Why do you travel? To experience new things? Discover new places? Recover and return to everyday life more relaxed? To be active, to hike or bike? Perhaps a combination of these things? In any case, you’re probably not traveling to rush from point A to point B, tick all the boxes on your bucket list at once, and end up needing a vacation from your vacation, right? Well, let’s talk about slow travel.
Table of Contents
Slow Travel: Travel Style or Mindset?
The Origin: Slow Food Movement
Slow Food in Germany, Austria and Switzerland
The Definition: What is Slow Travel?
Slow Travel Ideas for your next Journey
Slow Travel at your Destination
The Journey as Part of the Experience
Slow Travel: Travel Style or Mindset?
Much like sustainable travel, the term “slow travel” has become hackneyed and vague. Tour operators throw it around and promote slow travel, where the only difference from “normal” travel is that the accommodation is changed every three days instead of every day.
But the idea behind slow travel is more than just a way of traveling. It is a way of thinking and acting. Not only on vacation but also at home. So, it’s not about slowing down to zero on vacation and then getting back into the madness at home, but about being more conscious of our own time and resources, as well as the resources available to us and the people around us.
The Origin: Slow Food Movement
The concept comes from the Slow Food Movement, founded in Italy in 1986 as a counter-movement to the fast food boom. The goal of the Slow Food Movement is to promote more conscious enjoyment of food, to emphasize quality over quantity, and to celebrate the regional and local. It’s about taking your time: Time to eat and enjoy, but also time to grow and prepare.
Want to learn more about Slow Food? Then read on in this blog article!
Slow Food in Germany, Austria and Switzerland
1. STURM, Rhoen
The STURM has been a member of the Slow Food Germany Network since 2006. As an organic hotel, it is significant for the team to pay attention to regionality and the careful processing of food. However, it is especially important to them to bring guests and producers together and to raise awareness of the process that takes place before the artfully decorated dish arrives on the plate.
That’s why STURM has an open kitchen. As a hotel guest, you can look over the shoulders of the chefs, ask questions and maybe pick up an insider tip or two. 😉 By the way, you won’t find any digital media in the restaurant. You should concentrate on enjoying the food. In the here and now. This arrival in the present is also the reason why there is no TV in the newly built rooms with a garden view. Pure deceleration without the feeling of missing anything.
2. HUBERTUS Mountain Refugio, Allgäu
The Allgäu wellness hotel offers its guests the opportunity to “rise and relax”. Everything is under the sign of mindfulness, relaxation, slowness, and conscious experience. Even the food. The Traubel family has worked with many producers for years, even decades. And they are happy to share this close relationship with their guests, proudly showing them where the milk, cheese, vegetables, or meat come from. Slow Food is not only about gentle processing but also about supporting the region.
3. Genießerhotel die Forelle, Carinthia
On Lake Weissensee in Carinthia, Austria, the cuisine of the Forelle is always in tune with the seasons and micro-seasons. Ingredients are sourced from the immediate region, and as much as possible from Austria. Chef and hotel owner Hannes Müller describes the concept of his Berg.See.Küche as “import-autarkic” and is proud to show his guests how upscale and delicious slow food cuisine can be. The Forelle also hosts special cooking events around the historic wood-burning oven and stove. The Forelle’s unplugged evenings, dinners without electricity, are a special travel experience.
4. CERVO Mountain Resort, Zermatt
A mindful approach to nature and what it gives us is at the heart of CERVO‘s philosophy in Zermatt, Switzerland. The luxury hotel aims to create “a haven of peace” for its guests, where they can take time for themselves and appreciate the little things and moments. The fact that CERVO is also a member of Slow Food will come as no surprise, will it?
The Definition: What is Slow Travel?
Slow Travel itself has emerged as a kind of counter-trend to mass tourism and, according to a study by the Zukunftsinstitut (Future Institute of Germany), has its roots in the trend toward increasing individualization. The focus is on the “self-design of one’s own vacation ideal”.
Another reason for the growing popularity of slow travel is the feeling that the world around us is getting faster and faster. Maybe you feel the same way. Our daily lives are becoming more complex, we are inundated with news and there are so many things we have to pay attention to and take care of. Slow Travel is a way to consciously take a step back and get away from it all.
If you travel slowly and don’t have new impressions raining down on you all the time, even on vacation, you’ll have time to look at your everyday life from the outside. Maybe you will see things that you can change. Because let’s face it, we don’t take the time to do that at home. Slow Travel is more than a way to travel. It’s a way of living.
How to travel slow?
How you “slow travel” is entirely up to you. After all, slow travel is about doing things for yourself and getting involved. Slow travel is not limited to classic backpacking, as you might think. It doesn’t matter whether you’re traveling on a budget or luxuriously, in the city or in the country, or if your trip is personal or business. In fact, you can practice Slow Travel anytime.
Slow Travel Ideas for your next Journey
Planning your Trip
- Take the train, bus, bike, or walk whenever possible. It doesn’t matter if you’re traveling to or from your destination. You may be able to think of other transportation alternatives to planes and cars that you can use on your trip and that will give you a new perspective on your trip.
- Try to think of traveling as part of the journey. Even if you’re traveling for business!
- Travel in the low season, when there are fewer tourists. In high season, you can try to choose less crowded destinations. This also spreads out the tourist traffic, which is better for the environment and the local people.
- If possible, plan your trip individually and avoid package tours.
- Stay in sustainable, family-run hotels or private accommodations (home or farm stays).
During your Vacation
- Leave space for spontaneous activities and don’t overbook your vacation days.
- Eat at restaurants run by locals. Buy your souvenirs and keepsakes from local craftsmen or artists.
- Train yourself to focus on the things you are experiencing.
- Practice awareness. This includes not only seeing and looking, but also tasting, smelling, hearing, and feeling. Take a moment now and then to pause. (By the way, this is also a good tip for everyday life!)
- Turn off your phone (or put it on airplane mode) and use it only to take pictures. Even a trip without Google Maps can be exciting, and you might discover places you wouldn’t have seen otherwise.
- Reach out to locals. Show interest, appreciation, and respect. Engage in conversation, even if you don’t speak the language perfectly.
The two Types of Slow Travel
Essentially, travel experts distinguish between two approaches to slow travel: slow travel on location and slow travel as part of the experience.
Traveling slow at your Destination
The first approach is to take the time to explore your destination and really get to know it. For example, depending on the length of your vacation, you might book only one or two accommodations from which you can explore the immediate area, and don’t change hotels every two days.
Or you travel by car, train, or plane, but then you walk or bike around the area. This is also slow travel. Slow travel on-site is a kind of compromise, especially if you want to go farther, but don’t necessarily have the time to get there by road.
By the way, we took a critical look at the question of whether we should still fly in view of climate change here.
By traveling slowly on the ground, you not only get to know your destination much better and talk to the people, but you also give back more in the form of spending on restaurants, shopping, entrance fees, and souvenirs.
Travel Inspiration: Discover Phuket in a new Way
The Thai island of Phuket is best known for its party miles. But off the beaten track, you can discover real insider tips and experience the island in a hushed and authentic way. In many places, people are working hard to restore nature and make it accessible to guests and locals alike.
An insider tip away from the hotspots was revealed by Keemala to us. At Cape Krating, you’ll experience Phuket in a new way, promises the hotel team. What you need for the short hike: hiking boots, water bottle, sunscreen, flashlight (if you want to stay for the sunset), and your camera. From Cape Krating you have an almost complete panoramic view of Adaman Bay.
By the way: Keemala itself also offers room for slowness. The various private villas invite you to relax. Especially if you’re planning a longer trip to Thailand and have already experienced a lot, Keemala is a dreamy place to indulge in luxury for a few days and let the experiences sink in.
Are you planning a trip to Thailand right now? Then you might be interested in this blog article about a trip by train through Thailand.
Travel Inspiration: Arrive between the Mountains and the Sea
On the Canary Island of Tenerife, OCÉANO is dedicated to mindfulness and offers space for sustainable recovery and a change in attitude and lifestyle. The health hotel’s professionals will help you do this (as much or as little as you like) with nutritional consultations, meditation coaching, fitness programs, or fasting and detox offerings.
The hotel is also a tranquil base from which you can explore the island bit by bit. Nestled between the rough waves of the Atlantic Ocean and the slopes of the National Park beneath Mount Teide, you will be in touch with nature from the very beginning of your journey. The daily sea air and the conscious start to the day, whether it’s morning yoga on the roof terrace or taking a deep breath on your own balcony overlooking the sea, create an entirely different mindset that you can take home with you.
Travel Inspiration: Hiking and Forest Bathing in the Black Forest
The people of the SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA know about the healing effects of forest air, and especially about the positive psychological effects. This is one of the reasons why they offer you the opportunity to participate in a guided Black Forest Bathing with resilience trainer Petra Himmel. She helps you to experience the forest with all your senses and to consciously switch off. In general, the team of the sustainable hotel advises its guests to stop, take a deep breath and enjoy the moment. This includes turning off the cell phone and giving yourself room to be spontaneous. “Not just focusing on the sights, but appreciating everything you experience, really savoring even the smallest moments and creating lifelong memories”. This is how the SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA team describes what they wish you to experience as their guest.
The Journey as part of the Experience
The second approach to slow travel is to view the journey as part of the travel experience. That it is more than just the means of getting to your destination. For example, you might consider the train ride to your lodging as an experience in itself because it takes you through some particularly beautiful scenery. Or if you’re traveling by car or electric car, instead of taking the fastest route, you might take side roads, make small detours, or stop at particularly beautiful spots along the way.
Scenic Route instead of Highway
Special roads are also a good choice for your trip. For example, the sustainable Berghotel Rehlegg is located directly on the German Alpine Road, a panoramic road that connects Lake Constance with the Berchtesgaden region and leads through the most beautiful regions of the Alps.
Klaus Pichler of the Weihrerhof likes to advise his German and Austrian guests to take a route over one of the Alpine passes in the summer instead of taking the autobahn. And even at A’ Crápa Mangia in southern Italy, guests are welcome to share their experiences along the way. Italy in particular offers so much culture, history, and beautiful scenery that it’s hard not to stop along the way.
If Croatia is on your list, we highly recommend the Scenic Drive along the Peljesac Peninsula. From here you have wonderful views of the Adriatic Sea and there are always stops and rest areas for short and long breaks. At the end of the peninsula, you can take the ferry to the island of Korcula and immerse yourself in the island’s life.
Hotel Tip: Eco Aparthotel The Dreamer’s Club
The Dreamer’s Club’s bright, friendly apartments are ideal for families and travelers with dogs. There is plenty of space, the option of self-catering, and a large garden with terraces, a tree house, a playground, and a yoga platform. But even if you don’t want to cook, you’ll still feel right at home: You can take advantage of the hotel’s services and enjoy delicious local specialties for breakfast and lunch.
The Dreamer’s Club is also happy to support and even encourage your slow journey.
»Rather than hurrying to visit as many places as possible, we suggest spending more time in fewer locations, enabling you to truly discover and appreciate the unique offerings of each destination, including its beaches, bays, and cultural heritage. By embracing this approach, you can deepen your understanding and connection to a place«
Eco Aparthotel The Dreamer’s Club
The Benefits of Slow Travel
For the Environment
When you travel slowly, you travel more consciously. Even when it comes to your choice of transportation. As slow travelers, we use buses and trains more often instead of cars and planes. We walk or bike more to explore places. That’s better for the environment, of course.
Slow travelers are also more conscious about where they stay and are more likely to choose family-run and sustainable hotels, guesthouses, or vacation homes. This not only has a positive effect on your own carbon footprint but also on the region.
For the Region and the People
The longer you stay in a place, the more money you spend there, and the more of that money goes to the local people. This is especially true if you shop locally, eat in restaurants run by residents, hire local guides or book activities with them, and don’t stay in chain hotels.
Also, there are a lot of other people involved. For example, going to a local restaurant not only supports the owners but also the local producers who supply the restaurant. And by traveling slowly and staying longer, you’ll discover shops, diners, and places that the vast majority of travelers probably don’t discover because they’re off the typical tourist routes. In this way, you’ll be supporting people who don’t usually benefit from tourism, and you’ll be strengthening the region as a whole.
Do you want to know more about the socio-economic impact of your trip? Then check out the blog article on social sustainability in tourism!
For Yourself
Slow travel also has benefits for you. You will experience your destination more intensely and differently, get to know the culture, and discover new places. You also see more of the region, especially if you are walking or biking.
And, of course, there are the psychological benefits of not getting caught up in the stress of travel and the pressure to check off every possible sight and activity on your list. Slow travel creates different memories. Memories, that you may not always be able to capture in photos like you can with sightseeing, but stay in your heart, and you’ll remember them. Probably even more than the moment when the photo of you in front of the Eiffel Tower was taken 😉
Conclusio
Slow Travel is more than “just” traveling slowly. It’s about conscious experience, mindfulness, and appreciating the little moments we all love so much about travel. And, yes, in the face of garbage floods and climate change, slow travel is also about sustainable and eco-friendly travel. But it’s not the only thing.
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