6 Perfect Places to Slow Travel After 50

What would you think if I told you you could unpack once, live like a local for a month, without breaking the budget? We've tested the waters by staying anywhere from a week to six weeks in each of those amazing places. And today we're sharing six towns that we'd happily return to for a much longer stay. And here's the kicker, one of these turned out to be the most affordable place that we've probably ever stayed and became one of our all-time favourites. And another one, never even heard of it until we started to do some serious research. And in the end, it completely won us over. So stick around and find out which six towns made our list. If you're looking for a place to soak up all that southern Portuguese sunshine, then Portimao is our top recommendation. It has all the coastal flair with not nearly as much of that crazy tourist vibe. Within an hour of Portimao, you'll find beautiful beaches, there's amazing Algarve cliffs and magnificent turquoise waters. What more could you want? Plus being based here means that you've got easy access to the entire coast without being in one of the major tourist bubbles. Best part, you're only a quick train ride from places like Lagos or Faro. A couple of hours train from Lisbon even. And day trips to Silves or Monchique are a must. So if you like the idea of the sunshine of southern Portugal, but you want a place that's a bit more driven by community, then our next pick might just win you over. Merida, Mexico, it's like that friend that invites you over for dinner, feeds you until you can hardly move, and then talks you into coming dancing in the plaza. It's welcoming, it's friendly, and the food is absolutely next level. We ended up spending six weeks in Merida, mainly because we'd heard about the friendliness and the great family atmosphere. And honestly, after six weeks, it was all true. Within a week or so, we were chatting with our apartment neighbours. We had even been invited to a local's birthday party. It's that easy to feel like part of the community if you put in the effort. And yeah, you've probably heard that it's hot, and it is. You'll probably be best friends with your air conditioner by the time you leave. But at night, the city transforms. Music, markets, and plazas that just feel like one giant family celebration. But if you need a short break from that sort of lifestyle, then within a short distance, you can visit cenotes. You can even go to the beaches at Progresso, just 40 minutes away. Now, if Merida's sense of history gets you excited, wait until you spend time in a city that was once the centre of the Inca Empire. First up, let me make it clear. Cusco should never just be a quick stopover on the way to Machu Picchu. Stay here for a while, and you'll discover a city that's alive with colour, culture, and history on every corner, and beautiful, friendly locals that thrive in the high Andean air. When we first started considering us staying in Cusco, we thought it would probably be a bit more touristy. But what we found was a town with its own unique personality. A place that doesn't deserve to be overshadowed by its more famous neighbour. Markets where locals shop, plazas where you'll see the women in their traditional outfits, and something of a creative energy that just pulled us right in immediately. And sure, it may take you a day or two to adjust to the altitude, but once you do, this place easily feels like home. Want to do something outside of town? The day trip possibilities are almost endless. Incredible places like Rainbow Mountain, Ollantaytambo, the Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu. Or for something really different, take a quick flight and do a couple of nights in the Peruvian Amazon. A lodge there was just an amazing experience. But of course, Peru's full of surprises. But Mexico has some surprises of its own. And the next city on our list went from unknown to much loved in the first couple of days. Just an easy drive north of Mexico City is Queretaro. And let me tell you, it's a city that makes you go, how did I not know about this place sooner? Plazas filled with restaurants, music and dancing, and a cost of living that makes longer stays very viable. When Pauline and I were working on this list, we were both surprised that each other had picked Queretaro. But that just goes to show how much it surprised us. We never planned to love it. We didn't even know if we'd like it. But after spending time there, we felt like we'd stumbled upon one of Mexico's best kept secrets. From here, it's easy to take day trips to places like San Miguel de Allende, to Tequisquiapan for a great spa day, or to Banal to see the impressive Monolith of the Peña. It's also in the heart of one of Mexico's most famous wine and cheese regions. But honestly, just sitting in one of the historic plazas with a coffee or an ice cream, people watching is every bit as interesting. Now it's all well and good to have all these amazing places in the Americas. But what about if you're craving a bit more European grandeur? Our next stop takes us across the Atlantic to what's been voted Europe's most walkable city. This time we've made it to Spain. And in Sevilla, we found a city where history, tradition, and flamenco floods into the streets. Every corner feels like a movie set, from the Alcazar's garden to the plazas filled with orange trees. It's vibrant, it's romantic, and it's the sort of place you could easily think about living. We put Sevilla on this list for its everyday comfort it offered, its history, and being a couple that love to explore on foot, being incredibly walkable. We wanted to stay somewhere where we could dive into those Spanish traditions, but still have all the conveniences of a modern city. Without a doubt, Sevilla ticks all the boxes. It's also the perfect hub for day trips. Cordoba, Cádiz, Ronda, Setenal de Las Bodegas, even a quick trip into Portugal. It's all possible from a central base in Sevilla. You get to experience that grand Spanish lifestyle, but without the overwhelm of busier cities like Madrid and Barcelona. But maybe Europe isn't on your agenda just now. Maybe you're looking for somewhere cheaper and a bit more exotic. So if you're looking for a place that's laid back, extremely budget friendly, and one of our favourite places in the world, we've got you covered. Our final stop on this world tour is Vietnam and the beautiful historic town of Hoi An. Arriving in Hoi An is like stepping into a lantern lit postcard. You'll find a charming old town, amazing street food, and even a decent sized expat community if you need that extra bit of support. And when you pair it up with nearby Da Nang, 30 minutes away, you've got the conveniences of a big city and a beach living lifestyle. We've put Hoi An and Da Nang on this list because it's the type of place you can live like king and queen without spending all of the kids inheritance. Just because the prices are low doesn't mean you can't expect high quality accommodations, some of the best food you'll find anywhere, and people that are so warm and generous you'll probably never want to leave. Hoi An is the kind of place where living life just feels effortless. And even though there's so much to do in Hoi An and Da Nang, it doesn't mean you might not want to get out of town for a day or two. And here you've got plenty of choices again. You can take in the magnificent views of Marble Mountain, spend a night or two in the imperial city of Hue, head for some cooler weather in the central highlands, or take a short boat ride to the Cham Islands, one of the top places in Vietnam for snorkeling and scuba diving. So there you have it, six places that we've already spent a week to six weeks staying in, and we would happily go back for a month or more if the possibility arises. And the interesting thing, each of them gave us something different, from the community vibes in Mexico, to the cultural significance in Spain, right through to the amazing history in Peru. And remember the two places we mentioned at the start? The place we had no idea what to expect but has ended up making this list was Queretaro in Mexico, and the cheapest place on the list that definitely deserves your consideration, Hoi An in Vietnam. A place that made such an impact during our visit last year that we're already planning to go back for a month at the beginning of next year. So, which of these towns would make it onto your long-stay wish list? Drop your pick in the comments, or if you've got somewhere that hadn't made our list, we may not even know about it. Let us know as well, because when it comes down to it, once we've both retired, we're going to be looking for places to visit. Alright, video's done, must be time for a cocktail. Bye.