Skip to content

How to Slow Down the Way you Travel

July 1, 2024

Peak holiday season is now upon us, but how will you be travelling this summer? More and more of us are choosing a slower pace to our travels, in the hopes of gaining a greater connection to the places we visit, reducing our impact on the environment and returning home feeling rested and rejuvenated. If you’re wondering how you can embrace slow travel, read on for our suggestions.

Get off the beaten track

Over-tourism is a huge problem in many destinations around the world, including places in Europe such as Dubrovnik, Iceland and Venice. But that’s not the only reason to step off the beaten track. Social media has influenced where we travel, but rather than visiting the same locations as everyone else, wouldn’t you rather seek out intriguing destinations you know little about where there is more to discover? If you are travelling to a popular place, you can still get off the usual tourist path by your choice of which neighbourhoods to explore. If you are looking to social media for planning your trips, look for people who are recommending places that aren’t the usual tourist hotspots. For example – I am currently planning a family trip to Germany and have stumbled upon excellent child-friendly hiking routes and nature holidays via account: @tiny.amsterdam

Think local

A big part of slow travel is getting into the mindset of the people who live there. Supporting local businesses such as shops, markets, restaurants, tours and accommodation puts money back into the local economy, rather than big businesses. And if you stay outside of tourist traps areas, you can get to know the locals and ask for their recommendations, rather than relying on fellow holidaymakers who have only visited once or twice. Not only will you discover hidden gems, but you’ll return home with interesting stories, a deeper understanding of the place that you visited and perhaps even new friends.

Travel with intention

This doesn’t have to be an intention such as volunteering (although this is very in-line with slow travel), but it helps to have a clear purpose for your trip rather than simply ‘going on holiday’. Do you want to eat a particular cuisine, learn about a different culture, try your hand at a new skill or travel somewhere that allows you to completely switch off from work? If you give your trips purpose and meaning, you can make the time to enjoy the reasons why you are visiting this destination. Our first family holiday was to a kite festival in the north of France – we knew that the festival was dependent on the weather and it was in fact cancelled due to a lack of wind, but it gave a purpose to our trip and we had a wonderful time travelling there, eating delicious food and exploring small towns and local beaches.

Go with the flow

Although having a purpose to your trip aids with slow travel, it is also ok to simply enjoy being there. Rather than rushing around trying to take everything in or taking photographs for social media, try to unwind and simply enjoy being in the moment. Simply enjoy living your day-to-day life in a new destination, developing a slow routine based around your favourite activities such as lingering over meals or daily swims. Also, be flexible with your plans and avoid cramming too much into one day. If you’re a natural planner, try to stick to one or two things per day such as a dinner reservation or tickets to a gallery – and don’t rush these. Don’t be scared to change your plans either; leaving them open for local recommendations or alternative places that you stumble upon.

Aster Kimono Olive worn as swimsuit coverup

Embrace what you want to get out of your holidays

Think about what you really enjoy about holidays and what you want to get out of your future trips? If you’re happy lounging beside a pool with a good book and a cocktail, there’s nothing wrong with that. Equally, if your idea of a dream holiday is ticking off all the archaeological sites, you can still do this, but in a way where you have the time to linger and enjoy each site rather than rushing onto the next. Take recommendations from friends, guidebooks or social media with a pinch of salt, and instead focus on enjoying the moments that you will enjoy and remember.

Literally slow down how you reach your destination

Slow travel doesn’t have to mean avoiding flying, but shunning air travel doesn’t just reduce your carbon footprint. It also allows you to slow down the entire process of travel, seeing the journey itself as part of your trip. Whether you embark on a road trip, hop on and off trains, or even plan a walking holiday, these forms of getting around will help you to gain a slower perspective on how you travel. When you’re travelling by car, you have the flexibility to stop whenever the name of a town catches your eye, and to change your route depending on what you see along the way. I love how road trips allow you to discover the smaller places that you would otherwise travel straight past or over if travelling by train or plane. 

Think quality over quantity

Ultimately, slow travel is about quality over quantity. It doesn’t matter how many places you visit in one year, how many sights you tick off in one trip, or how many photos you post on Instagram  – embracing a slower way of travelling is all about releasing your FOMO and improving the quality of your travel experiences. Simply enjoy the company of the people that you are with, or if you are travelling solo, relish the time on your own. 

Images of the Spring Summer Collection.

Proudly British Made

Proudly British Made

Local wool, local hand craftmanship

Delivery & Returns

Delivery & Returns

Treasured pieces delivered with care

Uncompromised Quality

Uncompromised Quality

Beautiful garments that will be treasured for years