Hi, my name is Aurora. I'm a college student in New York. I came across an article about this idea of slow travel in National Geographic's Traveler and it really appealed to me. So much that I've decided to write about it in one of my classes.

I'm trying to get feedback on what it is to be a slow traveler, and what you get from traveling slow. I know the general advantages and disadvantages that this websites clearly states, but I really want to know what it is that makes this so appealing to you, and why you choose to travel in this way.

Your responses will be very much appreciated, and would really help me out with writing this paper. This isn't anything big that is being published. It's only going to be shared with a class of 15 and my professor. If you don't feel comfortable giving me your name, that's fine with me as long as maybe I could use your username for this site. Thank you so much. I hope that some of you respond!

Hi Aurora,

I joined this community almost three years ago, and it has changed how we travel significantly. We travel to Europe more often, and go to fewer places on each trip. We have learned to stay in both vacation rentals outside of a town, or rent an apartment in a large city like Rome. We still occasionally stay in hotels or B&B's, but like to thoroughly explore an area instead of "see as much as possible in the time we have" being all over the map. We still do a lot, and keep busy as our vacation time is limited, but now we do it within a smaller radius of our home base.

The other reason we have become active members of this community is because we have met others who share our love and passion for Italy travel, and travel to other places as well. We have made wonderful friends who "get it" that travel is a priority for us throughout the year, and we often have two or three trips planned ahead.

Good luck with your class.

Hi Aurora,
Welcome! It is cool that you are writing a paper on the Slow Travel philosophy.
I might suggest that you post your question a second time in the "Everything About Travel" forum.
More people will probably see it and you will get more responses there.
As soon as I see your thread started, I'll come on and get the ball rolling with answers.
Also, if you feel comfortable doing it, you might flesh out your profile a bit.
SlowTalk is a pretty tight-knit community. We like to feel like we know a little bit about the people we are visiting with.

Aurora, welcome to Slow Travel!

I may mention something already too obvious, in which case I apologise. We have here two distinctive websites: the message board (www.slowtalk.com) where this discussion actually takes place, and the main website (www.slowtrav.com).

Much information on the concept of slow travel, how it came about, etc., can be found on the main website. Starting from here, you will also have access to many interesting documents, with definite relevance to your topic of interest. This is another interesting starting point, which includes -among many other subjects- our press kit.

I hope you will find these interesting and useful complements to the answers from our members.

And if you will feel comfortable about it, you may come back and share with us what you wrote!

I was interviewed about Slow travel for a local paper. Feel free to use whatever is in the interview about me in your article
I was interviewed about Slow Travel for this article that got printed today in the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/travel/17269204.html

Hi Aurora,

Welcome! We love slow travel and find it is ideal for a family. We are one of the slowest travelers around and have been traveling the world for almost two years and yet have barely begun our open ended trip around the world.

I know too many people who did a one year trip around the world who said it was not enough time, so we planned to really explore deeply. It is not unusual for us to stay a month or many months in one place before moving on. We are getting to experience and see Europe, Turkey & Morocco better than most who live here and plan to continue that on every continent.

It is much cheaper this way, better on the earth and incredibly enriching to immerse deeply in different cultures. It has been an amazing educational experience for our child who is now fluently bicultural, biliterate and bilingual in Spanish (plus her native English) and knows lots of phrases in many languages.

She has already seen more World Heritage sites and ancient ruins than most will see in a lifetime and understands what being a global citizen is like as she meets kids and people from almost every land.

Travel... and slow travel in particular, is a fabulous way to experience the beauty of this planet in its many forms and the inherent goodness of all people.

This year we are excited about taking classrooms of disadvantaged kids ( from NYC) with us virtually as we slow travel around the world.

You are welcome to check out our website if any of it might help your report. Good luck and I hope you get to experience some good slow travel in your future!

Hi Aurora, and welcome.

Click on the link for a very good member discussion on the philosophy and reality of slow travel.

Good luck with your paper!

Colleen