Have you ever come home from work and felt like your brain couldn’t function properly? Maybe you find yourself putting the cereal in the fridge and the milk in the cupboard? This is a common sign of brain fog, a symptom of being burnt out mentally. The same thing can happen when you adventure around the world, and slow travel is a fitting way to avoid that.

You may have been here before. It’s your first time in Europe, and you want to see as much of it as humanly possible. You’ve only got a week, though. So, you’ll spend a day or two in Italy, then hop off to France.

Afterwards, you wanna take a brief look-see at Germany; and if time permits, you can stop in to see Switzerland. Then, when your trip is all over with, you are zonked out on the flight home and might even need a day off from work to recuperate. This way of traveling is the same as working 10-hour shifts back-to-back-to-back.

Later, when people ask you what you did while you were there, you realize that everything has melded together in your memories. Did you see the Eiffel Tower when in France? Or did you visit the Louvre first? What art did they even have at the Louvre? And your guide told you something really cool about one of the paintings, but what was it they said? Well, that’s alright.

In Italy, you know you saw the Colosseum…from outside. It was too crowded, and you didn’t have the time to go inside. I’ll see it next time, you thought.

But, why does it have to be next time? This is what slow travel is all about.

If you’d decided to spend your first European adventure at just one location—whether it be Bordeaux, Bern, or Berlin—you would have been able to truly enjoy the experience and take everything in, allowing you to create long-lasting, unforgettable memories.

If enjoying every moment in life is something you’re looking for, then we’ve got you covered. Read on for everything you need to know about the world of slow travel!

What is Slow Travel?

Slow travel goes by many names. You may have heard of “sustainable travel,” “mindful travel,” and/or “low-impact travel.” These all relate to the same idea: that we should avoid conventional tourism and embrace unique experiences.

The slow travel movement actually started in Italy in response to the increase of fast food restaurants. So, the Italians protested Ronald McDonald’s big red shoe from stepping into Rome and supported local cuisine and food preparation instead! Pretty neat, huh? And it makes total sense, because food is one of the cornerstones of any society.

Why Should You Become a Slow Traveler?

There are many cons of experiencing the place you’ve been dying to see at the same speed as a squirrel on an energy drink—You get that cookie, Hammy!

It tends to be more expensive because you’re taking taxis, trains, buses, and planes to get to every location “on time.”

It also has a really bad impact on the environment, which is a big no-no in the world of traveling today. We only say this because we all want to explore the world, but we should also want our children and our children’s children to get the same opportunities. And we can only do so if we treat Mother Earth with sustainable care, eco-friendly kindness, and renewable love.

If you truly want to do as the people do, then you have to travel slowly and truly immerse yourself in your travel experience. Plus, it helps ground you in the reasons why you went traveling in the first place.

On top of an increase in authentic cultural experience opportunities, your trip also becomes something less stressful. You can approach your vacation with a relaxed pace instead of running against the clock to see it all. The most exciting stories are when you just happened upon something that ended up being a lot of unexpected—and unplanned—fun.

When and Where Should You Enjoy Some Slow Traveling?

Now and everywhere! And ALLMYNE can help you with this too. With access to our wide range of local guides from around the world and our journal feature that encourages you to capture every moment for future trips down memory lane, ALLMYNE wants you to make connections outside of your comfort zone.

Meet new people. Eat new foods. Try new things. With discovery comes major growth, and who doesn’t love a little bit of self-reflection?

How Do You Slow Travel?

Alright, you’ve told me why I have to start traveling slower. But how do I begin?

Road trips are a great example of slow travel. You just drive and stop at things you see along the way. There is no obligation, no deadline, and no rush.

Either way, traveling with intention is the biggest key to becoming a slow traveler. Quality is better than quantity. You can always book another trip in the future. Also, don’t jampack your itinerary. Leave room for interesting spontaneity to take place!

Here are some great ways to practice slow traveling:

• Go to a national park: Disconnect from your phone and reconnect with nature
• Visit the local museum: Open your eyes to the wonders of the culture around you
• Stay with a family abroad: Experience life of the locals firsthand and listen to the oral traditions of their ancestors

Slow Travel is the Future of Travel

Elizabeth Gilbert had the right idea when she went off to Italy, India, and Indonesia. Her journey of self-discovery blossomed into something so memorably beautiful and inspiring for other people wanting to learn more and know more—not only about herself but about the world she inhabits, too.

In a world where everything is meant to be faster—cars, technology, weekends—we should try to enjoy the beauty of taking things slowly. I mean, the turtle didn’t win the race against the hare for nothing. Slow and steady always wins the travel race.

Download the ALLMYNE app from the APPLE STORE or GOOGLE PLAY to seamlessly plan, capture, and share your travel journey with a global community of fellow explorers. Upgrade to our PRO subscriber level for even more perks, including audio recording in your journal, AI-powered location suggestions tailored to your interests, unlimited trip locations, and unlimited storage for all your travel memories. Download the ALLMYNE app now – the ultimate travel companion to enhance every step of your journey!