine that works for you
Dave and Deb from The Planet D shared, “Slow travelers will naturally (or eventually) find a balance between living in a foreign country and traveling.” It is essential to find your routine when staying longer in a particular country. Planning and leaving often is constantly hard. Finding your routine would make your travel more enjoyable.” When I arrived in New York, the constant rush is exhilarating, but there are times it takes a toll on me. Then I create my routine. I found an affordable place to do Yoga, going back to my exercise routine would balance my life here. There are so many things to do that you feel missing out. Beware of FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out). It’s true.
You get excellent at budgeting
Frugal does not mean you’re cheap. You know how to spend money in exchange for the highest travel benefit.
You master the art of packing
Packing becomes your second nature. Whether packing for the summer trip or multi-season trip, you master it all! One week worth of clothes can last for a month when traveling to tropical countries in Asia.
It’s about letting go of your fear and opening your heart
“Slow Travel is about letting go of fear and opening your heart,” said Karin-Marijke Vis, Notes On Slow Travel.
You won’t get lost
Vagabondish – a website dedicated to Dubious tips & essential ephemera for today’s curious traveler – mentioned why you should walk your way around the world. “Sometimes arriving in a new place can be overwhelming to your sense. By slowly adjusting would help you decipher the new tricky language, culture, and food. At walking pace, you can discover your new territory while carefully learning from the map you have.”
Enjoy a day in without feeling guilty
Traveling is exhausting. Sometimes you just want to curl up in your bed and watch Netflix. Slow traveling allows you to recharge for your next adventure.
Get into a better shape
According to Leyla from The Women On The Road, “When I walk at my natural pace, I tend to walk more. In Venice recently I found I was walking up to 17,000 steps a day! That’s after I ditched my map. Before that, I was walking less than half as I shuffled trying to decipher street names.”
Be spontaneous
Without a schedule, nothing is holding you down. Want to do bungee jumping, go on a bus tour, visit a small town nearby, or go to the most amazing art festival? Just do it!
Renting an apartment in a different country sounds exotic
The first thing you would realize is how much you would save on accommodation. Renting an apartment can cost the same as staying in a hotel, yet with the advantage of having more personal space.
Having a new skill. A LOT of skill
Be it blogging, photography, cooking, or martial art. There’s enough time for you to learn this that you can brag about it to your friends and family.
Use airline points more wisely
Part of the reason to travel slower is to avoid the most expensive part of the trip which is airfare. Hacking your travel using credit card points is very popular in America. This method allows traveler to choose between paying with points, cash, or a combination of it.
Spend less time in transit
“When you only have a week to travel, spending two full days in transit can be frustrating. Not only is it a huge time sink, but the stress of it all can also take away from experience,” said Holly Johnson. Traveling slower let you move at your pace and use the transit times actually to explore the area.
Traveling is not a contest
Because in the end, traveling is not a contest. Jennifer Miller wrote about how travel is becoming more of a contest in this demanding modern culture. “So much of modern culture pushes us at a frenetic pace. Americans seem to be the worst of the bunch, with 30% of people not taking their allotted vacation time and 37% not taking more than a week a year. For the rest, a sad 33%, we tend to vacation the same way we live: at warp speed with emphasis on performance and “box checking.” Hence, the proliferation of tours that cram three countries and five cities into two weeks and keep travelers moving on an itinerary that feels like anything but the vacation.”
This article originally appeared on Slow Travel Story site.