Slow travel is the quiet decision to go deeper instead of wider. It’s the intentionality behind trading the checklist for the experience, the highlight reel for the lived moment.
Conversely, fast travel asks: how much can I see?, slow travel lingers on a different question: how fully can I feel this place while I’m here?
I’ve been traveling for over 30 years, and somewhere along the way, my travel rhythm changed.
In recent days, I find myself drawn to a slower pace—not out of necessity, but out of desire. Part of it is the life stage I’m currently in. Traveling with a small child softens your expectations. You begin to move with the day instead of against it—around naps, moods, not-so-fleeting bursts of energy— if you’ve ever seen a toddler miss a nap, you understand… it’s a force of nature.
But it’s more than that.
Slow travel, at its heart, is less an itinerary and more a way of being.
As I’ve grown, so has my taste. I still love beautiful places and exceptional experiences—but I crave space around them. I work hard, and now I want to rest with the same intention. To savor. To stretch time. To let a place unfold instead of trying to capture it all at once.
And maybe most telling of all—I no longer feel the need to do everything.
Even in places that are new to me, I don’t feel pulled by every landmark or “must-see.” What I’m after now is something quieter, more intimate. A feeling. A connection. A memory that doesn’t need to be documented to be meaningful.
I do a lot or research, both for personal travel and for my clients. All the trips planned by Pearl & Salt are thoroughly researched and you leave with a travel guide full of ideas for experiences and much more.
How I move through a place
I keep it simple.
One planned major activity for every two days.
Just enough structure to give the trip shape—but never so much that it takes over.
I build my days the way I’d want to live them.
Slow mornings, unhurried meals, time to wander, to rest, to follow whatever catches my attention. A café that feels just right. A street that invites me to walk a little further. A moment that asks nothing of me but my presence.
I anchor the experiences with what matters most—and allow everything else to breathe around it.
So even when I’m “doing nothing,” it’s not empty.
It’s intentional. It’s spacious. It’s alive in its own quiet way.
And always, always, there’s room for spontaneity… because some of the most unforgettable moments aren’t planned.
What slow travel really feels like
Slow travel is often misidentified as “taking it easy” or doing less. When slow travel is done right, it’s actually well curated and thoughtful. This is where Pearl & Salt Travel thrives— with designing FIT experiences: bespoke travel design. It’s about experiencing more— more deeply, more fully, more honestly. It is—
Staying long enough for a place to recognize you (~5–7 nights minimum)
Build rhythm—morning coffee at the same café, a favorite walking route, a local market routine
You prioritize connection: with people, culture, environment
Letting your days find a rhythm that feels natural, not imposed
You leave space for spontaneity (this is where magic actually happens)
Instead of only checking off iconic landmarks, you could:
Learn to cook a family recipe in a local chef’s home kitchen
Spend an afternoon people-watching in a village square
Get to know a small business owner on a personal level
Becoming a familiar face at a beach club, a wine bar, a corner shop
Falling into conversations that stretch longer than expected
The important thing to remember is being open to experiences.
Slow travel hits different
Fast travel impresses. It’s always cool to say I visited 5 countries on my trip to Europe (for example). Slow travel on the other hand, lingers.
It settles into your memory differently—softer, but somehow deeper with a lasting impression. The moments feel more vivid, more personal, giving a unique emotional richness. It also has a lasting impact as it gives your body actually has a chance to relax and unwind. You won’t need a vacation after your vacation. You will return restored, not depleted. You will also begin to understand a place not just visually, but soulfully.
Slow travel is felt, not seen
Where it can get boring
Slow travel is often romanticized, but without intention it can fall flat. Some common pitfalls are:
Staying too long somewhere without depth
Moving slowly, but without intention
Mistaking stillness for presence
True slow travel isn’t empty, it’s full. Full of awareness, texture, quiet (and sometimes loud) richness.
Slow travel, much like true luxury, resists performance. It doesn’t ask to be proven or posted. It simply asks to be experienced.
A few days in a single place—done well—can stay with you longer than a whirlwind of destinations likely would. Mainly because what it gives you the rare gift of time that is fully yours.
We often say travel is an escape, but most people never quite arrive and settle-in anywhere—they’re always moving, always reaching for the next thing.
Slow travel invites something different. It invites us to take our time, to pay attention, to immerse in the the culture and surroundings of where we are. It’s high on intentionality and purpose.
The Japanese call it ma—the beauty of the pause.
The Italians call it dolce far niente—the sweetness of doing nothing.
In Swahili it’s “pole pole” (Swahili for “slowly, slowly”)— emphasizes connection, patience, and presence over rushing.
Another lens to look at this is— Slow travel is learning to fall in love with those in-between spaces because the most meaningful experiences—travel and otherwise—are the ones you are fully present for.
When you’ve truly felt the soul of a place, something in you shifts. You know you’ve reached that unique milestone of connecting with a place deeply and you leave differently from when you arrived.
That’s the art of it.
Intent is the key ingredient at the center of slow travel. Travel wisely coterie!
A guide to creating your own slow travel trip.
PRO-TIP for slow traveling: choose a theme or go on a self pilgrimage.
Theme: Wellness and challenge yourself.
Pick a couple of things you really want to immerse yourself in. For example learn to surf if visiting a surfing village, and yoga.
This is a small list I used to get clear on goals for a slow travel visit to a Santa Teresa, Costa Rica:
Learn to surf
Yoga eveeryday + learn to do a headstand unassisted
Make a new friend
Donate to a local school or charity
A few amazing places that are slow travel friendly
Villa in small Tuscany village (great for groups that want to experience beauty together)
Santa Teresa, Costa Rica
Pearl & Salt Recommends: Hotel Santa Teresa by the Beach | 4 star
Dakar, Senegal
Pearl & Salt Recommends: Pullman Dakar Teranga | 5 star
Sample Slow travel itinerary for a little surfing village
Day 1 - arrive, get lay of the land, unpack and relax. Eat and sleep.
Day 2 - breakfast, surf lessons, visit local market, lunch, siesta, yoga, dinner, nightlife (live music) at a local spot
Day 3 - breakfast, surf lessons, deliver school supplies donations to local elementary school, lunch on the beach, sun-bathe/beach time, freshen up, yoga, dinner and night cap
Day 4 - breakfast, yoga, bike to town and explore, cooking class with local chef + lunch, return to village for sunset picnic, drinks and games at local bar
Day 5 - breakfast, yoga, surf (with guide or solo — surprise yourself), relax and have some lunch. Go shopping at local art stores, visit local historical sites - tour with local guide. Pack for departure
Day 6 - check out and catch your transportation back home
What’s the most daring thing on your bucket list? Share with us on social media or email [email protected]