Fast-paced vacations are out. Stress-free trips will fuel tourism in the coming year.
Ever had that feeling of wanting a vacation after a vacation? You’re not alone. According to scientific research, it’s normal to experience post-vacation fatigue from the changes in routine, sleep disruptions, and stress of planning and traveling during our leisure trips.
For most travelers, vacations usually comprise packed itineraries, hopping from one destination to another throughout the day, only to go home feeling exhausted. But a reviving trend has been redefining the way people spend their vacations nowadays.
“Slow travel” is unlike traditional leisure getaways where you cram many sights into one weekend or a few days. Slow travel encourages a more relaxed, immersive experience that prioritizes quality over quantity in your trips.
Travelers are now maximizing their time and financial investment by pairing high-impact adventures and experiences with their desire to relax and recharge.
Proving that jam-packed, fast-paced vacations are out and stress-free trips are the new norm, hospitality giant Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. recently did a survey which predicted that 2025 is the “Year of the Travel Maximizer.”
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Hilton’s annual trends report, published in September, states that travelers are now maximizing their time and financial investment by pairing high-impact adventures and experiences with their desire to relax and recharge.
“Our 2025 Trends Report uncovers what has been simmering for years – the intersection of work and play; of relaxation and adventure; of being alone but together. Travelers don’t just want to choose their own adventure – they want to maximize every moment of their time away,” said Chris Nassetta, president and chief executive officer of Hilton.
The company surveyed 13,000 adults from 13 different countries who want to travel next year. Results showed that travelers have been incorporating rest and tranquility into their getaways, with global trotters indulging in hurkle-durkling — “lounging in bed all day” in Scottish — while on vacation. Meanwhile, more than a quarter of the respondents prevent sleep disruptions by “booking a spa or wellness treatment” during their stay. Despite this, the thirst for adventure remains, as 7 in 10 global travelers still prefer being active while they travel and going on outdoor adventures in 2025.
Many travelers still consider travel as a way to distress, though, with more than 1 of 5 respondents opting for “soft travel” or travel that encourages simplicity or spontaneity. These tourists have been going on getaways “for self-discovery or mental health when traveling for leisure.”
“Slow travel” is likewise a common goal, with 1 in 4 tourists “planning to explore the world and different cultures in 2025,” which is part of the slow travel trend or the concept of “traveling and immersing yourself into a destination for an extended time as a local to fully experience the culture.”
What is slow travel?
Slow travel is a relatively new term, but its history dates back to the 1980s when Italian political activist Carlo Petrini started the “slow food movement” — a protest against fast food and fast life. The protest eventually grew into the broader “slow movement,” which advocated for a reduction in the pace of all aspects of modern life, including travel.
As the name suggests, slow travel is about slowing down to savor experiences on your trip rather than scampering around to tick off items on your bucket list. It entails staying in one region for a prolonged time to create a deep connection with your destination’s culture, food, music, and local people.
“Slow travel may mean different things to different travelers, but I define it as staying in one place for longer and going deeper into the local culture,” Paul Jacobs, Kayak North America general manager, told Huffpost. “It’s taking the time to make real connections with locals versus jam-packing a schedule full of tours. It’s staying in Kyoto at a Ryokan instead of city hopping throughout Asia.”
Another advantage of slow travel is that it allows you to meditate and appreciate your destination better. “It’s about being fully present in the moment and experiencing the sights, sounds, and sensations around you without distraction — letting these experiences unfold at their own pace and without expectations,” travel expert La Carmina told the outlet.
She added that for her, slow travel doesn’t have a strict definition or set of mandatories, such as staying in one region only, but it’s about “the compassionate awareness one brings to being a visitor in a destination.”
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How to experience slow travel
As Carmina said, slow travel doesn’t have a one-size-fits-all approach. It varies per person, depending on what you want to achieve on your trip.
However, there are a few ideal ways to experience this kind of relaxing vacation. One of them is to keep your to-do list short, with only a few tasks and locations to visit. You can also opt not to bring one and ask locals for recommendations instead. And once you have reached a place, try to understand its culture and the story behind it instead of just snapping photos for the ‘Gram.
Another way to enjoy slow travel is to spend a long time in a place and walk around its lesser-known neighborhoods, dine at hole-in-the-wall restaurants several times, or attend a cultural event. As much as possible, avoid rushing to every place and every food spot there is, especially if you’re only staying at this place for a couple of days.
“Spread out your tourist visits over a longer period of time,” travel vlogger Marl Wolters said. “This way you can spend your morning at a café, then midday at a museum, then the afternoon and early evening at a park reading your favorite book, instead of seeing two museums in the morning and one in the afternoon and then a theater show at night with a ghost tour at midnight.”
Instead of booking a room in a popular hotel, stay in an independent boutique hotel or villa located far from crowded areas. This will allow you to lounge in some peace and quiet without feeling the need to go out and visit touristy spots.
If you’re staying in a destination with no public transportation available, you can rent a car that will enable you to move at your own time and pace.