Quiet travel 🤫

Howdy friends,

I’m back in the States and this time, I brought my partner with me! 

It’s his first time in the U.S. and it’s been so fun experiencing American culture through fresh eyes.

So far, we’ve visited several National Parks, paid homage to my favorite fast-food joints, and capitalism-ed our way through Costco.

We’re headed out to Sedona today to disconnect for a bit before we drive to California. Besides going to In-N-Out (and getting our fries animal style, obviously), what other quintessential American things should we do? 

Hey, this is Kelsey, and you’re reading the SiteSee newsletter. Think of me as your Big Sis when it comes to travel, inspiring you to keep going places. You can expect an email from me every Friday filled with nomad stories, tips for living a location-independent lifestyle, and the gear to get you there.

Quiet Travel

Remember quiet luxury? It was all the rage last year.

The idea was focused on investing in high-quality brands that aren’t flashy or gaudy. 

In other words, the concept was about looking more like Shiv Roy from Succession rather than those Selling Sunset realtors caked in Versace.

But now that quiet luxury has been around long enough, there’s a new kid on the block.

Her name? Quiet travel.

I first heard about the trend from this TikTok video. And ever since, I’ve seen the idea grow within various travel and nomad communities I belong to.

Here’s what the quiet travel trend is all about:

1. Traveling for the experience, not for the ‘gram

Put simply: “I’m going to travel, but you’re not going to know.”

Perhaps us millennials have grown up a bit, but the focus of travel seems to be shifting away from crafting the ideal Instagram story and towards being completely present in the moment wherever we find ourselves.

And any world where there are fewer boomerang "cheers" videos is a world I want to be in 🫶

2. Going to the quieter, sleepier cities

Party culture is on its way out.

And I’ve seen a drastic shift in travelers wanting to soak in the smaller moments in unfamiliar cities, instead of visiting the Nashvilles, Austins, and other party capitals of the world.

This includes travelers craving more:

• Hiking trips that take you off-grid

• Staycations that don’t break the bank

• “Travel dupes” or travel destinations that offer similar experiences to its expensive counterpart

3. Being intentional with travel

There’s no “pick me” energy when it comes to quiet travel. 

This emerging trend revolves around arranging trips and experiences based on personal passions, rather than following the crowd.

Instead of organizing a European vacation this summer, consider reserving a spot at a yin yoga retreat, as that's your preferred evening activity.

Or even better, why not plan a journey to Thailand specifically to master the art of preparing the most delicious green curry, considering it's your favorite dish?

As quiet travel gains momentum, I anticipate we’ll see these smaller, less-traveled destinations breathe new life into the travel scene. I also anticipate seeing more people traveling to disconnect, learn a new skill, or disappear to recharge for a bit. 

And the best part? 

You're unlikely to even hear about it because, well, they’re quiet traveling.

Gear Check🧳

South Africa lacks the same range of outdoor gear brands found in the U.S., and prices in the States tend to be lower since many of these products aren't imported. What does this mean? We’ve been to REI almost every day this week. 

Besides stocking up on climbing gear, we’ve also been kitting ourselves out in all things Vuori. Their performance joggers and fitted t-shirts use a fabric that’s so soft and stretchy it’s become my go-to for every flight I go on. Plus, their stylish appearance leaves me looking as though I didn’t just stare at the flight tracker for a solid 6 hours.

Airport Reads🗞️

• Want to enhance productivity and reduce task-switching? Use this guide to plan out your week by using left-brain days and right-brain days.

• Guess it’s time to book a one-way ticket to Guatemala. Conde Nast put together their guide for the best places to travel in 2024.

• I went out and bought a physical magazine (something I haven’t done in years)! And who knew? It’s been the perfect antidote to doom-scrolling. I also love that it’s an easy way to get in some casual reading without being on my phone. Highly recommend it.

Last Thing✨

As always, thanks so much for being here. Have a wonderful weekend, and I’ll see you here next week! 💫

Onwards,

Kelsey

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