It’s official: ‘FOMO’ is out. And ‘JOMO’ is in. After years of racing through “bucket lists,” something quieter is reshaping travel. We’re no longer chasing the Fear of Missing Out on travel experiences. Instead, we’re discovering the Joy of Missing Out — and we’re not alone.
According to a recent survey for Norwegian Cruise Line, over 70% of travelers are moving away from fast-paced sightseeing and toward more restorative, meaningful escapes. Nearly half confessed they’ve come home from past trips feeling more exhausted than refreshed — and now, 77% say they intentionally plan slower vacations.
That’s the spirit of slow travel: choosing presence over pressure, savoring moments instead of stacking them. And being a little easier on the planet at the same time.
Here are some of the loveliest ways – and places - to embrace it.
Slow travel begins with permission: pick one destination and linger.
In Tuscany, a boutique heritage hotel becomes your “home base,” while locally guided Vespa tours, a market-and-cooking experience, and skip-the-line museum tours give you insider access to the best of local life.
In Seville, stay near orange-scented plazas, take a flamenco class, not just see the show, explore tapas bars with a local guide, and spend sunset wandering the Alcázar gardens.
Time transforms destinations into familiar territory.
Rail journeys reveal sides of a country you might not see any other way.
Cross Canada on a scenic rail itinerary with curated stops along the way. Travel from Paris to Provence in comfort, then join small-group excursions to vineyards and villages. In Japan, a rail pass paired with guided day tours opens mountain valleys and temple towns without the stress of logistics.
The rhythm of the tracks slows down the rhythm of life.
Walking tours invite meaning into every mile.
Follow the Camino de Santiago supported by luggage transfers, charming inns, and expert hosts. Explore England’s Lake District with a local guide who knows the quietest trails. On Japan’s Kumano Kodo, stay in traditional guesthouses and soak in onsen between forest paths.
You notice more because you’re traveling at the speed of curiosity. And connecting with fellow walkers.
Food becomes a story when you stay where it’s grown.
Agriturismo stays in Tuscany let you help harvest olives and dine family-style, countryside estates in Portugal’s Alentejo offer relaxed wine tastings and picnics among cork trees, or vineyard retreats in New Zealand with tastings and behind-the-scenes cellar visits or sheep farms where you do yoga with new lambs.
The land becomes more than scenery; it becomes livelihood.
River cruising is ideal slow travel, with a typical week-long itinerary traveling a route that you could drive in less than a day. Imagine what you are missing!
Take a leisurely river itinerary through the Rhine Valley, with castle towns unfolding at walking speed. Amble off your river cruise ship on France’s Rhone River at your leisure to explore medieval towns, iconic vineyards and wine regions, truffle farms, and olive oil presses.
The NCL study found that more than half of travelers see cruises as ideal for JOMO — especially in the Caribbean, which topped the list for slow-minded escapes.
Onboard, travelers choose their pace: spa time, quiet lounges, sunrise walks on deck, or staying aboard when others go ashore. Logistics are simplified and taken care of, and there are always corners to simply be — which is often exactly what people need.
It’s about doing whatever feels right for you that day.
Image courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line
Think boutique hotels in Sydney near local cafes, with early morning walks in the botanical gardens and behind-the-scenes tours of the Opera House, design-forward guesthouses in Mexico City’s Condesa with guided food walks, or family-run inns in the Scottish Highlands paired with day trips to hidden glens and whisky distilleries.
Belonging happens in the details — and local hosts and guides make curated stays easier and more enriching.
The research echoes what many already feel: travelers want fewer obligations, less travel ‘work,’ more nature, more local experiences, and days that unfold at their own pace.
In a world urging us to hurry, slow travel — and the Joy of Missing Out — offers permission to savor the journey, not just check things off a list.
Images: unless otherwise identified, Getty
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