Have you ever wondered what slow traveling entails?
Slow travel may sound like something that you only do when you have the time, but in reality, it is one of the best ways to travel as a senior.
Let’s be honest for a moment! In retirement, a lot of us made a goal of traveling more and seeing more countries, something that we could not do while younger.
No matter why you want to travel more as a retiree, it is good to learn to enjoy the freedom and make the most of each new discovery and adventure.
There is no need to rush into every famous city or run to see every important landmark! Sure, you will get to see all the ones you want to, but you should not hurry to do so.
The best thing about slow travel is that you can take a longer time to get to know a new place. You will end up visiting a country and discovering all the landmarks, but you will also live like a local for a little while.
You will have the time to take in the culture, and you will find yourself less in a hurry to see everything in the limited time you have and more open to seeing what the city has to offer aside from famous spots.
Maybe you will be open to giving the rest of the country a try instead of just focusing on a city or landmark that is important.
You’re already retired, so why not travel for longer and make the most of your time and money by giving slow travel a try?
Keep on reading to discover why slow travel is the way to go for retirees who are passionate about travel and new spots, along with other perks that you may not have even considered before about this topic!
What is your relationship with travel? Is it something you want to do more of in retirement? Have you heard of slow travel before? Let us know in the comments down below!
1. Slow travel will help you travel on a budget.
When you slow travel, you can save a significant amount of money.
This is because you can easily opt for longer stays that will bring you a discount in the long run, and you can skip the hotels and focus on longer-term rentals that are more economical in the long run.
By focusing on the likes of Airbnbs and Vrbos and even renting apartment platforms for your destinations, you can easily find a better fit for you at a better price since you will be there for a longer time.
Not to mention, you can easily save some extra money since you can benefit from amenities such as kitchens and in-house laundry, which can save you a lot more money.
Slow travel can also help you discover the local ingredients and use them in dishes that you are either familiar with or inspire you to try to cook something new.
You will cut down on the number of times you go to dine out and help you understand the area’s traditions and food culture.
What’s more, you can easily take a cooking course or two in the area or join a group meal organized by local hosts so that you can try more dishes that are authentic and even learn how to make them yourself!
Not having to leave as fast also helps you choose a more quaint part of the city, and you can get familiar with areas of the town you are in that you wouldn’t otherwise explore.
Plus staying out of renting in the tourist areas will mean better sleep and lower prices.
2. You can make more meaningful connections with slow travel.
Another perk of slow travel is that you will be able to make meaningful connections; if you are already at retirement age or close to it if you are an early retiree, you already know how important making connections is.
You may be traveling and making acquaintances with the host of your rental or becoming familiar with the people at the grocery shop or farmer’s market, but if you are leaving soon, you will never end up seeing them again.
By slow traveling, you can spend a longer time in the destination of your choosing, and you can join local clubs, volunteer, and attend several workshops that will help you integrate into the local community and help you meet new people.
Not only will you get to experience how it would be to live there and integrate into the local life, but you will also be able to build a network of international and worldwide friends with whom you will be able to converse even years from now!
3. You can help the local economy in a way that matters.
Focusing on longer stays means that you can contribute more to the local economy. We have all gotten a bit tired of hearing about how tourists help the local economy but also ruin the local way of life.
And while it is true for some people who go on vacations and are all entitled, if you choose to slow travel in retirement, you can easily be part of the solution.
Since you are in one location for locals, you will be spending your money on shopping, accommodations, and local dining that is going to go directly to the local businesses.
You can focus on choosing places that are local and now corporation-owned, pay more attention to local artisans, and thus end up fostering connections and a sense of community based on mutual respect.
Even better, if you are focusing on making your travels as sustainable as possible, then slow travel is definitely the way you should go about it!
4. Use traveling as a means to learn and grow.
Just because you are traveling and retired doesn’t mean that learning and growing have to stop!
If anything, managing to retire is the best way in which you can easily pick up learning again; be it we are talking about new skills, picking up new hobbies, or just getting better at talents you already possess, growing is always a part of life!
This is where slow travel is the perfect glove if you want to always better yourself and your skills. You can easily pick up a new language, at least at a conversational level, immerse yourself in the local culture, attend local craft workshops, or make the most of the food courses and gatherings mentioned earlier.
There are many things you can learn from spending more time in a new place, and by slowly traveling, you can work on your skills while also getting to understand yourself and others better.
Slow travel is one of the best personal growth opportunities, not to mention the experiences and learning you will have along the way!
If anything, think about all the wonderful memories you will make and all the stories you can bring back to your family and loved ones.
5. Slow travel is better for the environment.
Since we have mentioned sustainability, slow travel is one of the best ways to travel without impacting the environment as much.
Reducing your carbon footprint may be a way for some to put the responsibility on individuals, but in the end, we cannot deny that every little thing matters.
By not flying as frequently and living like a local, you will be among the ones who can be friendly to the environment without having to give up the things you like, such as travel and going on new experiences and adventures.
Slow travel is the best way to visit new places in the most unique way; you get to enjoy the best of all worlds: cultural immersion, adventure, and relaxation.
You will not have to worry about any health issues due to trying to visit everything in a short span of time or having to spend a ton of money all at once. However, to be able to do that, you need to let go of the idea that you have to visit, do, and see everything in one location.
Focus on the experiences and the things you can do, and enjoy them to the fullest at your own pace.
If you want to learn even more about the ways of slow travel and how it can become a powerful and important way of traveling in retirement, give this book on the matter a read: The Art of Slow Travel.
And since we have been talking about how you can slow travel, why not put it into practice once you retire? There are certain locations on this earth that you should not miss, so we recommend that you add them to your travel list as soon as possible! These are our favorite destinations that you have to check out! Are they already on your bucket list?
