Cheaper trips. An extended stay in one place might save you money

 Cheaper trips. An extended stay in one place might save you money 

Often the biggest travel expense is getting to and from your destination. The more stops you make, the more money you spendBesides minimizing transportation costs, multiweek stays frequently come with substantial discounts. Airbnb has a dedicated site for bookings longer than 27 days with savings of 30% or more versus the daily rate. Insider tip: Don’t be shy about asking the host for an even better rate, especially if the calendar for the listing is empty. A “no” costs you nothing.

Relaxed pace. What slow travel definitely is not is “speed travel” over a longer period of time. Especially for older travelers, it’s important to pencil in adequate rest and relaxation between activities to avoid burnout.

How to be a slow traveler

As full-time travelers for the past several years, we’ve practiced slow travel without knowing it was a “thing.” The benefits were evident during a recent European visit when we spent two weeks each in Lisbon, Madrid, Bordeaux and Paris. 

A more leisurely pace in these popular cities with tons of attractions allowed us to take in all the sights, randomly wander interesting neighborhoods, and guiltlessly do nothing on days when we needed to rest. Sometimes we planned our own outings, but, when it made more sense, we didn’t hesitate to book a guided excursion. Purists we are not!If slow travel sounds intriguing, here are some ideas to get you started: