TOO LONG...too short...or just right?
Did you know there are basically two ways that you can choose to travel? (Of course, if you’re still working, there is really only one choice and that is to fit everything you can into the amount of vacation time that you have) But if you are retired, you can choose how long (or short) you want to stay in each location that you visit, and in this blog I want to share the pros and cons of whichever way of traveling you might choose. What exactly are these two ways to travel? I’m so glad you asked!
Michelle and I have encountered basically two types of travelers on our journey. Some travelers like to visit as many places as they can in the shortest amount of time possible. They will stay a day here, or two days there, but will constantly keep moving from place to place because they want to see as much as possible. The world is a huge place and it’s not humanly possible to see everything in one lifetime, but some individuals surely will try to give it their best shot! These people are called “fast travelers“. They like to keep moving. Staying in one place for too long makes them feel bored and keeps them from seeing all they want to see. Most travelers on Youtube who share their adventures on video with their followers choose to travel in this way.
Other travelers choose to stay in places for longer periods of time before they move on again. (Michelle and I fit into this category). These “slow travelers” will never see as many things as fast travelers. Slow travelers take their time getting around and sometimes, depending on the place they are in, may even get a little bored because the amount of time they are spending at a certain location might be much more than that location requires (or deserves!). Yet, they mostly continue to travel in this fashion because that’s how they’re wired. They like to take things slower! Much like the tortoise and the hare, there are different ways to run this “race”. But unlike the tortoise and the hare, there are no winners or losers! Both types of traveling will have rewards and drawbacks (Pros and Cons) if you will. What are the pros and cons of each? Again, thank you for asking!
The Pros and cons of fast travel:
Pros:
- No real opportunity to get bored in any one location since scenery changes every few days
- The excitement of getting to see countless places and things
- Fast travel provides a wealth of content if you are a Youtube vlogger (or online blogger!)
Cons:
- Much more expensive way to travel than slow traveling since AirBnbs offer a substantial discount if you stay for 28 days or longer
- There is a greater chance of “burn out” – Although traveling is fun, too much of it too quickly can be stressful. Things can and do sometimes go wrong while traveling (i.e. flights cancelled or delayed, illness, finding accommodations, or getting into arguments with rude New Yorkers at JFK airport – although that’s a story for another time!)
- Not as much opportunity to immerse in the culture around you. We have found that it takes a few weeks in a new place to get to know the people and their qualities, way of life, etc.
The Pros and Cons of Slow Travel:
Pros:
- Much more budget friendly than faster travel. Besides substantial discounts on AirBnbs for longer stays, it’s also easier to find less expensive places to shop, eat, grab a beer, etc. It also affords more opportunity to buy food in the grocery store and cook at home, which in almost all cases is less expensive than eating out.
- Generally also cheaper on transportation costs
- There is greater opportunity to experience the surrounding culture more abundantly than faster travel. Staying at least a month in one location allows friendships to develop with locals.
- There’s also less chance of “travel burn out” because it feels less like traveling, and more like simply living in a new location every month or so
- Places begin to feel like home after a few weeks.
Cons:
- There is a real possibility of staying longer than the enjoyability lasts at a location, especially if the place you are staying isn’t as enjoyable as you thought it might be. We experienced this in Zagreb, Croatia and actually shortened our planned stay by 2 weeks after we got there.
- Slow travelers don’t get to see as many sights as fast travelers. Whereas a fast traveler might see many areas in a country in a short amount of time, a slow traveler may only see areas around their fixed location.
Since Michelle and I have been traveling, we’ve felt most comfortable with the slow traveling style. Our preferred amount of time to stay in a place is for one month at a time, however there have been a few places in the past where we’ve been quite happy that we stayed longer than that. Recently we’ve slowed down quite considerably (2 months in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico and 3 months in Cuenca, Ecuador), but we’re going to speed it up a little over the next several months. Our foreseeable future involves several one-month stays in different places and we’re really looking forward to that!
Just like the Tortoise and the Hare have different running techniques, travel should be done at your own pace, in your own style, depending on what gives you the most pleasure. Choose what’s best for you and enjoy!
Have a great day everyone!
Once again a very enlightening blog. We have finally bit the bullet so to speak and booked a months stay in Loja, Ecuador starting in December through the first few days of January. We decided to stay in the City of Loja for the first three days to get a feel for the area, then booked a Cottage outside of town for the remainder of our stay! It’s absolutely breath taking and as long as my lungs can handle the altitude I’m very excited. Miss the greenery and cooler temps without AC. So wish us luck as we start this newest adventure in our Lives! 😁🙏
You plan sounds wonderful! I wish you both good luck!