Planning a holiday can quickly turn from exciting to exhausting. What starts as a list of places you'd love to visit soon becomes a stressful exercise in working out how to fit everything in.
You didn't travel all that way to spend your time off rushing around. There's no prize for cramming as much as possible into a holiday, so slow down!
Slow travel means giving yourself time to enjoy your destination properly, leaving room for detours and changing your plans when something else takes your fancy.
It works particularly well when travelling with a dog. Staying in one place makes it easier to establish a routine, find good walking routes, and explore at a pace that suits you both.
Here are seven ways to make your next holiday more intentional, with or without a dog in tow.
Choose One Destination (And Stay There)
Visiting several cities or even countries in one trip might sound exciting, but constantly packing and unpacking, checking in and checking out again, and travelling between locations can leave you more exhausted than relaxed.
Choose one destination and explore the surrounding area. You'll have time to find your favourite café, linger over lunch, or wander without a plan. You might even start to feel less like a visitor and more like a local.
Having one base makes travelling with a dog easier. They can settle into a familiar routine, and you can find dog-friendly walks and places to return to throughout your stay.
When planning a trip to Italy, choosing one region rather than attempting to see the entire country can make for a more relaxed experience. Staying in one place, whether that's a boutique hotel or one of the many beautiful Italian luxury villa rentals, gives you more time to explore the local area at your own pace. You'll then have more opportunities to discover hidden gems, revisit places you love, and get a better feel for everyday life in the region.
You can still see plenty. You'll just spend less time travelling from place to place.
Plan Around Your Interests, Not Other People's Recommendations
Travel guides and social media can be useful for inspiration, but they can also make you feel you need to see every landmark, visit every recommended restaurant, and squeeze in every famous attraction.
Think about what you'd actually enjoy. Perhaps you want to explore walking trails, browse independent shops, visit galleries, or try local food. In a place like St Ives, that might mean meandering through the streets without any particular destination in mind. There's little point trekking across a city to tick off an attraction you're not interested in just because you feel you should.
If you're travelling with a dog, check restrictions for beaches, gardens, and historic sites before you go. Rules can vary by location and season, so plan around places you can enjoy together rather than discovering your dog isn't welcome when you arrive.
Pick a few activities or places you're excited to visit and build your trip around them. You can always add more as you go; you don't need to visit somewhere just because a travel influencer recommends it.
Let Your Dog Set the Pace
Travelling with a dog requires some extra planning, but it can also encourage you to slow down. Dogs need time to settle into unfamiliar surroundings, regular walks, and a familiar routine.
Build your days around those needs rather than treating walkies and feeding times as annoying interruptions. A morning walk might take you down streets you hadn't planned to explore. A stop at a dog-friendly pub could become a leisurely lunch, or a footpath might lead you somewhere you wouldn't otherwise have visited.
Long journeys and overpacked itineraries can be tiring for dogs, too. Choose somewhere within a manageable distance, allow time for breaks, and check that your accommodation and planned activities are genuinely dog-friendly.
For a UK break, dog friendly holidays Devon is a useful starting point. You could walk part of the South West Coast Path, stop for lunch at a dog-friendly pub, then head back to your accommodation without needing to cram anything else into your day.
Leave Room for Spontaneity
Having a plan is useful, but an overpacked itinerary can turn a holiday into hard work. Research transport, check opening hours, and book any must-visit attractions, then leave the rest of your schedule open. You don't need a list of 101 things to do.
Choose one main activity each day and leave time to explore, linger when you find something good, or change plans if something better catches your attention. In North Wales, that might mean following a walking trail, stopping when you find a good view, or taking a detour into a remote village.
This flexibility is particularly useful when travelling with a dog. Some days you'll both need more rest, and a quieter day should be easy to accommodate. Your holiday doesn't need to be packed with activities to be worthwhile.
Keep a shortlist of places you'd like to visit, but treat it as inspiration rather than a set of obligations. You can always save the rest for another trip.
Choose Accommodation That Suits Your Plans
Where you stay can make or break a holiday. If you're constantly travelling to reach the places you want to visit, even a well-planned trip can become a daily slog.
Think about how you want to spend your time before booking. If you want to explore on foot, look for amenities and walking routes nearby. If you'd rather venture further afield, consider public transport links. If rest is the priority, a comfortable space to relax might matter more than being close to every attraction.
With a dog, look beyond the pet-friendly label. Is there enough indoor space, somewhere safe to let them out, and suitable walking routes nearby? The easier it is to maintain their routine, the better the trip will be for both of you.
Self-catering accommodation gives you the freedom to prepare meals, relax between outings, and work around your dog's needs without being tied to restaurant bookings. Perfect for slow travel.
Choose somewhere that suits your budget and the way you want to travel. The right accommodation makes your holiday easier, not more complicated.
Stop Treating Rest Like Wasted Time
It's easy to feel that a holiday should be packed with activities. You've taken time off work and paid to go somewhere different, so surely you should make the most of it?
But you don't need to be out from dawn until midnight. Sitting outside with a good view, sleeping in, lingering over lunch, or returning to a favourite café can be just as satisfying as trying to fit as much into the day as possible. In Croatia, simply wandering the winding streets and stumbling across hidden courtyards can be an afternoon well spent.
That's one of the best things about slow travel. Spending longer in one place means you can take your time, follow your mood, and enjoy what's around you without constantly thinking about where to go next.
With a dog, a morning walk followed by a lazy afternoon at your accommodation can be a lovely way to spend the day. You can still explore without turning every outing into an expedition.
Leave some breathing room in your plans. You're there to enjoy the place, not race around ticking off every landmark in the guidebook.
Make a Short Break Count, Too
Slow travel doesn't require weeks off work or an expensive holiday. A weekend away can be just as rewarding if you choose somewhere closer to home and give yourself time to enjoy it, rather than trying to squeeze in as much as possible.
For a last-minute break, think about your budget, how far you want to travel, and what you'd like to do. If you're taking a dog, check the accommodation's pet policy and look for good walks and dog-friendly places nearby. For inspiration, take a look at this guide to dog-friendly short breaks in the UK.
Plan one or two activities, then leave the rest of your time free. You don't need a packed itinerary to make the most of a short break.
Make Your Next Holiday Work for You
Slow travel is about deciding what you want from a holiday, rather than following someone else's idea of the perfect trip. You don't have to visit every landmark or try every restaurant recommended by travel guides and influencers.
Travel is personal. Choose the places and experiences that interest you, find accommodation that suits your needs, and leave room for spontaneous experiences. There's no right or wrong way to spend a holiday, as long as you're enjoying it.
You don't need a packed itinerary to make a trip memorable. Sometimes, the best thing you can bring home is the feeling that you've actually had a break.