When on a vacation in Aruba, it’s natural to want to see as much of the One Happy Island as possible before you have to go back home. After all, who knows when you’ll be able to return? But if you’re running through multiple tourist attractions a day, you also aren’t allowing yourself to fully sit with the experience. Zooming through numerous activities and tourist spots can be fun, but it leaves you without any time to savor the fleeting moments of your trip.
The concept of slow travel is the exact opposite of mad dash vacations. It encourages travelers to stop, take their time, and allow themselves to get fully immersed in the destination’s culture, habits, and quirks. While you end up going to fewer tourist spots and doing fewer activities, you can instead take as much time as you want to appreciate and immerse yourself in the experiences you choose to be a part of.
Doing slow travel in Aruba is one of the best ways to explore what the island has to offer. Here are a few ways you can embrace slow travel during your Aruba vacation.
1. Choose The Right Accommodations
Some travelers only book their accommodations for one reason: to have a place to sleep. Since their itineraries are filled to the brim with activities to do, they barely have any time to relax and spend time in their hotel rooms. Because of this, their accommodations are small, simple, and practical.
On the other hand, doing slow travel embraces the act of resting and recuperating during a vacation. It encourages finding accommodations that will act as your home away from home, so that you’re comfortable as you recharge for your next activity. VacationAruba offers gorgeous rentals that highlight the beauty of winding down, such as luxury beachfront vacation villas with plenty of bonus amenities to enjoy.
2. Do Research and Prioritize
Unless you plan on staying in Aruba for several weeks, it’s likely that you won’t be able to do everything the island has to offer. Slow travel encourages you to plan your itinerary wisely. Which tourist spots and activities can you afford to miss out on, and which ones will you regret not going to? Do your research and narrow down all the activities you wish to do, so that you have plenty of time to fully immerse yourself in them. If you can’t decide what you want to do, you can always rely on local expertise to help you finalize your plans.
3. Have a Flexible Itinerary
Planning your schedule down to the last minute might end up causing more stress than it’s worth. Plus, having to follow such a strict itinerary can make you miss out on once-in-a-lifetime opportunities that you couldn’t predict during your planning. The solution? Keep yourself flexible. Plan out one or two activities in a day, and take the extra time left for some exploration and discovery. You might end up joining a last minute tour or stumble across a local event or festival. These unexpected plans always end up being the most memorable parts of your trip.
4. Connect with the Culture
Slow travel emphasizes the importance of connecting with and appreciating the destination’s culture. Aruba’s own culture is embedded in its cuisine, history, and traditions, and learning more about it can be an educational and eye-opening experience. Participate in local festivals, try out their food, or learn the basics of their national languages of Dutch and Papiamento. Learning more about how this little island goes through everyday life can teach you lessons that no classroom will be able to teach.
5. Speak the the Locals
No one knows the island better than the locals, and you can take full advantage of this to make your Aruba vacation even more unforgettable and immersive. Don’t be afraid to chat up the locals and ask them for recommendations. Don’t just ask for their opinions on the well-known beaches or parks; instead, ask them for their favorite hole-in-the-wall eateries or thrift stores for unique souvenirs. This is a great way to really immerse yourself in the local culture and learn more about how locals live their lives on the island.
And remember, don’t be shy! Most Aruban locals are friendly and would love to show you their favorite spots. For example, members of the VacationAruba’ concierge would be happy to tell you more about the most recommended spots on the island, from popular tourist attractions to niche little shops.
Slow Down and Enjoy Your Aruba Vacation To The Fullest
There’s no better destination to try out slow travel than Aruba. With its white sand beaches, clear turquoise waters, and cloudless sunny days, it’s easy to drop your worries and enjoy every minute as it passes by. VacationAruba can grant you the perfect sanctuary to recharge after each memorable day in the One Happy Island, so be sure to pick out your dream vacation home soon.