Modern travel and vacationing are unsustainable practices driven by rampant consumerism, commoditization, and doing things “for the ‘Gram.” At least, that’s what Gestalten’s latest coffee table book seems to be saying. Assembled by French travel journalist Clara Le Fort, Slow Escapes features exclusive – perhaps even aspirational – hotels, guesthouses, and B&Bs tucked away in remote corners of the world where life refuses to be hurried by twenty-first-century notions of travel.
Le Fort brings the stories of these places to life with beautiful photography. Her work features locations as diverse as an Andalusian finca, an Icelandic sheep farm, the North Atlantic’s Fogo Island Inn, and a homestead-come-fermentory in the Catskills.
Even as these slow-travel destinations begin to redefine what it means to vacation, they’re reinvigorating rural areas not with blind tourism and sightseeing, but rather a meaningful connection between traveler and place. Visitors are not only advised but obliged to slow down, marinate in the community, and take part in its traditions. Slow Escapes emphasizes how embracing these ideas of community and sustainable travel help preserve the unique heritage and culture of these remote areas. The 288-page hardcover is priced at $65 and measures 11.5 x 9 inches – a sustainable footprint for nearly any coffee table.
For another travel-related book, check out ‘The Great American Roadtrip‘ by Gestalten.