🌍 Slow Travel: Upgrade how you see the world and help our planet!

Hi friend, welcome back to Itchy Feet! It’s great having you here.

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This week’s post is an Inspiration Postcard. Upgrade to become a paid subscriber to read the whole thing!

Last week, I chatted about my mom’s very first solo travel abroad (link). This week, I want to talk about another important topic:

Seeing the world and helping our planet at the same time!

If you’ve been reading this newsletter for the past 11 months, you probably guessed I think traveling is pretty cool.

I am a huge fan of traveling.

It’s been part of my DNA since 2009 and there’s no sign of the travel bug going away anytime soon. 

However, even though I openly promote traveling in this newsletter, part of me feels a little guilty. 

Despite all its benefits to us, traveling can have negative consequences for our planet. 

Overtourism is a serious issue, not only for people who live in popular cities like Barcelona but also for Mother Nature. 

My goal for 2025 is to travel more sustainably.

Thankfully, I’m not alone. Multiple travel trend reports from sources like WeTravel and the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) say sustainable travel is front of mind for many people. 

There are many ways we can travel sustainably. I wrote about it in an early post. Check it out here.

But let’s go a little deeper. Today we’re going to dive into a unique style of travel that benefits both local communities and the explorer. 

Introducing: Slow Travel

If you’re interested in sustainable travel, then slow travel should absolutely be on your radar. 

In this week’s Inspiration Postcard, I’m going to share the what, why, how, and where of slow travel. 

Sound good? Ok, let’s get to it!

What is slow travel?

Coincidentally, slow travel is one of Lonely Planet’s top 2025 travel trends to watch next year.

According to TheGood Trade, slow travel is an alternative to the “I need to see everything” mindset. 

Instead of hopping between cities and countries, you focus on ONE place. You’re not moving quickly through a new destination – you literally slow down.

You sink your teeth into it, you live it, you feel it, you immerse yourself in the place. In some cases, you even give back to the place. 

The purpose is to develop a mindful connection with where you’re going and yourself.

Also, slow travel involves thinking of different ways to move around.

Instead of the convenience of a car, maybe you ride a bike or walk. Instead of a plane, maybe there’s a train, shuttle, bus, or boat.

Slow trip sparks creativity. 

Although this concept might sound new to some folks, it’s been around for a while. 

Inspired by the 1980s slow food movement in Italy, the slow travel concept was born in the 1990s. 

Why should you slow travel?

The recipe for a slow trip is straightforward:

When you obsess less, you enjoy more. There’s no more FOMO, there’s just you and the present moment. 

When you think outside the box, you open yourself to the world even more. 

You’re creating a window between you and serendipity, and that’s hard to beat. 

Also, when you slow down, you begin to understand the place better. You catch more details, have time to reflect, and can appreciate it on a different level.

You begin to learn about the culture. Maybe slow travel even allows you to make friends with locals and learn about local ways of life. 

You also leave your comfort zone when you slow travel.

Normally, if a destination makes you feel a little anxious, a common solution is to leave. However, with slow travel, you need to fight the urge to move on and absorb what’s around you more. 

In the end, you will have a more authentic and enriching experience than the typical traveler. 

How can I slow travel?