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Douglas
Last Updated: 28 Sep 2026
Travel has always been seen as a sport of speed. The unspoken goal was to cram as many cities, museums, and Michelin-starred meals into one itinerary as your suitcase, and sanity, could handle. But as the world around you dissolved in a blur of crowded trains, sunrise wake-up calls, and rushed meals, you wondered if there was another way to travel.
Soft travel, a recent trend that’s been gaining popularity on TikTok, might just be the answer. Think of it as an invitation to the simple luxury of time. It's not quite slow travel, and you can still chase a bit of adventure, but the thrill is soft around the edges.
In this article, we'll explore what soft travel means and why it's winning over restless travellers who wonder how to spend Avios to turn that slower mindset into reality. Because nothing feels gentler than booking your escape with miles instead of money.
Soft travel is what happens when you take all the noise, timetables, and "must-see" lists of a typical trip and politely leave them at home. It's a more mindful way of exploring: less about conquering a destination and more about letting it unfold at its own pace. You plan just enough to get there, and then permit yourself to wander.
The term grew out of the "soft life" movement, a concept first popularised by Nigerian influencers as a call to step back from the grind and live with more ease. Translated into travel, it means exactly what it sounds like: a calmer way to move through the world. No frantic museum marathons, no colour-coded spreadsheets. Just space to breathe, notice, and maybe even sleep in.
What that looks like depends entirely on you. For some, it's a slow morning walk to a neighbourhood bakery and a second cappuccino you don't have to justify. For others, it's an afternoon spent dozing by the pool, a long lunch that drifts lazily into sunset, or a scenic train ride where the journey is the highlight. There are no hard rules; you let the moment and your inner voice guide you towards what feels right.
A slower pace translates into a whole new way of experiencing travel. By stepping away from jam-packed schedules, you give both body and mind the kind of break a "real holiday" is supposed to deliver, but so rarely does. Psychologists say that easing up on the daily grind can lower stress hormones, improve sleep, and even make you nicer to the people you love (which, let's be honest, is a public service).
It’s a mental reset disguised as a getaway. With no 6 a.m. alarms, no airport dashes, and no guilt about skipping that attraction, you start to notice small things again: the way morning light hits a cobblestoned street, the smell of bread coming from a corner bakery, the quiet hum of a train as it winds through green hills. This kind of travel lets you recharge rather than relocate.
It also opens the door to more sustainable experiences. Staying longer in one spot means fewer flights and less environmental impact. It gives you time to get to know a neighbourhood, support local businesses, and pick up a few words of the language along the way. A long lunch at a family-run trattoria or a lazy afternoon wandering a village market is a direct investment in the place you came to see.
And while soft travel is all about slowing down, it's surprisingly efficient. Minimal planning means fewer logistics to wrangle and more energy for the good stuff. Whether that’s a gentle hike to a hillside vineyard, a spa afternoon, or simply a second helping of dessert is entirely up to you. In the end, the greatest perk might be how adaptable it is: families can let the kids set the pace, solo travellers can follow their own whims, and everyone can trade "checklist tourism" for something far more rewarding: actually enjoying themselves.
The beauty of soft travel is that it isn't a one-size-fits-all. It's a mindset you can bring to almost any corner of the globe. Start by asking yourself what you need most right now: a little nature, culture, a break from your inbox, or simply a few uninterrupted naps? The answer should guide where and how you go.
For some travellers, that might mean resisting the urge to plan every detail before leaving home. Imagine arriving at a beachside town with nothing booked but your flight, letting the day decide whether you stroll the promenade, read in a shady square, or linger over a long lunch. Others might find their soft spot in gentle movement consisting of morning walks through vineyards, a slow train ride through rolling hills, or a quiet paddle across a glassy lake. The common thread is the pace: unhurried and blissfully free of alarms.
It can feel strange at first, especially if you're used to the rush of checklists and sightseeing marathons. The pull to "make the most of it" is strong. But soft travel asks you to swap that urgency for presence. Put the phone away, skip the social media updates, and watch the world unfold without a screen between you and the view. Even a little discomfort, like not knowing exactly what comes next, becomes part of the reward. The result is a trip that feels less like an escape and more like a reset.
And in that spirit of taking things slow, here are a few ideas for soft trips you can take:
Beneath its Renaissance cathedrals and world-famous galleries, Tuscany’s true appeal lies in its quiet hilltop hamlets and stone farmhouses. It’s the perfect region for soft travel, where you can focus on slow days and simple pleasures.
Instead of racing from Florence to Siena to Pisa in a single breathless loop, simply let the sound of church bells and market days set the pace. You can take a vineyard trail through Chianti, help a farmer pick vegetables for supper, or join a village cooking class to learn the art of hand-rolled pici. Afternoons stretch easily into evenings with wine tastings on shaded terraces, and short drives between towns mean there’s never any pressure to cover long distances.
The best time to visit is during the shoulder seasons: April to June or September to October. British Airways reward flights make Florence or Pisa easy to reach, with off-peak Economy returns starting from 23,500 Avios plus just £1.
Find available reward seats with British Airways and Iberia.
Provence is made for unhurried days. Lavender fields fill the air with their scent and colour across the countryside in summer, and weekly farmers’ markets stock baskets with olives, cheeses and fresh bread. Local vineyards welcome visitors for tastings of crisp rosé and bold reds, and quiet backroads and gentle hills make leisurely cycling an easy way to move between villages, especially when you take time out to stop for a café lunch or a view over the fields.
We suggest taking a half-day hike or kayak trip through the Calanques National Park between Marseille and Cassis, perfect for a swim if the mood strikes. Then, finish your days on a café terrace, sharing a bowl of bouillabaisse or a slice of creamy Tarte Tropézienne as the sun sets.
Reaching this pastoral playground is as easy as its pace is leisurely. British Airways connects London to Marseille or Nice from just 18,500 Avios plus £1 on an off-peak Economy return. Cash in those Avios for flights and trade your calendar alerts for cicadas, vineyard walks, and the deep exhale that only Provence seems to inspire.
Find available reward seats with British Airways and Iberia.
If ever there were a country built for pressing pause, it's Costa Rica. Wedged between two oceans and wrapped in more shades of green than your camera will know what to do with, this Central American gem makes a soft landing for anyone looking to slow down. The locals even have a phrase for it: pura vida, or "pure life."
Here, mornings start with the low whistle of toucans and the smell of fresh coffee, and end with sunsets that set both coasts on fire. Jet lag? You'll forget the meaning of the word once you've soaked in a volcanic hot spring or woken to the chorus of a rainforest.
Getting to this green sanctuary is easier than you might expect. British Airways reward flights connect London to San José from 95,000 Avios plus £355 in off-peak Premium Economy, or 180,000 Avios plus £475 in Business Class. If you're still wondering how to spend Avios for the best value, you can’t go wrong with Costa Rica.
Find available reward seats with British Airways and Iberia.
Québec City has a way of feeling both European and unmistakably Canadian at the same time. Perched above the St. Lawrence River and wrapped in 400 years of French history, Québec City is the only walled city north of Mexico and a living postcard of Old World elegance. Cobblestone lanes wind between stone houses, café terraces spill onto sunlit squares, and church bells ring across the rooftops. You can spend hours grazing on local cheeses and maple sweets, or drift slowly along the riverside walk.
Soft travel suits Québec City because everything worth seeing is close together. You can walk the narrow streets of Old Québec, stop for treats at Marché du Vieux-Port, linger over a long lunch in Petit-Champlain, and finish with an unhurried walk along Dufferin Terrace to watch ferries cross the St. Lawrence, all in a day without rushing.
If you’re wondering how many Avios for a flight you’ll need, expect to pay 85,000 points plus £305 in off-peak Premium Economy, or 160,000 Avios plus £375 in Business Class from London to Montreal.
Find available reward seats with British Airways and Iberia.
You’ll hit all your senses at once within minutes of entering the medina. Cinnamon and cumin curling through the air, scooters darting past tiled archways, and merchants calling out prices that are really just opening offers. The souks are a maze of carpets, lanterns, and polished brass, but surrendering to it all and just taking it all in is the real experience. Lose the map, follow the scent of mint tea, and let the alleyways decide your day.
Soft travel works well in Marrakech because the city is made for wandering and unplanned stops. The medina is compact enough to explore on foot, with cafés, gardens, and hidden courtyards where you can take regular breaks. A few days in the city can easily be balanced with slow drives or guided walks in the nearby Atlas Mountains, where quiet valleys and village guesthouses give you space to pause and take in the scenery.
As for Avios for flights, you can travel from London to Marrakech on an off-peak Economy return flight for 27,500 Avios plus £1.
Find available reward seats with British Airways and Iberia.
Just forty minutes from Cape Town, the Cape Winelands spread across valleys of vineyards and jagged mountain peaks. Stellenbosch and Franschhoek are the heart of the region, their main streets lined with wine estates, bakeries, and tasting rooms where an afternoon easily slips by between cellar tours and cheese platters. Quiet country roads link the towns, making it easy to linger over a picnic or pull over for a view of the vines without worrying about a timetable.
This is soft travel at its easiest. Days unfold slowly with long farm lunches, gentle walks through historic towns, and glasses of crisp Chenin Blanc sipped in the shade of oak trees. With so many estates close together, there’s no need to rush; every stop feels like a destination in itself.
You can get from London to Cape Town for 95,000 British Airways Avios plus £355 in off-peak Premium Economy or 180,000 Avios plus £475 in Business Class.
Find available reward seats with British Airways and Iberia.
While soft travel is a refreshing antidote to the breakneck pace of modern life, it doesn't mean every journey needs to be slow. There are times when a structured itinerary, packed with museums, markets, and guided tours, can spark a different kind of joy, one driven by discovery, challenge, and intellectual growth. The key is to recognise what you need from each trip.
Whatever your preferred travelling style, what soft travel offers, even if only once in a while, is a reminder to stay present. Slowing down long enough to connect with a place and the people who shape it leaves a more lasting imprint than any checklist of landmarks. Take those lessons home: linger over a meal, walk instead of rushing, listen to the stories behind the scenery. Every journey will unfold differently, but the practice of travelling with intention can stay with you long after the suitcase is unpacked.
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