• Travel Report Weekly
  • Posts
  • 🌆 Three Slow Cities That Will Steal Your Heart (and Not Your Sanity)🚀

🌆 Three Slow Cities That Will Steal Your Heart (and Not Your Sanity)🚀

TravelReport Weekly Issue 031

Author

Rabia Karimi
May 23, 2025

In partnership with

Hey explorers! 🌍💫
There’s a special kind of city that doesn’t rush to impress you—it invites you to sink in. The kind where sunlight warms cobblestones, cafés stretch into the afternoon, and your feet wander farther than your plans ever did.

This week, we’re diving into lesser-known cities that are rich in spirit—not crowds. These are the quiet stunners, the cultural treasures, the places that whisper their stories slowly but leave a mark that lingers.

They’re perfect for May, when the weather’s just right, the streets are blooming, and the energy is soft and open. Let’s pack light, walk slowly, and see what we find. 🧳🌸

Travel Trivia 🧐
Question: 🌴 Travel Trivia Time!
Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is renowned for its unique blend of traditional Lao and colonial French architecture. What is the meaning of the name "Luang Prabang"?
A) Royal Buddha Image
B) Golden City
C) Land of a Million Elephants
D) Sacred River Town

👉 Hit reply with your guess—no Googling! 😉
Find the answer below 🤭

What’s New with www.travelreport.ai 😎
Exciting News! The New Site is Live. It’s completely free to use. Enter your Destination and Dates of Travel and Travelreport.ai will generate a 30 page travel report and drop it in your inbox. Destination info, History, Transportation, Health, safety, entertainment and so much more. Once you use it you won’t travel without it.

Is the newsletter too long? 🤔

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

He’s already IPO’d once – this time’s different

Spencer Rascoff grew Zillow from seed to IPO. But everyday investors couldn’t join until then, missing early gains. So he did things differently with Pacaso. They’ve made $110M+ in gross profits disrupting a $1.3T market. And after reserving the Nasdaq ticker PCSO, you can join for $2.80/share until 5/29.

This is a paid advertisement for Pacaso’s Regulation A offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.pacaso.com. Reserving a ticker symbol is not a guarantee that the company will go public. Listing on the NASDAQ is subject to approvals. Under Regulation A+, a company has the ability to change its share price by up to 20%, without requalifying the offering with the SEC.

🛡️Health & Safety Tips for Gentle Adventures:

  • Street Food Smarts 🍜 – In George Town and Puebla, busy stalls are your best bet. Look for short menus, fresh ingredients, and long local lines.

  • Respectful Dress & Behavior 👘 – In Luang Prabang, cover shoulders and knees when entering temples. Speak softly and remove shoes when invited.

  • Water Safety 💧 – Stick with bottled or filtered water in all three cities—especially when brushing your teeth or making ice.

  • Altitude & Heat 🌡️ – Luang Prabang and Puebla can get steamy in the afternoons. Hydrate, wear light clothing, and take midday breaks like a local.

  • Travel Insurance Reminder 🧾 – Especially for more remote spots or spontaneous plans, make sure you’re covered for medical care, delays, and cancelations, travel insurance is your BFF. Missed flights, lost bags, or weather hiccups? You’re covered. ✅ Understand the true benefits of travel insurance here…

📰 Travel Trend Spotlight: “The Age of the Unrushed City”

In 2025, a quiet shift is underway: travelers are gravitating toward cities with soul over cities with status. Here’s what’s unfolding:

  • 🔍 Searches for “walkable small cities” and “slower alternatives to big capitals” are up 40% year-over-year, according to Google Trends.

  • 💛 Travelers report that “emotional connection” and “community vibe” are more important than sightseeing checklists.

  • 🛎️ Boutique hotels and guesthouses are outperforming luxury chains in smaller markets—people want personal, not polished.

And the big takeaway? The best travel stories often happen where the pace is just slow enough to notice them.

🌍 Spotlight Destinations: 🌍

  1. Puebla, Mexico 🇲🇽 – Baroque Beauty and Chocolate-Spiced Dreams

    • Nestled beneath volcanoes and brimming with color, Puebla blends colonial elegance with small-town warmth.

    • Explore quiet courtyards with ceramic-tiled fountains, admire murals in historic alleyways, and stop for a pan dulce and café de olla in a sunlit arcade.

    • This is the birthplace of mole poblano, so yes—prepare to eat well (and often). Expect flavors that are bold, deep, and unforgettable.

    ✨ Slow moment: Sit on the cathedral steps with fresh fruit from the market and just watch the day go by.

  2. George Town, Penang, Malaysia 🇲🇾 – A Living Tapestry of Cultures

    • George Town feels like the entire world wrapped into one technicolor neighborhood: British mansions, Chinese temples, Indian festivals, Malay food stalls.

    • The street art here isn’t just cool—it’s alive. Doors painted into dreamscapes, bikes mounted on brick walls, murals that interact with their surroundings.

    • Hop from hawker stall to hawker stall trying laksa, roti, and satay. George Town is a foodie's slow-travel dream.

    ✨ Slow moment: Rent a bike and follow your nose. Turn left where the satay smoke is thickest.

  3. Luang Prabang, Laos 🇱🇦 – Monks, Mekong, and Morning Light

    • A sleepy town cradled between rivers and mountains, Luang Prabang is all soft sunrises, golden temples, and slow boats.

    • Wake early to witness the alms-giving ceremony, where saffron-robed monks move silently through the mist.

    • Browse the night market for silk scarves and handmade journals, then take a long, winding ride out to Kuang Si Falls—still one of Southeast Asia’s best-kept secrets.

    ✨ Slow moment: Sip lemongrass tea by the river as the town slips from sunset into starlight.

The Daily Newsletter for Intellectually Curious Readers

Join over 4 million Americans who start their day with 1440 – your daily digest for unbiased, fact-centric news. From politics to sports, we cover it all by analyzing over 100 sources. Our concise, 5-minute read lands in your inbox each morning at no cost. Experience news without the noise; let 1440 help you make up your own mind. Sign up now and invite your friends and family to be part of the informed.

🎯 Points & Rewards Corner: Maximizing the Underrated

  • Capital One & Turkish Airlines Miles ✈️ – Excellent redemption value for getting to Southeast Asia via Istanbul with one stop.

  • Chase Ultimate Rewards + Hyatt 🏨 – Great for boutique stays in Luang Prabang or Puebla—where point values go a lot farther than in major cities.

  • American Express Gold for Dining 🍽️ – Earn 4x points on every incredible bite in Penang’s hawker centers or Puebla’s mole joints.

  • Airport Lounge Perks 🍷 – Traveling to offbeat cities often means long connections—Priority Pass lounges = lifesavers in Kuala Lumpur, Mexico City, or Bangkok.

  • Booking Stack Strategy 💡 – Use points for flights, a travel card for hotel perks, and free insurance benefits from premium cards to maximize flexibility and comfort.

💡Points Tip of the Week: Try stacking your booking: book a flight with miles, pay taxes with your travel card, and book a boutique stay with points + perks. Win-win-win. Amex Platinum: Incredible perks, like lounge access and travel insurance.🚀 

🌞Trending Summer Travel Destinations for 2025✈️

Looking to plan your perfect summer getaway? LVK Travel's latest blog post highlights the top destinations that are capturing travelers' hearts in 2025. From the timeless allure of Paris and London to the historic charm of Rome, Athens, and Florence, these cities offer a rich tapestry of culture, history, and cuisine. The blog also provides insider tips on boutique accommodations and unique experiences to make your trip unforgettable.

You don’t have to go fast to go far.
Sometimes the best adventures are the ones that invite you to slow down, look up, and fall in love with where you are.

Planning your next adventure? Here are some travel-smart resources to keep you safe, savvy, and inspired:

Stay safe, travel smart, and enjoy every single moment. 🌍✨
Until next week — happy travels!

With love, wanderlust, and one too many travel tabs open,
Rabia ✨
Editor, Travel Report Newsletter

Travel Trivia 🤩
Answer: 😮The correct answer is: A) Royal Buddha The name "Luang Prabang" translates to "Royal Buddha Image," referencing the revered Phra Bang Buddha statue, which symbolizes Lao sovereignty and is housed in the city's Royal Palace Museum.