Linger longer. Ease up the pace. Stop and smell the gardenias. All this to say—investing a little more time in your journey makes all the difference. Travelers are realizing that slowing down enhances every experience. Consider it “travel wellness.”
Slow travel is about embracing the journey as much as the destination. Booking a luxury rail journey through Malaysia or Scotland, for example, is a fantastic way to see more, see it well, and sip Champagne as you go. Or, consider cycling through the landscape in small group tours—eBikes make seeing Italy or the Adriatic islands (just about anywhere, really) so much more comfortable.
It’s also about spending more time in a destination, immersing yourself in its culture rather than rushing through a checklist. Instead of a whirlwind two-week tour of Europe, opt for an in-depth exploration of just two or three cities. If you’re flying in for a bucket-list cruise, arriving a few days early lets you experience the city beyond the port.
For example, before embarking on an Antarctic cruise, consider spending three or four days in Punta Arenas, Chile. Enjoy tax-free shopping, take a day trip to Isla Magdalena (hello, penguins!), or explore the lesser-known Parque Nacional Pali-Aike, which is an often missed national park where adorable wildlife wander without fear and where hikers discover beautiful trails to ethereal lagoons in the Patagonian steppe.
Savvy travelers know that three nights is the bare minimum to see the highlights of even a small city, four or five days is much better.
Landing in Paris? Bien sûr! Book a hotel in an arrondissement you haven’t stayed in before to kickstart your exploring, and spend another day enjoying the recently restored and reopened Notre Dame Cathedral and surrounding area. Paris has no shortage of ways to spend the day away. Make the like the French and stay put in a sidewalk cafe to people watch or read that novel you’ve been putting off.
Once you’ve had your fill of croissants and strong coffee, consider booking a train to Bruges, perhaps – just over three hours away. Belgian beer, waffles, and so much chocolate await amongst the medieval charms of the city. See old Flemish masters in museums and new ones in the galleries, wander the alleys of the Hanseatic Quarter and glide through the canals on a boat.
From Bruges, make day trips to Ghent (under 30 minutes by train) or move on to make a new base in the capital of Brussels (just over an hour by train) or the port city of Antwerp, which is long famous for the diamond trade. Let us help you plan an itinerary to stay a little longer and see a whole lot more. Linger, and you’ll love your leisure travel.
Savor slow travel and explore at a relaxed pace to make lasting memories.
Happy Travels,
The H Luxury Travel Team
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