The words revenge travel aren’t new anymore, and many of us have embodied the mindset of seeing the world with full fervour, especially since countries reopened their borders to deprived tourists post-pandemic.
Revenge travel often means packed holiday itineraries crammed with ”must-do” activities due to FOMO (fear of missing out) and entire trips being shared on social media.
While there’s nothing wrong with this, it can result in you overplanning, overcompensating and overdoing to a point where it becomes challenging to enjoy your time away or worse – you experience burnout from your own holiday.
Enter the return of slow travel.
What is slow travel?
In contrast to the constant hustle of revenge travel, slow travel counters the fast-food take of holidaying1. While not a new trend, it’s a returning mindset shift where travellers are slowing down on the road (or off it).
Many aspects of slow travel are making a comeback, and a 2023 travel study by American Express saw 86% of Gen-Z and Millennial respondents preferring to shop at local businesses, and 68% of respondents priding themselves on finding a lesser-known vacation spot2.
Slow travel recommends that the journey is as important as the destination, encouraging more whimsy when it comes to planning or adventuring along the way. It’s considered to be friendlier on the budget since it cuts down on extravagant experiences or bookings and enhances immersion into local culture, even encouraging travellers to practise more eco-friendly, culturally responsible travel approaches.
So, if you’ve ever felt like you needed a holiday after your holiday, maybe it’s time to consider getting off the beaten path and embracing slow travel.
What are some slow travel options?
If you’d like to take a different route for your next trip, here are some options for you to start slowing down at any getaway.
Check into a bed and breakfast
We all love the pampering that comes with booking ourselves into a premium suite of a luxury hotel, but it can be costly and the property could be in a bustling areas with little to experience.
Instead, try booking yourself into a homestay or a bed and breakfast, where you might luck out with a friendly, local host. If you prefer a hotel, try a boutique hotel – these independent options often allow a frills-free, laidback experience.
Go on a roadtrip
If you’re traipsing through a larger country, you might be tempted to get from Point A to B quickly with domestic flights.
Instead of rushing through an airport and grappling with customs checks or checking in or time, try renting a car (if you’re a licensed driver) or hopping on a train, both of which allow you to make pitstops and take in the sights. There are also bus or boat options for shorter rides which still allow you to see and do more.
If you’re a female traveller who’s considering a trip on your own, be sure to read about what you should know before embarking on your solo adventures!
Eat like a local
We all love some fine dining when we’ve overseas but dressing up for a 10-course meal or joining a snaking queue to try a croissant might not appeal to everyone.
Swap that for a homecooked meal taught in the humble kitchen of an nonna (Italian for grandmother) or a hot bowl of pho by the street with an independent tour guide. You might be surprised at who you meet over local grub. You can be as adventurous as you like as you fill your belly and create memories without emptying your wallet. P.S. Printing an allergy card in the local language might help if you have severe reactions to certain ingredients.
Support small businesses
Stocking up on souvenirs? Instead of splashing out at outlet malls, you might find some treasures elsewhere.
Take a wander into independent stores, plan to visit a weekend market or even stroll through a farmer’s market – these are all places where you can browse slowly and find meaningful gifts or mementos, such as handmade gifts and local snacks. There’s no rush to fill up a basket, and you’ll be supporting local businesses too.
To get the best of both worlds, you can try planning only part of your trip and leave yourself time to explore at your own pace.
Whether you’re an eager beaver who prefers a full itinerary or want to truly kick back at your next getaway, your holiday should be an opportunity to properly relax. If your budget doesn’t include an overseas trip just yet, you can master the art of slow travelling with some slow and easy “travel destinations” right here in Singapore.
As you pack and plan, don’t forget to protect yourself against any hiccups on the road – find out how Singlife Travel Insurance can keep you covered, and read our easy guide on what you need to do to file a travel claim.
Notes
1. Source: The Broke Backpacker, “The Art of Slow Travel (How to HACK Travel 2023)”, accessed on 22 September 2023.
2. Source: American Express, “2023 Global Trends Report”, accessed on 25 September 2023.
